The Civil War, 1861-1865

From Sicily Island:  A Partial History, compiled by Mickie Smith:

By 1860, the possibility of war loomed, and by 1861, war was an actuality.  Military preparations involved, of course, immediate, heavy expenditures.  The Confederate authorities desired the states to arm and equip the troops.  The Louisiana Legislature, on March 20, voted to appropriate $500,000.00 of the levee fund, for which there was no existing tax, for the purpose of state defense.  The parishes made liberal appropriations for the support of the soldiers and their families.  (Bragg, J. D., Louisiana in the Confederacy, L.S.U. Pr., p. 56)

The following list of military organizations are as given in Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands - Andrew B. Booth and were not taken from Sicily Island:  A Partial History, compiled by Mickie Smith.

The military organizations from Catahoula Parish were as follows:

Catahoula Avengers - Co. E 31st Regt. La. Inf.
Catahoula Battalion - Co. D 31st Regt. La. Inf.
Catahoula Fencibles - Co. D 31st Regt. La. Inf.
Catahoula Greys - Co. G 11th Regt. La. Inf.
Catahoula Guerillas - Co. D Wheat's Battn. La. Inf
Catahoula Rebels - Co. C 17th Regt. La. Inf.

Militia companies were:

Kirks Ferry Rangers, called the Cavalry Company of Louisiana
Boeuf River Rebels - Co. B 27th Regt. La. Inf.
Wood's Company of Cavalry - Louisiana Militia

Battles Fought in Louisiana - Map courtesy of the Louisiana Dept. of Tourism (http://www.crt.state.la.us/tourism/)

Note:  For an excellent place to research your Civil War ancestors click Here.

In 1862, Governor Thomas O. Moore directed the destruction of all cotton within the parishes which might be in danger of falling into enemy hands, and in case the owners were unable to do so, the Police Juror of the endangered ward would apply the torch.  The Police Jury named a group of men from each ward who would be responsible for applying the torch if necessary.  In ward one, the following men were named:  S. L. Bowman, T. Gilbert, E. L. Wailes and D. P. January.  In ward two, the men were:  H. J. Peck, J. H. Lovelace, T. A. S. Doniphan and John Buie.

The Police Jury further elaborated on this order:  'That this body disapproves of, and denounces any attempt to effect the disposal of said cotton in any manner whatsoever to the enemy, and that any and all persons who may endeavor or may make such disposal of this cotton shall be considered as inimical to the cause of our country and shall be dealt with accordingly'.  (Catahoula Parish Police Jury Minutes, Ordinance #156, 1863)

Also, the residents were given permission, in fact, urged to obstruct the rivers to prevent passage of the enemy.   (Catahoula Parish Police Jury Minutes, Ordinance #155, 1863)

Catahoula News-Booster, 1976

It is known that the Sicily Island area played a part in some military action during the Civil War.  The residents were aware of the reports and rumors, some accurate and some exaggerated, of the atrocious acts committed by the Federals during their raids; therefore, it is understandable that they would be filled with fear and anxiety when they saw the steamboats approaching, as they did in the summer of 1863. 

The raids by the Federals, with the consequent destruction of property, caused the civilian population of Sicily Island to suffer severely during the closing months of the war.  In one way or another, the war disturbed the lives of nearly every family especially when the head of the household was in uniform many miles away.  Certainly many families were on short rations the first years after the war.  However, in time, the farmer once again grew enough corn for his family's needs, acquired a mule or some oxen for plowing his land and was again planting cotton.

Samuel C. Cuny - buried in Old Pine Hill Cemetery, Sicily Island

William H. Gillispie - buried in Old Pine Hill Cemetery, Sicily Island

Thomas B. Sprague - buried in Old Pine Hill Cemetery, Sicily Island