One of the most famous units in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was the Louisiana Tigers. They had a reputation of being terrors on the battlefield … and in camp. The nickname originated with a volunteer company raised by Maj. Chatham Wheat in New Orleans. It was called the “Tiger Rifles” and eventually Wheat’s battalion became known as “Wheat’s Tigers”. Many of the recruits were from the New Orleans docks and were of low character (even for New Orleans). They were described as “wharf rats, thieves, and outcasts”. Most were Irish immigrants, but the battalion contained 24 different nationalities. The battalion took on the personality of Wheat, who had been a mercenary in Cuba, Mexico, and Italy. He dressed his men in the very distinctive French zouave uniform. Not exactly camouflage with its striped pants and jacket and its red fezze. Wheat took his battalion to Virginia and they fought valiantly in the First Battle of Bull Run. After that, it was incorporated into the 1st La. Brigade which became known as the Tiger Brigade. Subsequently, any Louisiana units in Lee’s army were called Tigers. Louisiana Tigers became known for rowdy behavior in camp which included drunken brawls. They fought in virtually every battle in the East until the end of the war. Lee put up with them because they were vicious fighters. In the Second Battle of Bull Run, they defeated a Union attack by throwing rocks when they ran out of ammunition. They were involved in what may have been the actual turning point in the Civil War. On the second afternoon of Gettysburg, they charged Cemetery Hill and broke through the Union line to capture some artillery pieces. If they had gotten reinforcements, they might have been able to hold the position and force Meade to abandon his line. It was not to be and the rest is history.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/the-real-louisiana-tigers.html
The Louisiana Tigers at Gettysburg
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