Definition
Alfred Mouton (January 9, 1830 – April 8, 1864) was a United States Army officer, Louisiana state legislator, and Confederate brigadier general who served during the American Civil War.
Overview
Born in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, Mouton graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1852 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. After resigning his commission in 1860, he returned to Louisiana, where he served as a member of the state legislature. With the secession of Louisiana, Mouton entered Confederate service as a captain in the 18th Louisiana Infantry and quickly rose through the ranks, attaining the rank of brigadier general in October 1863. He commanded a brigade of infantry and cavalry in the Trans-Mississippi Department, participating in several engagements in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas. Mouton was killed in action while leading his brigade at the Battle of Mansfield (also known as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads) in Louisiana on April 8, 1864, a Confederate victory that halted Union General Nathaniel P. Banks's Red River Campaign.
Etymology/Origin
The surname “Mouton” is of French origin, meaning “sheep.” The name reflects the French‑Cajun heritage common in Louisiana, where many families of Acadian descent bear French surnames.
Characteristics
- Military career: West Point graduate; U.S. Army service (1852‑1860); Confederate brigadier general (1862‑1864).
- Political involvement: Served in the Louisiana House of Representatives (1860‑1861).
- Leadership style: Contemporary accounts describe Mouton as aggressive in command, leading from the front, and emphasizing rapid maneuvering of his mixed infantry‑cavalry brigade.
- Death: Killed by a Union artillery shell while directing his troops during the charge that secured the Confederate line at the Battle of Mansfield.
Related Topics
- American Civil War
- Confederate States Army
- Battle of Mansfield (Battle of Sabine Crossroads)
- Louisiana in the Civil War
- West Point graduates in the Civil War
- Red River Campaign
- List of Confederate generals.