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Re: Possible uaccounted detailed Jayhawker Inciden

Nick

At the point in either late Dec. 1864 or early Jan 1865, there were no Union troops at any point along the Calcasieu River where Ursin Carriere lived. After the Red River Campaign (March to May 1864), Union troops very seldom went further west than the Atchafalaya River and the lower Bayou Teche (until the surrender in May 1865).

This very strongly suggests that Ursin Carriere was taken prisoner by Confederate cavalry, not Union cavalry. He was probably captured by a patrol from either the 7th LA Cavalry or the 6th LA Cavalry. Based on the location of his house, now in Allen Parish (NE Calcasieu Parish in 1864-5), I would guess he was captured by part of the 7th LA Cavalry of Col. Louis A. Bringier, the same unit that cornered Ozeme Carriere in May 1865 and killed the Jayhawker leader. With Ursin's capture by a Confederate patrol, probably in late Dec. 1864, there would seem to be little doubt that he was summarily executed as directed by Confederate high command general orders.

Although they had several patrol units along the Calcasieu River in Rapides and Calcasieu Parishes looking for and harassing Jayhawkers, units of the 2nd LA Cavalry almost certainly did not capture Ursin Carriere. I can give you the following text from the CW diary of 2nd Lt. John Coleman Sibley of Co. E, 2nd LA Cavalry.

"[Jan.] 2nd [1865] Met Paul (2nd Lt. DC Paul, Co. G, 2nd LA Cav.) and his men at Carrier[e]s Ferry. We killed a hog and calf and barbecued them and prepared to continue our hunt. We have no bread now but eat the meat by its self.

Camped at night near Calcasieu Bay. No corn today. Carrier[e]’s Ferry is where our Company went hunting Jayhawkers while with Pyron’s Regt in 1863, and got a horse for Alston to ride. The houses are all burnt now. Carrier[e] was carried away by cavalry and it is not know[n] here what become of him."

As you probably know, Carriere's Ferry, run by Ursin Carriere, was about 11 mile SE of Oakdale, LA, on the northeast branch of the Calcasieu River. Lt. Sibley and Lt. Paul of the 2nd LA Cavalry were on detached duty in early 1865, ordered to find and capture Jayhawkers and deserters. The Sibley Diary mentions this on several occasions, and mentions the execution of Jayhawkers by Lt. Paul.

If you need any additional info from me, contact me at don.gayle@frontier.com.

Very best

Don

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Possible uaccounted detailed Jayhawker Incident.
Re: Possible uaccounted detailed Jayhawker Inciden