Major David Washington Self, CSA
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Editor Don Smith: I was disappointed in some of the wartime data on Major David Washington Self, especially that he had been wounded near Vicksburg, Mississippi. The report of his commanding officer clearly spells out that he fell severely wounded on the second day of the Battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862. Some reports have him taken prisoner near Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4, 1862. The information is almost correct. The correct date is July 4, 1863.

 

THE 17TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS:

The Louisiana 17th Infantry Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers was organized at Camp Moore, Louisiana during the month of September 1861.  Captain David Washington Self  joined  the  regiment on September 30, 1861 at Camp Moore and was made captain of  Company “B”.  The members of the 17th Regiment were recruited from the parishes of Ouachita, Sabine,  Catahoula, Plaquemines, Orleans, Caddo, Bossier, Morehouse and Claiborne.  The total muster of  832 men were organized into ten companies, Company A to Company K (there was no Company J). This is just under the ideal size of a regiment, which is 1000 men in 10 companies of 100 men each. Each company had a battle name which they choose when they were formed. The battle names of the various companies were: Company A, “St. James Rifles”; Company B,  “Sabine Rebels”; Company C, “Catahoula Rebels”;  Company D, “Phoenix Rifles”; Company E, “Landrum Guards”; Company F, “Caddo Lake Boys”; Company G, “Simmons Stars” (Catahoula); Company H, “Morehouse Southrons”; Company I, “Catahoula Guards”; Company K, “Claiborne Invincibles”.

 

BRIEF REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 17th Regiment decamped from Camp Moore and proceeded to New Orleans where they were first located in Camp Chalmette and then in Camp Benjamin. The 17th Regiment, now assigned to Ruggles Brigade ( a brigade is composed of from 2 to 6 regiments), proceeded north to Corinth, Mississippi in February, 1862. The regiment  fought at Shiloh, Tennessee on April 6 and April 7, 1862. Shiloh is about 20 miles north of Corinth.  The 17th Regiment was ordered to Vicksburg were it remain until the Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863, whereupon it  was paroled.  It reorganized and for the remainder of the war,  remained in the state of Louisiana.

 

WHY DID THE BATTLE OF SHILOH TAKE PLACE:

The Memphis and Charleston Railroad, which went through Corinth, Mississippi, was probably the most important railroad in the Confederacy, the main supply line from the Transmississippi area to Confederate armies in the east. Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston was convinced that Union General Ulysses S. Grant would try to break the Memphis and Charleston Railroad at Corinth, whenever Buell could reinforce him. Johnston planned to attack first and destroy Grant encamped at Shiloh before Buell came up with reinforcements, after which he would deal with General Buell.

 

General Johnston knew that Grant was flush with his victories over Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. It was at Fort Donelson where, upon its request for surrender, Grant said, “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move upon your works immediately”.  Thereafter, Grant was called Unconditional Surrender Grant.  But General Johnston saw an advantage that he thought to take advantage of; General Grant had his troops poorly positioned at Shiloh.

 

THE BATTLE OF SHILOH:

The Battle of Shiloh, named for a small church, took place in south central Tennessee, 20 miles north of Corinth, Mississippi.  The battle took place on April 6 and April 7, 1862.  It is also called the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. Grant had his Union forces positioned on the western bank of the Tennessee River at Pittsburg Landing with most of his men in camp near Shiloh Chapel.  The Federals were positioned between 2 creeks, Lick Creek to the right and Snake Creek to the left,  with their back to the Tennessee River, inviting destruction. Confederate General Johnston, commanding the Army of Mississippi with 40,000 eager Confederate soldiers, began the march from Corinth north to Shiloh on April 2, 1862.  The 17th Louisiana Infantry Regiment left Corinth on April 3, 1862. There was intermitted rain, even downpours. Because of the bad roads the march took longer than expected. 

