Reports concerning the battle of Jackson, Louisiana, August 3, 1863:
From the O.R., Series I, Volume 26, Part 1, August 3, 1863. -- Skirmish at Jackson, La., page 240 :
No. 2. -- Report of Col. John L. Logan, Eleventh Arkansas Infantry.
NEAR JACKSON, LA.,
August 4, 1863.
GENERAL: I met the enemy at Jackson, La., yesterday evening, whipping him handsomely, driving him from the town, capturing two Parrott guns, horses, ten wagons with commissary stores, killing, wounding, and capturing not less than 100 Yankees and a large number of negroes in arms. The enemy fled in the greatest confusion, leaving his dead and wounded behind him. It was a complete rout, his force was about 600 infantry (mixed colors), 150 cavalry, and two pieces of artillery. My force not so large -- about 500. Our loss in killed and wounded 12.
Your dispatch of the 28th ultimo just received, and the instructions will be carried out.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
JNO. L. LOGAN,
Colonel, Commanding Cavalry.
Lieutenant-General HARDEE,
Commanding Army of the West.
P.S. -- What disposition shall I make of negroes captured in arms? Port Hudson is garrisoned by 7,000 Yankee troops and armed negroes. The troops that came down the river some time since went up Black River on transports.
****************************************
From the O.R., Series II, Volume 6, pages 177-178:
HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Port Hudson, La., August 5, 1863.
Brig. Gen. J.L. LOGAN, or
COMDG. OFFICER CONFEDERATE FORCES AT OR NEAR JACKSON, LA.:
SIR: I have been informed by several eye-witnesses that two of the colored soldiers of this command have been recently hanged at or near Jackson, La., by the men of your command. I am also further informed that some of the colored soldiers of this command were, while prisoners of war, badly beaten and otherwise ill-treated. I cannot doubt that these outrages were committed without your authority, but it is my duty to call upon you to disavow these acts and to punish the perpetrators thereof. I would also suggest the expediency of reminding the men of your command, that while it may be difficult to discover and bring to justice those concerned in such crimes, particularly when, as it is certainly probable, they are at least not repressed by some of your junior officers as they might be, it is not at all difficult to retaliate severely upon the prisoners in our hands and upon those that may be taken hereafter. The severest measures of retaliation will certainly be adopted on my part if such outrages should be again committed, or if those herein mentioned are not disavowed and the perpetrators properly dealt with.
I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. L. ANDREWS,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.***********************************************
From the O.R., Series I, Volume 26, Part 1, pages 238-240:
No. 1 -- Report of Brig. Gen. George L. Andrews, U.S. Army, commanding at Port Hudson.
HEADQUARTERS,
Port Hudson, August 6, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to report that on the 2d instant, I sent Lieut. M. Hanham, Sixth New York Volunteers, with a detachment of 250 infantry (colored), 50 cavalry (Third Massachusetts), and one section of the Second Vermont Battery, to Jackson, La., to collect negroes for the Twelfth Regiment Infantry, Corps d’Afrique.
Lieutenant Hanham was directed to keep his scouts and spies well out from the town, to get timely notice of the approach of the enemy in force, and to keep up frequent communication with this post.
He collected 50 negroes on Monday. Nothing unusual occurred until about 3 p.m. Monday (August 3), when some rumors were heard of the advance of Logan’s force. The troops were at once drawn up to receive them, but the accounts were so vague that Lieutenant Hanham decided before withdrawing to send out additional scouts to learn the true state of the case.
Unfortunately several of these scouts were captured, in some instances, it is reported, through the aid of so-called citizens, and others were cut off and unable to return to the town.
The attack commenced on the part of Logan’s force at about 5 p.m., with little warning from the scouts, but the detachment was prepared, and seems to have received the attack with commendable steadiness, for the most part.
A detachment from the Sixth Regiment Infantry, Corps d’Afrique, under Lieutenant Royce, is especially mentioned for steadiness and good conduct. The artillery and cavalry also rendered excellent service.
