I posted this back in 2010
I found an account of what is probably the first casualty of the 1st Louisiana Native Guard...
Below is the Coroners report...Dec. 11, 1862.
Joseph Degruy F. M. C. – 23 years- Louisiana – Private in the Co. C. First Regimt. Native Guards – cor. Tonti and Roman Sts. – Was shot by Lt. Emile Deliege F. M. C. up on Lafourche. Case set for Friday Dec. 12th 62. Post Mortem by coroner Dr. B*. Two gunshot wounds on the body one in the left breast one inch below the left nipple and one just at the pubes about one inch above and to the left of the penis. The wound in the breast was the fatal wound. The ball passed between the fifth and sixth ribs and passed through the right ventricle just at the apex causing immediate death. The wound in the pubes passed downwards in the inside of the left thigh was not necessarily mortal.*Might be Dr. R, or Div. B. Sloppy handwriting.
The newspapaer account is much more detailed. The Lt. Deliege shot the man after he failed to obey an order promptly (he was ordered down from on top of a wagon), the officer physically assauted him and when Degruy attempted to protect himself, the officer let him go, stepped back a pace, drew a revolver and shot the man twice.
on Dec. 13, 1862 I found the report of the inquest. In summary, after further witnesses the story goes like this.
Lt. Detiege, coming with a guard of four men, called to Joseph Degruy, as 23, to come and drill. Degruy was sitting on top of a wagon going from camp. Degruy replied he would be there in a few moments; they he was going to get his clean clothes. The Lt. insisted that he come immediately, which he did, and placed himself between the guard. As he did the Lt. went up to him and caught him by the collar and shook him roughly saying, "Did I not tell you to come immediately?" Degruy replied: "Don't shake me that way." The Lt. stepped back some two or three steps, drew his pistol and fired. Two shots were heard. The first staggered Degruy and the second felled him and he died in a few minutes.
The Captain asked the Lt. what was the matter, and he replied: "For disobedience of orders I shot him."
Degruy had not yet been mustered into service. He had just arrived wanting to join the regiment.
The verdict of the jury was to charge Lt. St. Emile Detiege with the crime of murder. Both Detiege and Degruy were discribed as "colored".
Lt. Emile Detiege is shown in the Soldiers and Sailors system as going on and serving in the 73rd and 96th U.S.C.T. He also would serve La. State Senate, 1874-76 and in the La. House of Representatives, 1877-80. He is also listed as an officer of the original 1st Louisiana Native Guard, during the Confederate period.
A little more on Joseph DeGruy, age 23. The newspaper account stated that Joseph DeGruy had three brothers in the 1st Louisiana Native Guard Infantry. One of the witnesses was named Eugene, and the primary witness was his brother.
I could not find a DeGruy family that would match the above information, however, I found in the 1860 Federal Census for New Orleans...
Francois Degruse, Father, age 55, Mulatto
Julie Bonnans, Mother, age 48, Mulatto
Charles Degruse, son, age 24, Mulatto, Bricklayer**
Louis Degruse, son, age 22, Mulatto, Clerk*
Joseph Degruse, son, age 21, Mulatto, Cooper
Eugene Degruse, son, age 19, Mulatto, Cook
In the S&S System there are...
Louis DeGruy, *Lieutenant, 74th U.S.C.T.
Charles DeGruy, Private, 96th U.S.C.T. (formed from the Corps De'Africa **Engineers)
Eugene DeGruy, Private, 73rd U.S.C.T.
There is also a Eugene DeGruy, private in Company F of the Cresent Regiment La. Inf.
I know the issue with names in New Orleans and DeGruy could be pronounced Degruse or vis versa. Look at the brothers employment listed in the census and look at their military record. Also the U.S.C.T. units listed for these men have links to New Orleans.