150-Years-Ago - MANASSAS AFTERMATH: WHEAT'S BATTALION

[Editor's note: Here is the first report on the 1st Special Battalion (Wheat's) Louisiana Volunteers in the First Battle of Manassas.]




(From the 1961 Louisiana Centennial
Commission map-brochure)

New Orleans Daily True Delta
July 25, 1861
MAJOR WHEAT'S BATTALION.
WHEAT WOUNDED, 
PROBABLY FATALLY.
ONLY ONE HUNDRED 
OUT OF FOUR HUNDRED 
ESCAPED UNHURT.
LIEUTENANT DICKINSON WOUNDED
NO NEWS FROM OTHER LOUISIANA TROOPS.

     Richmond, July 24.-Lieut. Dickinson, the adjutant of the independent battalion from Louisiana, commanded by Major Robert Wheat, is wounded by a Minie ball in his thigh, and is here well attended.
     He says that out of the four hundred of Wheat's command engaged, less than one hundred escaped being either killed or wounded.
    The Catahoula Guerillas belonging to the battalion fought with desperation.
    Lieut. Dickinson thinks that a large majority were either killed or wounded.
    This company was commanded by Captain Boorherehp. They acted as if all was at stake with them. The captain is himself unhurt.


THE TIGERS IN VIRGINIA.
WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT!
THEY THREW DOWN THEIR RIFLES, BUT ARE STILL O.K.
     The Tiger Rifles, Capt. White, First-lieutenant Tom Adrian, becoming disgusted with their Mississippi rifles (without bayonets,) when ordered to charge threw away their rifles and charged with bowie-knives, as the enemy say, like demons, and put all to flight before them.