After a conflict of some length, finding the enemy in greatly superior numbers, the detachment retreated with no great loss at first, and would probably have brought off its artillery but for the accident of having a guide shot at a critical moment, which caused the route intended to have been followed to be lost and a new one to be taken, through which it was impracticable to bring artillery.
The enemy’s force, according to the report of prisoners, was about 800. It is supposed, however, to have been considerably greater. The detachment returned to this post at about midnight.
Lieutenant Hanham is reported to have behaved most gallantly, and was slightly wounded. The enemy acknowledge a loss in killed and wounded of about 40. We took 6 prisoners, including 1 lieutenant.
Our loss, which will probably be somewhat diminished by the arrival of stragglers, now stands as follows. The proportion of killed and wounded of the number is not known:
| Command | Officers | Enlisted Men | Total |
| 3rd Mass. Cav. | ........ | 14 | 14 |
| 2nd Vermont Batt. | (*) 1 | 14 | 15 |
| 1st Rgt. Inf Corps d' Afrique | 1 | 21 | 22 |
| 3rd Rgt. Inf Corps d' Afrique | ........ | 11 | 11 |
| 6th Rgt. Inf Corps d' Afrique | 3 | 13 | 16 |
| Total | 5 | 73 | 78 |
Two guns, two caissons, and 16 horses belonging to Second Vermont Battery. Six wagons and 24 mules from the quartermaster’s department.
The information here was that Logan was above Natchez with his force, and, from the accounts of the prisoners, it appears that he actually left that neighborhood only two days before this affair.
He had just arrived within 4 miles of Woodville, to which place he was probably led by the report of a raid made a few days ago by some of General Grant’s forces, who burned the factory at that place, and was on his way back toward Natchez, and intending, it was supposed, to go nearly to Jackson, Miss., when he received intelligence that our forces were in Jackson, La., and at once marched on that place.
Considering the advantages given by fortune to the rebel forces on this occasion, their success appears to me not very remarkable.
It is reported that 1 or 2 of the colored soldiers who fell into the hands of the rebels have been hung, and it is certain that some of the prisoners were severely beaten. The rebels have refused to give any information concerning the officers or men of the colored troops who are in their hands. I have sent two flags of truce to the enemy at Jackson, one to inquire about our wounded and one to demand explanations from General [Colonel] Logan with regard to the treatment of colored soldiers when prisoners of war.
To the latter I have received no reply yet, General [Colonel] Logan having left Jackson with nearly all his force, leaving only a small cavalry three in the town.
I learn that our wounded belonging to the white troops are well cared for, but fear such is not the case with colored troops. The rebels hold an assistant surgeon of one of the colored regiments, and refuse to give any account of him. I have accordingly confined all the rebel surgeons at this post, and, while awaiting General [Colonel] Logan’s answer to my demand for an explanation concerning his treatment of colored soldiers of this command, I have confined the rebel prisoners now at this post.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. L. ANDREWS,
Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding.
Lieutenant Colonel IRWIN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
**********************************************
From the O.R., Series II, Volume 6, page 189:
HEADQUARTERS C.S. CAVALRY,
August 8, 1863.
Brig. Gen. GEORGE L. ANDREWS,
Commanding U.S. Forces, Port Hudson, La.:
SIR: Your communication of the 5th instant per flag of truce is at hand, and in reply I will state that if any negroes in arms have been hung by troops of this command it was done without my knowledge, or by some one, if at all, without authority from me. The report that negroes, after capture, were beaten is false.
Should you exercise cruel or unkind treatment toward any officer or soldier captured by your forces belonging to this command I shall most certainly use the severest means of retaliation upon all negroes or white men protected by the U.S. flag now in or those that may hereafter fall into my hands.
The officers and soldiers of your command captured by my forces at Jackson and other places will be placed in close confinement until your policy toward officers and soldiers captured from this command is made known to me.
I am, &c.,
JNO. L. LOGAN,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.*******************************************
From the O.R., Series I, Volume 30, Part 4, pages 572-573:
MORTON,
August 31, 1863.
Memorandum for Lieutenant-General HARDEE:
First. Maxey’s brigade has just been to Mobile. Gregg’s at Enterprise, and McNair’s at Meridian, are at those places to be ready to follow whenever Mobile is threatened. In such an event the two brigades at Newton are intended to follow also, and that here if there should be time. If not it should guard railroads.
