150-Years-Ago 8th Louisiana Infantry Casulaties

An unidentified Louisiana private.
(Library of Congress/Liljenquist Family Collection
of Civil War Photographs)

The  Richmond Daily  Dispatch
May 31, 1862

Winchester, Va., May 26th, 1862.
           The Yankees having possession of Baton Rouge, La., the place wherein the Creole Guards (now company A, 8th regiment Louisiana volunteers,) were raised, I find it impossible to inform their relatives of the company's loss in the battle, fought yesterday, May 25th, 1862, save through the indirect medium of the press.
          Therefore, I beg of you to announce, by the insertion of this communication, that private Jos, A. Cannon was killed while bravely charging the enemy in the front ranks of his company, and privates Leon P. Gusman, Jas. M Martin, and Thos. Herrington were wounded, the first severely, though not dangerously, in the left thigh; the second quite severely in the left side, and the third slightly in the right foot.
          Should Louisiana editors noticing this only give it a re-publication, no doubt but that, in the long run, our friends and relatives will become informed of our exact loss, and thus be relieved of great anxiety.

Respectfully, yours,

A. L. Gusman,

Capt. Co. A, 8th Reg.La. Vols.

[Blog Editor's Notes: According to Booth's Records of Louisiana Confederate soldiers, Private Joseph A. Cannon was killed in action  on  May 25, 1862 at the Battle of  Winchester, Virginia, in which Brig.Gen.Richard Taylor's Louisiana Brigade smashed through Yankee lines. Cannon was born in Louisiana, a farmer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, single and 23 years old at time of  enlistment, June 19, 1861. Private Leon P. Gusman was  wounded in the same battle and left in Winchester where he was captured by the Yankees and later paroled. He was killed in  action  July 2, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa. He was a native of Louisiana, from Baton Rouge, single and  19-years-old  at the time of his enlistment June 19, 1861 at Camp Moore. Private Thomas Herrington was wounded in the same battle, left wounded, captured and later paroled. He was again wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas August 30, 1862. His right arm was disabled by the wound and for the rest of the war he was on detailed service at Camp Jackson, Richmond, Va. He was captured May May 29, 1865 in Augusta, Ga. and paroled. Herrington was born in Ireland, a laborer in Baton Rouge, single and 26-years-old  at the time of his enlistment on June 19, 1861 at Camp Moore.  Private James M. Martin was wounded and  captured in the same battle. He died at the U.S.A. post hospital in Winchester, Va. on June 6, 1862. Martin was a native of Louisiana, resident of Livingston Parish, a farmer, and married.  Captain A. L. Gusman was the original first lieutenant of  Company A (Creole Guards) of  Baton Rouge. He was promoted to captain on March 19, 1862. He was acting major of the regiment when he  was captured Nov. 7, 1863 at Rappahannock River, Virginia. Confined at Johnson's Island, Ohio, he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the  United States twice, June 13 and June 14, 1865. He was received at Fort Lafayette, N.Y. Aug. 31, 1865. The last record was that he was in confinement of Oct. 26, 1865. He was born in Louisiana, a resident of Baton Rouge, a lawyer, 24-years-old at time  of enlistment June 19, 1861 at Camp Moore, and single.
According  to information on Find-A-Grave web site, Antoine L. Gusman was born Feb. 22, 1836 and died March 9, 1914 and is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery. On the 1880 Census in Baton Rouge his wife's name is listed as Clotilde, a native of France, and they had a number of children.