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Re: 2nd Louisiana Cavalry
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V. C.

William Olive Jr. & Sr., along with Andrew Jackson Knott, were members of Company B of the 2nd LA Cavalry, first Captained by James D. Blair (promoted Major 14 Jan 1863 on the Death of Lt. Col. James A McWaters near Cornay's Bridge, and promoted Lt. Col. 13 Jan 1864) of Blair's Landing in Natchitoches Parish. I believe that all three men signed on in June of 1962 and were part of the August 1862 muster at Camp Butler.

Co. B was first organized in June of 1862 as Co. A of the Breazeale Battalion of Louisiana Partisan Rangers. This company first mustered on August 10th or 11th (1862) at Camp Butler, 2 miles from Natchitoches, probably somewhere on the Cane River, south of Natchitoches. On 14 August 1862 the five companies of the Breazeale Battalion were formally mustered as a Battalion and on 21 August 1862 they were formally accepted into Louisiana and Confederate Service by General Wm Levy, at Camp Butler. On the 21st they began there journey to "the seat of war," and headed toward Camp Pratt, 6 miles NW of New Iberia. They arrived at Camp Pratt (a camp of instruction for LA recruits) on approximately 10 or 11 September 1862, where the commanders of Breazeale's Battalion of LA Partisan Rangers were informed that the five (5) companies of the Breazeale Battalion were to be a part of the 2nd LA Cavalry (10 companies). They were ordered to report to Col. William G. Vincent at Camp Vincent, which was located on the St. Emma Plantation on Bayou Lafourche, four (4) miles south of Donaldsonville, LA. The Battalion arrived at Camp Vincent late in the evening of 22 Sept. 1862 and were involved in their first skirmish on the morning of 223 Sept 1862, with the 21st Indiana Infantry, and then with Union gunboats on the Mississippi.

I have a number of pictures of men of the 2nd LA Cavalry, but none of the Olives or Knott. I do have one of Lt. Col. Blair.

I know of four surviving flags. The Breazeale Battalion flag is in the archives at Northwestern in Natchitoches. The Regimental flag, which was captured at Henderson Hill on 21 March 1864, is in the collection at the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth, TX. Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans has two (2) 2nd LA Cavalry flags - One is a guidon based on the 1st Confederate National Flag and was given to the Museum by Col. Vincent. The second was a regimental flag given to the Regiment by the ladies of De Soto Parish in October of 1864 (Oct. 6th). The guidon is on display, but the curators at Confederate Memorial Hall do not display (and will not allow visitors to see) the final Regimental flag (from De Soto Ladies) as it is in very poor condition.

There are other surviving items that I have located, but it is a very short list. I know of two extant weapons carried by members of the 2nd LA Cavalry. These are an Enfield rifle carried by an officer and a pistol, with holster, carried by an enlisted solder. There are probably other "relics" out there, but I have not as yet found the owners. Also, I recently was shown a bible carried by a member of Co. G during the war.

Can you pinpoint the location of Beulah for me. There was a Beulah community in Sabine Parish WSW of Many (near the Sabine River), but I am not aware of a Beulah in Natchitoches Parish.

If you have any questions, you can contact me at don.gayle@frontier.com.

Very best

Don Parker

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2nd Louisiana Cavalry
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Major John C. Knott
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