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BOOKS
A Fine Body of Men: The Orleans Light Horse, Louisiana Cavalry, 1861-1865
by Donald Peter Moriarty II
New Orleans: The Historic New Orleans Collection, 2014
$30, paperback, 304 pages, 28 black-and-white images
ISBN-13: 978-0-917860-67-6
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A Fine Body of Men
THNOC’s newest publication follows a Civil War regiment from New Orleans into action.
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, The Collection is pleased to present its newest title, A Fine Body of Men: The Orleans Light Horse, Louisiana Cavalry, 1861-1865. In this thoroughly researched Civil War regimental history, author and retired army officer Donald Peter Moriarty II tells the story of the Orleans Light Horse, an independent light-cavalry troop described by the New Orleans Daily Picayune as “a fine body of men all splendidly mounted.” Moriarty follows the Orleans Light Horse from its organization in February 1861 through its March 1862 muster into active service with the Confederate States Army to the war’s end, in 1865. As the escort company to Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk and, later, Lt. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart, the Orleans Light Horse was an integral part of the Army of Mississippi and the Army of Tennessee. A Fine Body of Men provides service records and additional biographical information for the company’s 215 cavalrymen, while inviting readers to experience the major campaigns of the Civil War’s Western Theater alongside these brave soldiers. An adapted excerpt describing the Orleans Light Horse’s muster into the Confederate army and early service in the war is reprinted here. —MARY M. GARSAUD
Muster and Deployment
On Saturday, March 22, 1862, 85 members of the Orleans Light Horse were formally mustered into active service of the Confederate States Army as an independent troop of light cavalry. [. . .] After the muster, the leadership consisted of Thomas L. Leeds, captain; William A. Gordon, first lieutenant; George Foster, second lieutenant; J. Leeds Greenleaf, junior second lieutenant; William C. Nichols, surgeon; William A. Bell,
Ephraim K. Converse, Frederick G. Freret, Charles D. Lallande, John F. Pollock, and Henry Thornhill, sergeants; and William A. Freret II, Aristide R. Hopkins, Philip M.
Kenner, and Jules N. Robelot, corporals.
The unit was ordered to deploy to the Army of Mississippi, a major element of Department No. 2, then operating in the vicinity of Corinth, in the northeast corner of Mississippi. The men of the Light Horse were given one week to get their personal affairs in order. The following Saturday, March 29, the Daily Picayune published this notice; “Light Horse.—This troop of cavalry will assemble at the riding hall today, at 2Vi o’clock, fully equipped, effects packed, ready for departure.” The unit would travel by steamer to Memphis and then by train to Corinth. The paper followed up with a report the next day: “The Orleans Light Horse, Capt. Leeds, one of the crack cavalry troops of the State, left yesterday evening on board the steamer Gen. Quitman.’”
Into the Fray
The Orleans Light Horse arrived in Corinth early on the morning of Monday, April 7,	*
and was led to its designated campsite, where the members occupied the remainder of that day unpacking and readying themselves and their animals and equipment for operational service. The Army of Mississippi was fighting the second day of the Battle of Shiloh on
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