 

Union General Grant did not even have outposts manned to look out for Confederate forces, so their sudden appearance on the field came as a complete surprise.  The Confederate forces rolled over the Union forces one by one. General Grant's Union forces held for 6 hours at a sunken road called the "hornet's nest", named for the thousands of bullets and artillery rounds fired by the Confederates. The forces of General Johnston finally took the sunken road.  Nearby at a peach orchard the Union forces grimly held on.

 

Night fell.  The night of April 6, 1862, General Don Carlos Buell's 25,000 Union reinforcements arrived from Memphis, Tennessee.  Under the cover of darkness and Federal gunboats, his troops disembarked from steamboats. Grant now had 70,000 men under his command. With the aid of these fresh Union troops, on the morning of April 7, 1862, General Grant was able to push the Confederate troops back over the ground they had taken the previous day. The Confederate Army of Mississippi lost Shiloh (Tennessee), and subsequently lost Corinth (Mississippi). Grant later acknowledged the importance of Shiloh and stated that the victory was due to the gunboats of the United States Navy which allowed Buell’s reinforcements to disembark.

 

Shiloh and Corinth were decisive battles in the Civil War. Memphis, Tennessee and Vicksburg, Mississippi were now vulnerable to Union attack. And when Vicksburg fell on July 4, 1863, the South was split into two parts. The North now controlled the entire length of the Mississippi River separating the eastern portion of the Confederacy from its major supply sources.   It was only a question of time until the war was over. Shelby Foote, eminent author of the 3-volume “The Civil War: A Narrative”,  said on a television program one time that after Shiloh the South never smiled again.

 

CAPTAIN DAVID WASHINGTON SELF AT THE BATTLE OF SHILOH:

(Editor’s Note: Captain David Washington Self fought at Shiloh but not until the second day, on July 7, 1862. A report from Colonel S.S.Heard, commanding officer of the 17th Regiment describes his bout with pneumonia:)

 

HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS, April 15, 1862.

SIR: The reason why Capt. D. W. Self, Company B, did not appear on the field of battle at Shiloh until the morning of the 7th instant was this: That officer was confined to his bed by a severe attack of pneumonia when the regiment left Corinth on the 3d instant. He (Captain Self) feeling himself able on the evening of the 6th to join his regiment, left Corinth and joined the regiment late Sunday evening, after the action of the 6th had closed. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S.S. HEARD, Colonel, Commanding Seventeenth Louisiana Volunteers.

(Editor’s Note: On the second day of Shiloh, April 7, 1862, Captain David Washington Self was in the thick of the action and fell severely wounded.  A combat action report of the 17th Regiment written by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Jones describes what took place:)

April 6-7, 1862..--Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn.
No. 175. -- Report of Lieut. Col. Charles Jones, Seventeenth Louisiana Infantry.

HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS,

Camp, Corinth, Miss., April 11, 1862.


On the morning of the 7th I sent my adjutant on to form the regiment, or such portions of it as he could find, near the Big Spring. When I came up with my small command I found that my adjutant had joined some other brigade with what number he could find. I, with what few men I had, managed to gather together about 200 in all, composed of stragglers from different regiments, with the aid of Capt. D. W. Self, of Company B, who had now for the first time appeared upon the field, and some other officers, managed to form a line and keep it in place until ordered by General Ruggles to advance. The general at this instant rode in front of the lines, and, seizing the flag from the hands of the color-bearer, gallantly led them to the charge. In this charge he was assisted by Col. S.S. Heard. Captain Self, of Company B, fell severely wounded. Our forces now began to retire from the field.

Captain Self was sent home from the battlefield owing to his wounds and told his wife that his wound would not heal. He had been sent home to die. His wife, Elizabeth Leticia “Betty” Sibley, opened the wound and retrieved a piece of leather from where the shot went through his pistol holster and thereafter the wound healed. As soon as the wound got better, he got on his horse, crossed the Mississippi and rejoined his regiment on May 23, 1862 at Edward’s Depot, Mississippi. He was reelected by his men as their Captain the very same day.  

