The Louisiana in the Civil War Message Board

Re: 33rd RPR History
In Response To: 33rd RPR History ()

Sir

Like Steve I would need to know what you think RPR (33rd) means. I am assuming that the 33rd RPR is probably the 33 Regiment Partisan Rangers. The 33rd Regiment of Louisiana Partisan Rangers was an ephemeral predecessor to the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry, which was formed in late August or early Sept. 1862.

With the Partisan Ranger act of April/May 1862, a number of partisan ranger groups were formed in Louisiana in the summer of 1862. With the assumption of the command in the District of Western Louisiana by MG Richard Taylor, I believe that he wanted these partisan ranger companies or battalions formed into a regiment that would meet his needs for scouting and frontal coverage and allow him the full control that he would have with a unit accepted into the Confederate service. As a result, the 33rd Regiment Louisiana Partisan Rangers was formed (probably) in late August 1862.

I believe, without documentary support, that Taylor was apprehensive about the utility of "partisan rangers" and convinced Lt. Gen. EK Smith and the Governor of Louisiana to combine the available groups or companies of partisan rangers into a regiment of Louisiana volunteer cavalry, accepted for Confederate service. I believe he wanted a regiment over which he had full control, which he would not have had with a regiment of partisan rangers. As a result, the 33rd Regiment of Louisiana Partisan Rangers (a unit that probably only existed on paper for a very short time - less than a month) evolved into the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry as the unit was being formed in Aug.-Sept. 1862.

I repeat that this is my belief only. I find a number of mentions of the 33rd LA RPR in a number of places (e.g.: LA Confederate pension records), always as a footnote to the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry. I have found no single document that confirms how and when the 33rd LA RPR became the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry, only that the unit did become the 2nd Regiment Louisiana Cavalry approximately 1 Sept. 1862, and served until the end of the war.

At some point soon, I hope to visit the LA State Archives to see if I can find a source for the 33rd LA Partisan Ranger to 2nd Louisiana Cavalry transition.

I look forward to hearing about your interpretation of RPR.

Don Parker

Messages In This Thread

33rd RPR History
Re: 33rd RPR History
Re: 33rd RPR History
Re: 33rd RPR History