...Flag design is based on a small torn section of the regimental battle flag which is on display in the Confederate Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana. May 19, 1865. When the 18th Regiment was disbanded the flag was torn into ten pieces and a piece given to each of the ten company commanders. (Placement of Battle Inscriptions is specualtive and based on similar Confederate battle flags of the same period.)

(We apologize for the quality of this image; but, the image is the best that we could locate of the late Joseph Collins. Anyone who would care to share a better quality image of Col. Collins can contact this webmaster who would be happy to replace the image and share it with everyone on the world wide web - jr.)

Collins, Joseph, Capt. Lt. Col. Co. I. 18th La. Infty. En. June 19th, 1861, New Orleans. La. Present on all Rolls to Feb., 1862. Roll for May and June, 1862, Absent. Sick. Re-elected Capt., May 11th, 1862. Roll for July and Aug., 1862. Wounded at Shiloh. Sick since April 11th, 1862. Promoted Lt. Col., July 23rd, 1862. Roll for May and June, 1863, Present. Roll for July and Aug., 1864, Absent. Detailed on Gen. Court Martial at Vermilionville, since Aug. 1st, 1863. Also on Rolls of F. and S. Cons. 18th Regt. and Yellow Jacket Battn. La. Infty. as Lt. Col. Roll for Jan. and Feb., 1864, Present. On Roll of Prisoners of War of Official Officers, Paroled Natchitoches, La., June 8th, 1865, as Col. 18th La. Infty. (April 6th, 1862, Shiloh...”The result of the charge made upon the enemy by the 18th Regiment was disastrous, especially to our company. The loss of officers and men killed, wounded, and captured was about 200...Collins of New Orleans...were wounded;...”, Additional information transcribed from pg. 45, Reminiscences of Uncle Silas, by Silas T. Grisamore.)

When the 18th Regiment was removed from Camp Roman to Camp Benjamin below New Orleans, then composed of eight companies we were joined by a new company which had been for several months organized and kept on duty guarding public property in that city, commanded by Capt. Joseph Collins, who then became our senior captain. The captain was soon found to be a genial, social companion, a good officer, and was not long in making himself a favorite among the officers of the regiment.

He commanded his company in the battle of Pittsburg landing, and during the arduous duties of the regiment previous to the battle of Shiloh, he was ever ready to accomplish any orders that were given or perform any duties that were required for him to consumate.

In the battle of Shiloh and during our charge upon the enemy on the evening of the first day, the captain was wounded and compelled to leave the field. He subsequently procured a leave of absence and returned to New Orleans, where he remained but a few days, being obliged to leave when the city fell into the hands of the enemy. He remained during the summer on the line of the Jackson Railroad until sufficiently recovered to resume active duty, when he rejoined the command at Pollard, Alabama. Upon the promotion of Major Armant to be colonel. Capt. Collins by seniority became Lieutenant colonel, but as the governnment at Richmond ignored this proceeding, at an election held at Pollard, he was elected lieut. col. over Capt. Wm. Mouton by a small majority. The Lieut. col. made an efficient field officer, was a good disciplinarian, and took an active interest in the welfare of the men under his command, and by his pleasant and sociable habits, he rendered himself popular with the soldiers. At the battle at Winn's road above Labadieville, Col. Armant being in command of all the forces, the command of the regiment devolved upon Col. Collins, and during the engagement, the scabbard of his sword was struck and considerably bent by a ball, which, had it not met with this obstruction, would in all probability have put an end to his military career. Col. Collins served for a long time on a court martial sitting in Alexandria, but afterwards rejoined his command, and at the battle of Mansfield was left behind with one half the regiment as a reserve, being ordered forward just as the enemy gave way. Col. Armant having fallen, he assumed command of the regiment and was with it the next day at Pleasant Hill, althought not warmly engaged.

During our march in pursuit of the enemy, as we were in the neighborhood of Cheneyville the col. discovered a half dozen men of his regiment who had attached themselves to some cavalry and had them arrested.

For this, he was placed under arrest during which time the fight at Yellow Bayou took place, Capt. Sanchez commanding the 18th. The colonel was soon released without either trial or reprimand. During our march through Arkansas, Gen. Gray, having been elected a member of the Confederate Congress, resigned his position in the army, when Col. Collins, as senior officer in the command, assumed the position of acting brig. gen. until we reached Alexandria in January 1865, when Col. Bosworth, being his senior, rejoined the brigade.

Col. Collins was with his regiment at the surrender of Natchitoches and accompained his men down the river to his home in New Orleans.

Since his return, the colonel has been quietly endeavoring to recover his losses, performing the duties incumbent on him as a good citizen, and confining himself to the management of his private business.

He is still in the prime of life, and we hope to meet him many a time in the future and talk over past scenes and trials which we have undergone in times in which neither of us regret having participated.