 

From Edward’s Depot, the 17th Regiment removed to Vicksburg and took part in the action during the first Federal attack on that city.  In July, 1862 the unit only contained 27 officers and 373 men. The regiment took part in the action at Chickasaw Bluffs, after which it was assigned to Baldwin’s Brigade.  The unit remained in or near Vicksburg through the winter months, and then fought at the Battle of Port Gibson, where it saw considerable action guarding the rear of the Confederate retreat.  The 17th Regiment fell back to Vicksburg and remained there during the Yankee siege from May 19 to July 4, 1863.  Major Self, together with 31,600 other Confederate soldiers, was captured and paroled when Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863. Confederate officers were allowed to retain their side arms.

 

After Vicksburg, the paroled men returned to their homes. The regiment was now assigned to A. Thomas’ Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. In January, 1864 the 17th Regiment assembled at a parole camp near Shreveport, Louisiana and remained there a short while.  It was reorganized and thereafter engaged the Federals within the boundaries of Louisiana.  Some of the places they were located are: Minden, Pineville, Cotile and Mansfield. Major Self continued with the 17th Regiment  until the end of the war.  He was

paroled at Natchitoches, Louisiana on June 12, 1865.


MAJOR DAVID WASHINGTON SELF,  MAN OF TRUE GRIT

 

(Note Of Editor Don Smith: This section reflects my conclusions about my great great grandfather David Washington Self.   It is my firm belief that during the months of April and May, 1862, Captain David W. Self made two gritty decisions that were to influence the rest of his life, including his election as Sheriff of Sabine Parish and election to the Louisiana House of Representatives. My belief is from inferences based on the events themselves.)

 

Decision #1: In the days before penicillin, there was no more frightening a disease than  pneumonia.  I’ve had pneumonia twice and, even with penicillin, the effects lasted days and even weeks.  If Captain Self  was medically unable to join his comrade-in-arms on the first day of the Battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, then he still must have still felt the lingering effects of the disease when he entered the fray on April 7, 1862.  He literally got up from a sick bed, got on his horse and rode north to Shiloh.  And, make no mistake; his men would have known and appreciated his efforts. A lesser man might had stayed in camp at Corinth, Mississippi, probably in bed, claiming that he was physically unable to fight.

 

Decision #2: When he was sent home by his regiment to die, and his wife,  Elizabeth Leticia “Betty” Sibley, opened the wound and retrieved a piece of leather from where the shot went through his pistol holster and the wound healed, a lesser man could have stayed home for the rest of the war, claiming invalid status. What happened? As soon as his wound got better, he mounted his horse, crossed the Mississippi River and rejoined his unit.  On the same day he returned to duty, he was reelected by the men of Company B to be their Captain. Inference? They were so impressed with his decision to fight at Shiloh and to return to combat status, they did not delay in reelecting him. Another inference is that he fought well at Shiloh.

 

In volunteer regiments election to command was the norm, so David W. Self was elected to the rank of Captain. He was reelected by his men to be their captain 8 months later. He was promoted to Major “on the field of combat” by higher command. Of 120 officers in 4 regiments serving under Brigadier General Baldwin in the 2 months of combat leading up the Confederate surrender at Vicksburg, July 4, 1963, only Major Self and 8 other officers were pointed out by General Baldwin as meriting “high commendation for courage”. It was during this period of combat that Major Self received his majority.

 

It is my strong conviction that great great grandfather David Washington Self was a man of courage and true grit. His men recognized that and elected and reelected him captain. Officers in command over him recognized that and  promoted him to major. The voters of Sabine Parish recognized that and elected him to the office of Sheriff, and later Representative to the Louisiana House of Representative. The men of Company B, the “Sabine Rebels”, those band of brothers whose comradeship was forged in battle, would have sent  the word forth as to the character of  their commander, Major David Washington Self.  In action and deed, he upheld the character and honor of a true Southern gentleman.

 

I am very proud to be the great great grandson of Major David Washington Self,  C. S. A., a man of true grit.