Second. The chief commissary has been instructed to draw everything possible in the way of subsistence from the northwest, collecting it at Canton. The quartermaster’s department has had similar orders, and to transport in wagons to Brandon.
Third. Major-General Lee is instructed to transfer Colonel Logan’s command to some other part of the frontier. Some other troops to replace it, and to investigate the circumstances of the reported murder of prisoners near Jackson, La. Also to have Du Monteil’s regiment organized when convenient. Mullen’s company, however, which is on outpost duty for Mobile, not to be moved, but to continue on that duty.
Fourth. I took quarters in Brandon yesterday, and have ordered the removal of my office to that place.
Fifth. The brigade here (Buford’s) should, in the event of the removal of the troops at Newton to Mobile, be moved to Meridian to be ready to operate east, west, north, or south, especially to protect Demopolis, Selma, and Montgomery.
Sixth. Captain Green and his subordinates have orders to examine the country between the Pascagoula and Mobile, to learn how we may approach the communications of a besieging army.
Seventh. Major-General Maury has been selected by the President to command the Department of the Gulf. The commander of this department therefore has no authority to send a senior over him.
J.E. JOHNSTON,
General.
According to the President’s decision my staff, except aides-de-camp, is that of the department.
J.E.J.
*****************************************
MORTON,
August 31, 1863.
Memorandum for Major-General LEE:
First. To transfer Colonel Logan’s command, taking advantage of the move to organize Colonel Du Monteil’s regiment should it be convenient.
Second. While inspecting Colonel Logan’s troops to inquire into the truth of the report, that after the recent action near Jackson, La., 23 prisoners (1 white officer and 22 colored and negro privates) were put to death in cold blood and without form of law, and if it is true to bring the culprits to trial.
Third. In organizing Colonel Du Monteil’s regiment consider that Mullen’s company belongs to the Department of the Gulf, and is now on service from which it cannot be removed without compromising the safety of Mobile; outpost duty for that place.
Fourth. As to mustering militia into the service, it is to be considered that our commanding officers report that it is made up of deserters, and besides that evil is inefficient. Would it not be better, when this is the case, to take out deserters and conscripts and disband the rest? Show this memorandum to Lieutenant-General Hardee.
J.E. JOHNSTON,
General.
P.S. -- A man from Vicksburg reports that several expeditions to carry off cotton have been made by the enemy to this side of the Big Black. They have not been reported by our cavalry. He further states that he had seen none of our troops on his way.
J.E.J.
******************************************
From the O.R., Series II, Volume 6, pages 258-259:
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near Crystal Springs, September 3, 1863.
Col. B.S. EWELL, Assistant Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: In obedience to instructions I submit the following report in reference to the hanging and shooting of Federal prisoners and negroes in arms captured at Jackson, La., on the 3d ultimo:
Several negroes were captured at that place and turned over to a guard from Colonel Griffith’s Arkansas regiment mounted infantry. I was in front of the command when a report came to me that Colonels Griffith and Powers had marched the negroes forward before the command left camp at Centerville, and supposing they had taken the wrong road I sent a staff officer to turn them back, who came back to me and reported that they said they would join the command via near route in advance of Centerville. After some time these officers came up and brought no negroes. I immediately demanded “what disposition had been made of them,” when they reported in substance what is stated in their inclosed reports. Other reports came saying they had been sent to Mobile, &c. I rebuked Colonels Powers and Griffith severely for making any disposition of them without my orders.
My own opinion is that the negroes were summarily disposed of, by whom I cannot say, as all deny any other statements, except the inclosed letters of Colonels Powers and Griffith. I do not know that any Federal officers or soldiers were missing.
The whole transaction was contrary to my wishes and against my own consent. In regard to the hanging of negroes captured after the fight, I can only submit the inclosed communication* from Brigadier-General Andrews, U.S. Army, and my reply*, which fully explains my position, and which I presume is a final terminus to the affair.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. L. LOGAN
Commanding Brigade.
