The Louisiana in the Civil War Message Board

2nd LA Cavalry Book by Randy DeCuir

Sirs

I want to bring to your attention a book published in 2014 and share with you my low opinions of this error filled book. The book is as follows:

DeCuir, Randy. "2nd Louisiana Cavalry: A History and Roster with Available Portraits," 150th Anniversary Edition. Marksville, LA: Avoyelles Publications, 2014.

In my opinion, the book is filled with erroneous information, that can easily be shown to be incorrect by careful research. Pictures and written information are only rarely accompanied by literature citations for the sources or attribution for picture use permissions.

As an example of only one of many erroneous entries in the book, it contains information on my Great Great Grandfather, Jonathan Rodgers of Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes, and of Co. E, 2nd LA Cavalry. The book shows a picture of twin brothers Jonathan (1835-1911) and David (1835-1863) Rodgers and gives the Booth (1920) entry for a "J. Rodgers of Co. G. 2nd LA Cavalry" who is from Lafourche Parish, an actual 2LC trooper, but not the man shown in the picture. In addition, David Rodgers was also in Co. E, 2LC and died on 5 Jan 1863 of disease, was not included in the book. In my opinion, this is not even the most erroneous information in the book.

If you choose to do so, purchase the book, but I strongly recommend that you research the book contents before using anything it contains passing along erroneous information, to avoid passing along erroneous information. It is, in my opinion, a very poor historical product.

Don