Information on Major David Washington Self from volume 3 of a 3 volume set of books by Andrew B. Booth, Commissioner Louisiana Military Records, 1920, entitled: “Records Of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers” follows:

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Self, D. W., Captain and Major, Company B, Field and Staff Officer, 17th Louisiana Infantry.  Entered service on September 30, 1861, Camp Moore, Louisiana. Present on all Rolls to February, March and April, 1862, Absent on 30 days furlough from wound received at Shiloh.  Present on all rolls May, 1862 to February, 1863. Federal Rolls of Prisoners of War, Captured and  paroled Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863.  Official Rolls of Paroled Officers, C.S.A.  Paroled at Natchitoches, Louisiana, June 12, 1865.

Field Officers of The 17th Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers:

The regiment had eight field officers:

2 Colonels: Colonel S.S. Heard and Colonel Robert Richardson

2 Lieutenant Colonels: Lieutenant Colonel Charles Jones and Lieutenant Colonel Madison Rogers

4 Majors: Major Robert B.  Jones, Major William A. Maddox, Major  William A. Redditt and Major David W. Self.


TIME-LINE OF MAJ DAVID WASHINGTON SELF’S WARTIME RECORD

 

1. January 26, 1861: Louisiana seceded  from the Union.

 

2. September 30, 1961: Entered service of the 17th Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers at Camp Moore, Louisiana. He was elected by the soldiers of Company B as their Captain. Later in the war, the South issued a draft, but until that time, Louisiana regiments were all volunteer units.

 

3. April 6, 1862: Ill with pneumonia so that he missed the first day of the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6, 1862.

 

4. April 7, 1862: Fought the second day of the Battle Of Shiloh, April 7, 1862, where he fell severely wounded.

 

5. April, 1862: He was sent home by his regiment on a 30 sick leave, because of his wound. It was thought that he would die of his wound.

 

6. April, 1862: Wife Elizabeth pulled out some leather from his wound, his wound healed and he rejoined his regiment on May 23, 1862 at Edward’s Depot, Mississippi. 

 

7. May 23, 1862: On the day he returned from sick leave, he was reelected by the men of Company B to be their Captain.

 

8. January 30, 1863: Wrote a letter to General Pemberton about being examined for promotion to Major.

 

9. May 30, 1863: Promoted to Major “in the field”.

 

10. In Action, May 19 to June 4, 1863: In a report about action against the Federals near Vicksburg, written by Brigadier General W. E. Baldwin, commanding the First Brigade, Captain D. W. Self along with 8 other officers were pointed out for “high commendation for courage” owing to their behavior in combat. It is noteworthy to point out that only these 9 officers were named as worthy of commendation among 120 possible officers serving in the 4 regiments mentioned in Brigadier General W. E. Baldwin’s action report: (1) the 17th Louisiana Regiment, (2) the 31st Louisiana Regiment, (3) the 46th Mississippi Regiment and (4) the First Brigade artillery. This report covers the period of time from May 4 to July 4, 1863, during which time combat action occurred between May 19 and June 4, 1863. During this time frame, Captain David W. Self received his promotion to Major in the field on May 30, 1863. He must have done very well in this series of combat actions to receive his majority nd to be commended by General Baldwin.

11. July 4, 1963: Captured and paroled and sent home after the Union victory at the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

 

12. June 12, 1865: Exchanged and reorganized, the 17th Regiment was placed in A. Thomas’ Regiment, Trans-Mississippi Department. Continued with his unit within the boundaries of Louisiana until the end of the war.  Paroled at

 Natchitoches, Louisiana, June 12, 1865.

SYNOPSIS OF DAVID WASHINGTON SELF'S PUBLIC CAREER
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR:


1. 1860 Federal Census Enumerator for Sabine Parish, Louisiana.
2. First School Superintendent of Sabine Parish.
3. Tax Assessor 1860 to 1877 of Sabine Parish (less Civil War time).
4. Sheriff of Sabine Parish 1884 to 1888.
5. Served as Representative in the Legislature 1888 to 1892.

 

 

David Washington Self
Sheriff of Sabine County
Louisiana, 1884-1888

 

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