*See Andrews to Logan, August 5, p. 177, and Logan to Andrews, August 8, p.189.
Respectfully forwarded.[Indorsement.]
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY IN MISSISSIPPI
Canton, September 17, 1863.
Do not consider it to the interest of the service that this matter be further investigated at present, as a court of inquiry or court martial will afford the only means of gaining correct information.
S.D. LEE,
Major-General, Commanding.[Inclosure No. 1.]
HEADQUARTERS
Near Crystal Springs, Miss., September 2, 1863.
Col. JOHN GRIFFITH,
Commanding Regiment Arkansas Infantry:
COLONEL: Inclosed find an order from General Johnston, which I am directed by Colonel Logan to forward to you, it having been rumored in camps that your command captured and hung or shot certain Federal prisoners and negroes in arms at Jackson, La., on the 3d ultimo.
Colonel Logan directs that you make a full report of all the facts attendant upon this matter and forward the same in writing without delay to these headquarters.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NED WARREN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
(Same to Col. Frank Powers, chief of cavalry.)
[Inclosure No. 2.]
HEADQUARTERS CONSOLIDATED REGIMENT,
September 2, 1863.
Colonel LOGAN, Commanding Brigade:
COLONEL: In reply to your note just received and herewith inclosed I would say that a squad of negroes was captured on or about the 3d of August at Jackson, La. When the command started back the negroes, under guard, were ordered on in advance of the command, and learning that the guard had taken the wrong road, Colonel Powers and myself rode on in advance to put them in the proper route for camp. About the time we were reaching them, or shortly before, four of the negroes attempted to escape. They were immediately fired into by the guard. This created some excitement and a general stampede among them, all attempting to effect their escape, whereupon the firing became general upon them from the guard, and few, I think, succeeded in making good their escape. There were no Federal prisoners among them, having been separated the night previous. No further particulars remembered.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN GRIFFITH,
Colonel, Commanding Regiment.[Inclosure No. 3.]
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY COMMAND,
September 2, 1863.
JOHN L. LOGAN, Colonel, Commanding:
COLONEL: In compliance with the inclosed order I would say a squad of negroes (in arms) were captured at Jackson, La.
The morning after the affair at Jackson, Colonel Griffith and myself ordered the negroes several hours in advance of the command, so as to arrive in camp at the proper time. Finding the guard took the wrong road, myself and Colonel Griffith rode in advance of the command so as to notify them of the fact and order them back. On the route back four of the negroes attempted to escape. I ordered the guard to shoot them down. In the confusion the other negroes attempted to escape likewise. I then ordered every one shot, and with my six-shooter assisted in the execution of the order. I believe few escaped, most of them being killed instantly.
There were not any Federal prisoners with the negroes.
I am, colonel, yours, respectfully,
FRANK POWERS,
Colonel and Chief of Cavalry.************************************
From the O.R., Series II, Volume 6, pages 288-289:
HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Port Hudson, La., September 14, 1863.
Maj. G.N. LIEBER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:
SIR: In reply to the communication of September 9, department headquarters, just received, respecting a newspaper extract, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the correspondence between myself and Colonel Logan, consisting of one communication to him and one reply, both per flag of truce. I would further state that I have since the date of these communications been endeavoring to obtain satisfactory testimony to sustain the charge that two colored soldiers were hung as stated; but the only evidence so far is that of two colored soldiers who state they saw two colored men in uniform of U.S. soldiers hanging from a tree near Jackson, La., after the fight. They do not claim that they saw the act of hanging these men committed. Whether some of the colored soldiers taken prisoners were hung or whether the spectacle witnessed by the two soldiers mentioned was merely a “chivalrous” exhibition of the feelings of some of the rebels toward some of the colored soldiers slain in the conflict remains undetermined.
It will be seen that Colonel Logan denies that any such thing was done with his knowledge or authority. The testimony of the assistant surgeon who was released by the rebels, he having been taken prisoner during the action, shows that while great contempt was manifested towards officers of colored troops and Lieutenant Orrillion was forced to march at the head of his “niggers”, as the rebels expressed it, there was no other violence or ill-treatment offered to the prisoners within his knowledge. No conclusive testimony can be obtained from citizens in regard to this matter.
