Col. Reichard was my great-grandfather. His son, Max Jean Reichard, was my grandfather. I have a lot of information on him. Here's the text of a speech he gave to the soldiers under his command. I have the original, written in his own hand. Let me know if you're interested in more.
"12 Aug. 1862.
Soldiers of the second Brigade! For more than 2 months we have been reposing on our laurels at Tupelo a time, it is true, not spent in idleness, but devoted to reorganization, drilling and reestablishing that discipline without which an army, in a military point of view, is nothing but an armed rabble. Now, however, higher duties, graver responsibilities, are before us. While we were quietly pursuing peaceful military exercises, our fellow soldiers in Virginia were engaged in the bloodiest series of battles on record and were eliciting the praises of the whole civilized world by their acts of unsurpassed valor and gallantry. It is now expected that this army will follow in the wake of that of Virginia, the eyes of the whole country are turned toward this army and great results are anticipated in which, let us firmly hope, this brigade will play a conspicuous part.
"You, soldiers of the 11th Louisiana Regiment, already, on the field of Belmont (? illegible), have earned the enviable by-name of the "bloody" eleventh. You will know how to maintain your justly merited reputation.
"You, soldiers of the 16th Louisiana Regiment, have seen hard fighting at Shiloh, but more is expected this time, not a glorious victory one day and a drawn battle the next; victory, victory again and nothing but the most decisive victory will answer.
"You, soldiers of the 20th Louisiana Regiment, whom G----(?) proved to (illegible) in the battle of Shiloh, you will exert yourselves to surpass the deed on that bloody field, you will avenge the death of so many brave comrades whom we left mouldering in the vast graveyard of Shiloh-church.
"And lastly, tho' not least, you, soldiers of the 45th Alabama Regiment, you have yet to win your spurs on the field of battle; but enough has been seen of the zeal and hearty goodwill of officers and men to know this, at the first chance offering, you will show that you are worthy sons of the gallant State of Alabama. The public prints teem with the praise of the noble and brave Alabamians who so heroically fought in the late battles near Richmond. Remember the lamented L---(?) and so many other thousands that fell in these bloody battles. Imitate them, and like them you will crown yourself with imperishable glory and renown. ...”