The "Lee's Tigers" book is an excellent read. I have been over pretty much all of the eastern battlefields on which the Tigers fought. There were no better shock troops in Lee's Army. In 1862, many of the Lousiana units in Virginia were commanded by Gen. Dick Taylor (son of Zachary). On his staff was a young officer named Thomas Boyd - later connected with LSU for many years and the man for whom Thomas Boyd Hall is named. The media guide for years has said that LSU's nickname came from the Civil War Tigers, but I agree with JL that there seems to be no hard evidence of that. As for Raphael Semmes, he was indeed a naval officer, commander of the CSS Alabama. No connection at all with the Louisiana Tigers, but the thing I like best about Semmes was a dinner toast that he delighted in giving in mixed company: Here's to all the ships at sea and to the ladies of the land. May the former me well-masted and the latter be well-manned. :thumb:
How about the 2004 LSU Media Guide -- History Section . Or . . . "That nickname in time was applied to all of the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The tiger symbol came from the famous Washington Artillery of New Orleans. A militia unit that traces its history back to the 1830s, the Washington Artillery had a logo that featured a snarling tiger's head. These two units first gained fame at the Battle of First Manassas on July 21, 1861. Major David French Boyd, first president of LSU after the war, had fought with the Louisiana troops in Virginia and knew the reputation of both the Tiger Rifles and Washington Artillery. Thus when LSU football teams entered the gridiron battlefields in their fourth year of intercollegiate competition, they tagged themselves as the 'Tigers'. It was the 1955 LSU 'fourth-quarter ball club' that helped the moniker 'Tigers' grow into the nickname, 'Fighting Tigers'." LSU Tigers Team History
I was trying to keep the connection "low-key" because I don't want to see any Activists protesting and bringing lawsuits to compel LSU to change it's name from the Tigers to something that is not named after Confederate Civil War units. Thanks for blowing the cover, Red 55. Thanks to you, I can look forward to one day rooting for the LSU Fighting Nutria.
The Tigers took Cemetary Hill on Gettysburg, Day 2. On that day, Oates's Alabamians assaulted Little Round Top, but were repulsed by the 20th Maine. I'm very proud of that we took our objective. What happened to your guys?
Would you like to make a small wager on that prospect? The phrase "snowball's chance in hell" comes to mind. I'm proud of the Civil War connection, myself.
I really hate to say this but the Louisiana troops did not take Cemetery Hill on July 2nd. They attacked but were repulsed as were the Alabamians at Little Round Top. Union forces were still on Cemetery Hill on July 3rd, the target that day of Longstreet's Corps during "Pickett's Charge." Having said that, I think that Louisiana faced a much, MUCH tougher objective on July 2nd than did the Alabamians. The Tigers (and other regiments) were turned back by heavy infantry and massed artillery. Oates' Alabamians were beaten by a bunch of ... Mainers! :yelwink2:
