Corporal, Louisiana Tigers Bull Run, 1861

The Louisiana Tigers originally designed a single volunteer company raised in the New Orleans area by Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat. The nickname quickly spread and eventually ended up being used to designate all the Louisiana troops in the Army of Northern Virginia.

The origin of the Louisiana Tigers came from the nickname of the original company, the “Tiger Rifles”. It was mainly composed of Irish and adopted uniforms similar to the ones of the French Zouaves.

The unit entered combat for the first time at the Battle of Manassa, where they fought bravely, resisting for hours on the support of the left flank of the Confederate Army until reinforcements could arrive. They also saw combat in other important battles like Gaines’ Mill, Fredericksburg, or Gettysburg, always distinguishing themselves with great valor.

As a curiosity, in 1866, after the war, one company of the Louisiana Tigers joined the Fenian army that tried to invade Upper Canada, in order to try to establish an Irish-free nation.

This classic from miniatures’ history was released in the late ’90s by Elite Miniaturas and the original boxart was painted by Raúl García Latorre himself.

Note: This is a resin miniature kit that requires assembly and painting.