It has been stated by some of them that the wounded colored soldiers were well treated and cared for; some of them state that they have heard that some of the colored soldiers were in some underhand way sold at auction in Clinton, La.; others state that they had heard that a number of the colored soldiers taken prisoners at Jackson had been shot. But in all these points they speak from hearsay only.
As to the beating of the colored soldiers I am informed that in one or two instances they were struck several times by some of the rebels, but were not seriously injured.
While I am clearly and decidedly of the opinion that colored soldiers cannot with justice be employed as such without receiving the same protection that other troops would receive under similar circumstances, and while I am entirely ready and willing to carry out with stern severity any retaliatory measures which may be deemed proper by the commanding general of the department or other competent authority which I should feel bound to consult in a matter of such importance before proceeding to execute, I am on the other hand of opinion that no such measures should be resorted to without clear and decisive evidence of the commission of acts calling for such action, and in the present case I do not consider the evidence up to this time satisfactory as to the alleged hanging of colored soldier prisoners of war.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. L. ANDREWS,
Brigadier-General of Vols., Comdg. Post and Corps d’Afrique.[Indorsement.]
There is no evidence upon which retaliatory measures can be properly based, and the reply of General Logan must be received as satisfactory upon the part of the alleged execution of or punishment of negroes. He is not justified, however, in placing officers and soldiers of the United States in close confinement upon the presentation of the inquiry unless accompanied by some other statement not disclosed in the correspondence. This opinion should be made known to General Andrews.
N.P. BANKS
********************************************
From the O.R., Series II, Volume 6, pages 924-925:
HEADQUARTERS CORPS D’AFRIQUE,
Port Hudson, La., February 7, 1864.
Maj. Gen. E.A. HITCHCOCK,
Commissioner for Exchange of Prisoners:
GENERAL: A long and serious illness has prevented my answering your communication of December 2, 1863, which reached me after much delay, until now.
The letter from an officer at this post to which you refer was unauthorized and the statements therein made were unsupported by any evidence. There have been many rumors and many statements based upon hearsay evidence, to the effect that our colored soldiers have been hung or shot by the rebels; but until very recently I have had no positive evidence of the facts. A man from Jackson, La., has recently made a statement at Baton Rouge, under oath, that just after the affair at Jackson, La., last August between a detachment of colored troops from this place and a large force of rebels under General Logan, he saw a rebel Lieutenant Shattuck shoot some wounded colored soldiers then lying on the ground. This is confirmed by the statements, under oath, of two colored men who came back from Jackson last week. They also state that captured colored soldiers were at that time taken into the wood by rebel soldiers, who afterward stated that they had shot them. And these colored men say that they afterward found in that direction the bodies of several colored soldiers.
At the time of the affair above mentioned I sent a communication to the rebel General Logan, informing him of rumors and reports concerning the shooting, hanging, and ill-treatment of colored soldiers, and calling upon him to disavow such acts and punish the perpetrators. He replied, denying that such acts had been committed. This matter has been reported to Major-General Banks and the papers recently obtained have been sent to him, and I am informed that a communication on the subject is to be sent immediately to the rebel commander in this department.
I am satisfied that rebel soldiers, with the connivance and assistance of their officers, have abused and shot some of our captured colored soldiers. I am of the opinion that no captured officers of colored troops have been shot, but that they have been abused more or less. As already observed, it is only within a few days that I have been able to obtain any positive, reliable evidence of the perpetration of these outrages, although I have made every effort to obtain such evidence. All the rebel prisoners claim to know nothing of the matter. I learn that the Texan troops in Western Louisiana openly state that they will take no colored soldiers prisoners. This statement is made by Texan refugees.
I believe I have now given you the substance of the information in my possession on this subject.
I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. L. ANDREWS,
Brig. Gen. of Vols., Comdg. Corps d’Afrique and Post of Port Hudson.*******************************************
From the O.R., Series II, Volume 6, pages 960-961:
HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Port Hudson, La., February 16, 1864.
