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The First Louisiana Special Battalion: Wheat's Tigers in the Civil War Gary Schreckengost

Product Overview

From the little-known Filibuster Wars to the Civil War battlefield of Gaines’
Mill, this volume details the fascinating story of one of the South’s most
colorful military units, the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion, aka Wheat’s
Tigers. Beginning with a brief look at the Filibuster Wars (a set of military
attempts to annex Latin American countries into the United States as slave
states), the work takes a close look at the men who comprised Wheat’s Tigers:
Irish immigrant ship hands, New Orleans dock workers and Filibuster veterans.
Commanded by one of the greatest antebellum filibusterers, Chatham Roberdeau
Wheat, the Tigers quickly distinguished themselves in battle through their
almost reckless bravery, proving instrumental in Southern victories at the
battles of Front Royal, Winchester and Port Republic. An in-depth look at
Battle of Gaines’ Mill, in which Wheat’s Tigers suffered heavy casualties,
including their commander, completes the story. Appendices provide a compiled
roster of the Wheat’s Tigers, a look at the 1st Louisiana’s uniforms and a
copy of Wheat’s report about the Battle of Manassas. Never-before-published
photographs are also included. Read more


Details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ McFarland Publishing (January 25, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 211 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0786432020
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 28
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #6,799,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #23,126 in U.S. Civil War History #126,174 in U.S. State & Local History
  • #23,126 in U.S. Civil War History
  • #126,174 in U.S. State & Local History

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On Apr 18, 2026 at 21:46:03 PDT, seller added the following information:

Gary Schreckengost's 2008 work examines the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion, a Confederate military unit popularly known as Wheat's Tigers. The book traces the unit's origins and evolution from its roots in the Filibuster Wars, a period of American military expeditions aimed at expanding U.S. territory into Latin America through the addition of slave states. The narrative focuses on the composition and character of the battalion's soldiers, who were primarily drawn from working-class backgrounds including Irish immigrants, dock workers from New Orleans, and veterans of filibustering campaigns. Under the command of Roberdeau Wheat, one of the antebellum era's most notable filibusterers, these men formed a distinctive and unconventional military force. The work follows the Tigers from their formation through their service during the American Civil War, with particular attention given to their participation in major engagements such as the Battle of Gaines Mill. By documenting the experiences of this colorful regiment, Schreckengost provides insight into an unusual Confederate unit whose members brought frontier military experience and a diverse ethnic background to the Southern cause. Published by McFarland, this historical account contributes to the broader understanding of Civil War military units and the individuals who comprised them, while also illuminating the lesser-known filibustering activities that preceded the war and shaped many soldiers' military experience