Searching for more information on the Minden Blues. I had three relatives that fought with this unit in the Civil War -- William Hopkins Bailey (my great grandfather), John W. Bailey (a great great uncle), and Edward C. "Ed" Bailey (a great great uncle). John W. and Ed were killed in the war.

Here is some of the information I have researched over the years:

Bailey, William Hopkins., Private, Sergeant, Company G. 8th La. Infantry. On List not dated of Minden Blues Who came down from Adkins' Landing, Red River, to New Orleans, La., on steamer Eleanor. Arrived on June 14th. 1861.

Enlisted on June 23rd, 1861 at Camp Moore, La. Present on Rolls to October, 1861.

I'm trying to re-write the above using something like this:

"Two months after the Civil War began on April 12, 1861, at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, members of the Minden Blues and William Hopkins traveled to Adkins' Landing, on the Red River, and took the Steamer Eleanor to Camp Moore, Louisiana, near New Orleans. The group arrived in New Orleans on June 14th, 1861, and William Hopkins enlisted on June 23rd, 1861, at Camp Moore, which had opened in May of 1861.

The “Blues” had been outfitted by the ladies of Minden with new blue uniforms – to match their name. The Blues became Company G of the 8th Louisiana Infantry, part of the famed Louisiana Tigers. They were immediately sent to Northern Virginia where they took part in the First Battle of Bull Run in July. After that battle, which saw them fired upon by fellow Confederates because of their blue uniforms, the beautiful homemade blue uniforms were burned."

Yada...yada..yada...

Roll for Nov. and Dec., 1861, "Present. In Arrest Since Dec. 25th, 1861. -- " Wonder why he was arrested?

Roll for Dec. 31st. 1861, to April 30th, 1862, "Present. Re-Enlisted and mustered in for the War by Major Christy at Camp Carondelet, Va., on Feb. 12th, 1862. Pay as Private to April 24th, 1862."

Rolls from June 30th, 1862, to Aug., 1862, "Absent. Wounded on June 27th." Rolls from Sept., 1862, to Feb, 1863, state "Present."(Wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill according to my research...in the left breast and head.)

Roll for Feb. 28th, 1863, to May 14th, 1863, "Absent. Missing May 4th, 1863."

On May 3rd or 4th, 1863, William Hopkins was captured by the Union Army at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, also known as the Second Battle of Marye's Heights. And, on May 4th, his older brother, John W. Bailey, was killed while serving in Hay's Brigade.

Federal Rolls of Prisoners of War Captured Fredericksburg, Va., May 3rd, 1863. Forwarded from Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C., to Fort Delaware, Del., May 7th, 1863. Paroled at Fort Delaware. Received at City Point, Va., on May 23rd, 1863, and Exchanged.

Rolls from Aug. 11th, 1863, to Aug. 31st,1864, state "Present."

Roll for Nov. and Dec., 1863. "Absent. Prisoner Since Nov. 7th, 1863."

Prisoner of War Rolls, "Captured Rappahannock, Va. on Nov. 7th, 1863. Received at Washington Nov, 11th, 1863. Paroled at Point Lookout, Md., and Transferred for exchange on Feb. 10th, 1865. Exchanged at Cox's Landing, Va., Feb. 14th-15th, 1865."

Occupation, Farmer. Res., Minden, La. Single.

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John W. Bailey.. Older brother of William Hopkins

Private. Company G. 8th Louisiana Infantry "The Minden Blues."

Enlisted on March 15th, 1862 at Minden, La. Present on Rolls to July, 1862. Rolls from August, 1862, to October, 1862, "Absent. Sick." Rolls from November, 1862, to May, 1863, state "Present." Roll to June 30th, 1863, "Killed May 4th, 1863." Occupation, Farmer. Residence, Minden, La. Married. John W. Bailey appears on a list of casualties in Hay’s Brigade, in the battles near Fredericksburg (The Second Fredericksburg), Virginia, April 29th to May 4th, 1863.

According to the Census records he was married to one "E. Bailey," born in Georgia, and they had two boys, W. G. Bailey and H. J. Bailey (born before 1860).
Somewhere, in a book at the Louisiana Tech library, back in the 1970's, I found this quote--wish I knew the title of the book:

"Without disparagement to the rest of the regiment, whose conduct in presence of the enemy, with few exceptions, was admirable, allow me to commend to your favorite notice the names of Captain Joseph J. Cooper, Company F; Sergeant Lyman A. Spooner, Company I; and Private Thomas H. Bradley, Company K; also Corporal John W. Bailey, Company G; who, by their marked coolness and bravery, proved themselves on this, as on many previous occasions, deserving of the highest praise."

H. M. Tremlett
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Regiment

Lieutenant Aubrey Leavitt
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General

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I'll not bore you any further with "historical" records. But, I do have a couple of questions which you may be able to answer, or not. Regardless, I'll be thankful for any kind attention.

1. Does anyone know anything about the "Minden Blues?" I'm guessing that they traveled to the Red River by wagon or stagecoach, or even marched. Regardless, they caught the Steamship Eleanor at Adkins Landing on the Red River. Can anyone locate "Adkin's Landing" for me on a map?

Thanks....