Brig. Gen. WIRT ADAMS, Commanding C.S. Forces, &c.:
GENERAL: By direction of Major-General Banks, commanding the U.S. forces, Department of the Gulf, I respectfully call your attention to the following: On or about August 3, 1863, in an affair at Jackson, La., between the Confederate forces under General Logan and a detachment of U.S. troops, mostly colored men, several of said colored troops were taken prisoners, and it was then reported that some of them were shot by the Confederate soldiers after capture.
A communication on the subject was sent from the undersigned to General Logan, to which he (General Logan) replied, denying that any such acts had been committed under his authority. For want of direct and positive evidence of the commission of the acts referred to the matter was for the time allowed to rest. Recently, however, a citizen of Jackson has made the statement under oath that the day after the affair at Jackson he saw Lieutenant Shattuck, of Scott’s Confederate Cavalry, dismount from his horse and deliberately shoot dead a wounded U.S. colored soldier then lying wounded on the ground; also, that he heard said Lieutenant Shattuck say that he had shot thirteen negro soldiers that day, and that they took no prisoners. There was no fighting on the day referred to; also, that he saw Confederate soldiers taking other negro soldiers outside of town, as they said, to shoot them, and that he saw their bodies afterward on the ground, not forming any part of the battle-field, but a mile and a half distant therefrom, and in the direction in which the negro soldiers were taken for the avowed purpose of shooting them.
There is also much additional testimony corroborating the foregoing statement. I cannot longer doubt that U.S. colored soldiers captured by the C.S. forces have been deliberately murdered after capture. I am further directed to inquire of you whether such acts are or have been permitted by your officers or other authorities? If such acts are permitted, I have to inform you that prompt retaliation will take place on the prisoners in our possession. If such acts are unauthorized, I must demand the punishment of the perpetrators. In the interest of humanity I trust you will be able and willing to give me a satisfactory reply.
I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. L. ANDREWS,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.************************************************
Notes on the battle of Jackson, Louisiana, August 3, 1863; taken from (1) Anthony C. Rushing’s book Ranks of Honor. A Regimental History of the Eleventh Arkansas Infantry Regiment and Poe’s Cavalry Battalion, C.S.A., 1861-1865 (1990), pages 52-53; (2) James G. Hollandsworth, Jr.’s book The Louisiana Native Guards, The Black Military Experience During the Civil War (1995), pages 70-71, 120; and (3) a guided tour kindly provided to KEB by Mr. Michael Howell of Jackson, Louisiana on Oct. 27, 1997:
The battle of Jackson, LA started and was largely fought on the campus of Centenary College and along the banks of Asylum Branch. As the O.R. reports above indicate, Federal forces under the command of Lieutenant Hanham were recruiting for black men to join the Corps d’Afrique on Aug. 3, 1863. Total Federal numbers that day were approximately 600 men while Colonel Logan’s Confederate force numbered about 500. The main Rebel strike took place at about 5:00 p.m. across what is now East College Street and with the sun at their backs.
The Federal force formed their first battle line in a north-south direction, parallel to East College Street and facing the main Confederate assault of Colonel Logan. According to Michael Howell, Colonel Logan then sent a strong flanking movement around the main auditorium to the north; within this flanking movement was very likely men of the 11th & 17th Consolidated Arkansas Mounted Infantry led by Colonel John Griffith. The Federals reacted to this flanking movement and formed a second battle line parallel to the easternmost college buildings before finally retreating to the south, between East College Street and Asylum Branch. As the panicky Federals retreated southward, they formed two more battle lines: the third approximately halfway between the east-west running Pine Street and the Asylum Branch bridge, and the fourth (last) battle line just across the Asylum Branch bridge along the Clinton Road, and just north of the Jackson graveyard. According to Michael Howell, the Federals essentially fought a “running retreat."
