Louis Hébert (Confederate Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Louis Hébert was an American educator, civil engineer
, writer
and soldier
who became a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War
.
parish
, Louisiana
, first cousin of engineer Paul Octave Hébert
, Louis Hébert graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1845, resigned his commission in 1847 to run his ailing father's plantation, and like his cousin became a state militia officer and chief engineer of the state of Louisiana (1855–1860).
Commissioned Colonel
of the 3rd Louisiana Infantry, Hébert fought with his regiment at Wilson's Creek
and led Benjamin McCulloch
's infantry brigade at the Pea Ridge
, where Hébert was captured. After prisoner exchange, Hébert was appointed brigadier general in late May 1862, leading a brigade at Iuka
, as well as Corinth
and Vicksburg
. At the last battle he was again made a prisoner of war
. He was however again paroled. He then served in rebel operations in North Carolina
as chief engineer of the department, and commanded the heavy artillery
at Fort Fisher
.
After the war Hébert was an editor and publisher of a local St. Martin's parish
newspaper and taught at several private schools. He died in 1901. Because his burial site was located on private land, with assistance from the Sons of Confederate Veterans
in October 2002 his remains were disinterred and moved to St. Joseph's cemetery in nearby Cecilia
.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
who became a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Born in Bayou Goula, IbervilleIberville Parish, Louisiana
Iberville Parish is a parish located south of Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Plaquemine. The 2010 population of the parish was 33,387....
parish
Parish (subnational entity)
A parish is an administrative division used by several countries. In the British Isles it is known as a civil parish to distinguish it from the ecclesiastical parish.-External links:* Editorial in The Guardian, 2011-05-16....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, first cousin of engineer Paul Octave Hébert
Paul Octave Hebert
Paul Octave Hébert was the 14th Governor of Louisiana from 1853–56 and a General in the Confederate Army.-Early life:...
, Louis Hébert graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1845, resigned his commission in 1847 to run his ailing father's plantation, and like his cousin became a state militia officer and chief engineer of the state of Louisiana (1855–1860).
Commissioned Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 3rd Louisiana Infantry, Hébert fought with his regiment at Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
and led Benjamin McCulloch
Benjamin McCulloch
Benjamin McCulloch was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U.S. marshal, and a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
's infantry brigade at the Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
, where Hébert was captured. After prisoner exchange, Hébert was appointed brigadier general in late May 1862, leading a brigade at Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, as well as Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
The Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
and Vicksburg
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
. At the last battle he was again made a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He was however again paroled. He then served in rebel operations in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
as chief engineer of the department, and commanded the heavy artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
at Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
.
After the war Hébert was an editor and publisher of a local St. Martin's parish
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is St. Martinville. As of the 2000 census, the population was 48,583.St...
newspaper and taught at several private schools. He died in 1901. Because his burial site was located on private land, with assistance from the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans is an American national heritage organization with members in all fifty states and in almost a dozen countries in Europe, Australia and South America...
in October 2002 his remains were disinterred and moved to St. Joseph's cemetery in nearby Cecilia
Cecilia, Louisiana
Cecilia is a census-designated place in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Cecilia is located at ....
.