WHEAT'S LIFE GUARD was originally organized in New Orleans by a H. Chaffin under the name Rough and Ready Rangers, which was later changed to the Oleans Claiborne Guards. The Guards was assigned to 1st Special Battalion, Louisiana Volunteer Infantry, in early June, 1861, and was mustered into service on June 6, but it was disbanded on June 10th due to its failure to fill its rolls. Captain Chaffin resigned and the remnants of the Guards was reorganized by Captain G.W. Hanna as Wheat's Life Guards, and continued recruitment. Captain Hanna resigned around the time that reorganization was completed and Robert Goring Atkins became catain of the company. The new company was mustered into service on 26 June 1861.
The company joined the 1st Special Battalion as Company F in September 1861. The Guards became Company E on November 1 with the departure of the Catahoula Guerrillas. On 9 March 1862, the company, with the Battalion, evacuated their winter camp and pulled back to the Rappahannock River where they spent the next month with Ewell's Division guarding the railroad bridge against Union troops until the Division moved to new camps at Gordonsville on April 18th at Conrad's Store on April 30th. The Guards fought in the battles of Front Royal on May 23, Middletown on May 24th, Winchester on May25, Cross Keys on June 8, and Port Republic on June 9th. The Battalion moved out with Jackson's army on June 17th to join th Army of Northern Virginia on the Peninsula where the Guard fought at the Battle of Gaine's Mill on June 27th, and the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1. They were probably present at but not involved in the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9th. Wheat's Life Guards ceased to exist when the 1st Special Battalion was disbanded on August 12th.
CaptainH. Chaffin resigned after the Orleans Clairborne Guards was disbanded.
CaptainG.W. Hanna was originally a lieutenant, but received command of the company after Chaffin's resignation. Hanna resigned in the fall of 1861.
CaptainRobert Goring Atkins was the son of an Anglican minister from County Cork, Ireland who had fought with Garibaldi and was a major of the British army when Fort Sumter was fired upon. He was acting commander of company as early as August 1861 and was appointed captain on 1st September 1862. Atkins served as Wheat's volunteer Adjutant at the First Battle of Manassas, served as company commander its disbanding in August 1862. He later served with General Elzie to 1864, then spent four month on furlough before resigning due to death of his father.
1st Lieutenant William D.Foley enlisted on June 9, 1861 at Camp Moore and was appointed to 1stLieutenant on 23rd May 1861. His name appears as the acting company commander in August 1861. Foley was killed in action at the Battle of Gaines Mills.
1st Lieutenant Robert M. Grinnell was appointed 1st Lieutenant on 20 June 1861 and mustered into service 26 June 1861. He was wounded in the hand and captured at the Battle of Front Royal, sent toWashington D.C. on 26 July 1862, and forwarded to Fort Monroe, Virginia on 1 August 1862. Grinnell was exchanged 5 August 1862.
2nd Lieutenant Frank S. Carey (also listed as H.S. Carey) was appointed 2nd Lieutenant 15 August 1861 and present on roster to at least 12 May 1862.
2nd Lieutenant Bruce Putnam enlisted on 26 June 1861 in Louisiana. He was the original sergeant-major of the 1st Special Battalion, but was appointed 2nd Lieutenant 1 August 1861. He was wounded at the battle of Port Republic.
Corporal Francis Foley enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans. His name appears on a 3 June 1861 roll of prisoners captured as Woodstock and sent to Ft. Delaware, where he took the Oath of Allegiance on 10 August 1862.
Pvt. George Bell enlisted on 23 September 1861 in New Orleans.
Pvt. John Bell enlisted on 23 September 1861 in New Orleans.
Pvt. Charles Caldwell enlisted on 23 September 1861.
Pvt. Thomas Caughlinenlisted on 23 September 1861 in New Orleans. His name appears on a 3 June 1862 roll of prisoners captured at Strasburg. He was sent to Fort Delaware, Delaware, and exchanged at Aikens Landing on 5 August 1862.
Pvt. Joseph Cox enlisted on 23 September 1861 in New Orleansand was present to at least December 1861.
Pvt. Peter Davis enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans. He appears on the August 1862 roll listed as a deserter.
Pvt. James Dooley (also listed as J. Doolin and J. Doolin) enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and present to at least February 1862.
Pvt. John Dorley enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans. He appears on the August 1861 roll as dester.
Pvt. J.M. Earhart enlisted on 26 June 1861 and appears as a deserter on rolls to 30 October 1861.
Pvt. Patrick Finnerty (also listed Patrick Finerty) enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears on the rolls to April 1862. Possibly the same as Patrick Finnerty, a corporal of Company C of the 7th Louisiana Infantry. This Finnerty was promoted to sergeant on 1 March 1863 and was killed on 1 July 1863. He is described as a unmarried, Irish-born laborer from New Orleans and was 29 when he enlisted.
Pvt. Bradley Fisk enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears on the August 1861 rolls as a deserter.
Pvt. Michael Foley enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears on the August 1861 rolls as a deserter.
Pvt. James Hallen enlisted on 16 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears on the October 1861. He was a deserter.
Pvt. W. Halley enlisted on 23 September 1861 in New Orleans and died at Orange Court House, Virginia, on 2 December 1861.
Pvt. Thomas Hastings enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and deserted.
Pvt. D.R. Higgins enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears on the rolls to October 1861. He was a deserter.
Pvt. Thomas Kehoe enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears as a deserter on roll for October 1861. He may be the same as Thomas Kehoe who elisted as a private in company H of the 20th Louisiana Infantry on 21 December 1861 at Camp Moore, Louisiana. He was transfered to the 5th company of the Washington Artillery on 14 September 1862 at Scragg Creek. He is listed as Abent, Sick on rolls from July1 to December 1863 and appears on a roll of prisoners paroled at Meridan, Mississippi on 10 May 1865. ThisKehoe is descrbed as a resident of New Orleans.
Pvt. Andrew Lindsey enlisted on 23 June 1861 in New Orleans and present to at least December 1861.
Pvt. Martin Lynch enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and present to at least December 1861.
Pvt. James McCue enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and present to at least December 1861. He is listed as sick in Richmond hospital on rolls to October 1861.
Pvt. Andrew Murphy enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans. He captured at woodstock on 2 June 1862 and exchanged at Aikens Landing on 5 August 1862.
Pvt. Zacharia Nash enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans (or Opelousas, Louisiana) and present to at least December 1861.
Pvt. Tobias Quillan enlisted on 23 September 1861 in New Orleans and was present to at least April 1862.
Pvt. John B. Rhoder enlisted 23 September 1861 in New Orleans and present to at least December 1861.
Pvt. John Rice enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans. He was captured on 15 August 1862, received and paroled on Steamer Juanita on 1 September 1862, and exchangedon 21 September 1862.
Pvt. James Russell enlisted as a musician on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and reenlisted on 1 August 1862. He enlisted in Company K, 6th Louisiana 17 August 1862 at Cedar Run, Virginia. Russell was paroled at Appomattox 10 April 1865. He is desribed as a New Orleans-born, unmarried laborer from New Orleans.
Pvt. John Rayan enlisted on 26 June 1861 and present to at least 331 October 1861.
Pvt. James Wilson enlisted on 26 June 1861 in New Orleans and appears on the rolls to at least April 1862.
Pvt. G. Woodroe enlisted on 23 September 1862 in New Orleans and appears on rolls to 31 October 1861. There was some question on Woodroe's enrollment and his pay withheld.
Pvt. G. Woods was captured at woodstock, Virginia, 3 June 1862 and exchanged at Aikens on 5 August 1862.