Colonel Logan gave the Federal losses as two Parrott guns, ten wagons, and about 100 men (k/w/m) while his own losses were 12 k/w/m. Federal General Andrews gives Confederate losses as about 40 k/w/m, including 6 prisoners; his own losses are given as 78 k/w/m. True figures are probably somewhere between the two estimates. The Lieutenant Orillion described by Andrews was indeed 2nd Lt. Oscar Orillion, a Negro officer of the 1st Regiment Infantry Corps d’Afrique; he along with 21 Negro enlisted men were captured by Logan’s Confederate Cavalry that day.
As documented above, the initial protest by Federal Brigadier General Andrews to Colonel Logan was that two of his Negro soldiers had been hung by Confederate troops; and that after capture, Negro soldiers had been beaten as well. Colonel Logan’s reply of August 8 denied both charges, but made no mention of captured Negro soldiers being shot. General Joseph E. Johnston’s two August 31 memos from Morton, Mississippi (see above) are the first Confederate mention of a “..reported murder of prisoners near Jackson, LA.” and also “...after the recent action near Jackson, LA, 23 prisoners (1 white officer and 22 colored and negro privates) were put to death in cold blood and without form of law,....”.
Colonel Logan’s September 3 statement to Colonel Ewell has a different tone than his August 8 letter to Federal Brigadier General Andrews; he basically admits the shooting of captured “...negroes in arms..” but points blame at Colonel Frank Powers and Colonel John Griffith, commander of the 11th & 17th Arkansas Infantry. The September 2 statements of Colonel Frank Powers and Colonel John Griffith assert that the Negro prisoners were shot while trying to escape; no numbers are provided in any of their statements. It is interesting to note that the September 2-3 statements of Colonels Logan, Powers, and Griffith seem to make a distinction between “Federal prisoners and negroes in arms”. Major-General S.D. Lee realized that only a formal court of inquiry or court-martial would provide any possible new information and therefore, “in the interest of the service [his cavalry command]," stopped any further investigation.
By September 14, Brigadier General Andrews dropped his charge of Negro soldiers being hung and other rumors as being hearsay; Federal Major-General Banks seems to concur and seems satisfied with Colonel Logan’s earlier statement. Then, on February 7, 1864 the Federals accused the Confederate soldiers under Colonel Logan of shooting wounded Negro soldiers; this, based on “new information” re a mysterious “rebel Lieutenant Shattuck”. On February 16, a formal protest was made to Confederate Brigadier General Wirt Adams re the shooting of wounded Negro soldiers after their capture at Jackson, LA on August 3, 1863; this time, a certain “..Lieutenant Shattuck, of Scott’s Confederate Cavalry..” was named as one of those responsible.
Although there was a Scott’s Confederate Cavalry (1st Louisiana Cavalry commanded by Colonel John S. Scott) in the area of Jackson and Port Hudson, this was much later, during October of 1864 -- not during August, 1863. However, on the muster rolls for the 11th & 17th Arkansas Infantry, there are listed a Sgt. P.M. Scott in Co. B, a Captain F.T. Scott in Co. G, and a Pvt. James W. Shattuck in Co. H. It is not known at the time of this writing whether or not any of these men were present during the controversial shootings near Jackson, LA on August 4, 1863.
African-American soldiers in the Federal army were a relatively new thing during the Summer of 1863. However, Negro soldiers within the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guards (Federal) were used against the Telegraph Road salient of Port Hudson on May 27, 1863 by Major-General Banks. This was at least 6 weeks before the famous assault of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry against Ft. Wagner, S.C. on July 18, 1863. The interesting distinction between“Federal soldiers” and “negroes in arms” made by Confederate Colonels Logan, Powers, and Griffith in their September 2-3, 1863 statements illustrates just how the Yankee innovation was viewed by the desperate Southern defenders.
As far as can be determined, Brigadier General Wirt Adams never responded to the formal complaint letter of February 16; he and his brigade, including Colonel John Griffith and the men in the 11th & 17th Arkansas Infantry were very busy trying to halt Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Meridian Expedition. Perhaps the “total war” being first practiced on Southern civilians by Sherman at this time evaporated any Confederate angst re the shot Federal prisoners at Jackson, LA. At any rate, Federal threats to retaliate in kind apparently resulted in no further controversies re Yankee prisoners involving the 11th & 17th Consolidated Arkansas Mounted Infantry.
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