Welsh (Walsh), Joseph, Pvt. Co. F,
18th La. Inf. Also on Rolls of Co. F, Cons. 18th Regt. and
Yellow Jacket Battn. La. Inf., Pvt. Roll of Prisoners of
War, C. S. A., Paroled at Natchitoches, La., June 6, 1865.
Res. Assumption Par., La.
Joseph Walsh was born in County Kilkenny,
Ireland in about 1844. He immigrated with his parents and
sibling to Labadieville, Assumption Parish, Louisiana in
about 1853. Joseph Welsh(Walsh), son of Nicholas
Welsh(Walsh) and Anastasia Davis was married February 6,1869
at St Philomene Church, Labadieville, to Elizabeth Duffy
(Duffel), daughter of Jean Duffy and Marceline Himel.
Witnesses: Arthur Naquin, Arneste Leche, Erneste Himel,
Alique Gautraux. They had nine children: Lucie, Clarice,
Nicholas, John, Whitney, Annie, Georgia, Thomas, and Mildred
Walsh. Joseph Walsh was farmer in Labadieville, Assumption
Parish and later a farmer and constable in Central, St.
James Parish, Louisiana.
CSA records show a Joseph Walsh who enlisted as a Private
in 1862 with his brother, James Walsh in Lafourche Parish in
Fournet's Command of Company "F" of the 18th Louisiana
Infantry. His officers were: Capt. Argus, Lt. Aucoin,
Colonel William Mouton. Joseph fought at the battle of
Shiloh in 1862 and he was captured in 1863 in a battle near
Brashear City, now Morgan City, Louisiana. He was later
paroled and obviously rejoined his unit because at the end
of the war, he was paroled at Natchitoches on June 6th, 1865
and returned to Assumption Parish.
Although the U.S. War Dept had some trouble establishing
a Joseph Walsh on their POW list, they did have a Joseph
Welsh with the 18th Louisiana Infantry. Name of comrades who
signed his pension application: Capt. Simon Poche of
Donaldsonville, Louisiana and Camille Blouin of St. James,
Louisiana verified that Joseph Walsh and Joseph Welsh were
one and the same.
Apparently, the application for pension was approved,
since in February 1914, Mrs. Elizabeth Duffle Walsh made
application for a Widow's Pension. She received $90 per
quarter pension until her last check was paid on December
24, 1928.
Joseph Walsh died on December 3, 1913 and was buried in
St. Mary's Chapel Cemetery, Union, St. James Parish,
Louisiana.