The names below are only a sample of the total number of Hispanics serving in the Southern army. Nevertheless, it illustrates the significance of the Hispanic contribution to the Confederate armed forces. Alabama Division Commander of the SCV, David Toifel, correctly observes that, "For too many years the Confederate soldier was portrayed only as white, predominately Scots-Irish and Protestant. New studies are not so much changing a myth as they are adding the color and diversity which has always existed in the South to its proper place in our history. "Not only was there diversity in Confederate ranks, but there was a broad racial makeup of Hispanics living in the Old South. Hispanics, then and now, include members of European, Indian, African races or even more commonly of mixed ethnicity.
Note: It should not be forgotten that many more Hispanics served as non-commissioned officers and enlisted men. It should be emphasized that since Confederate records are frequently fragmentary, this list of officers certainly is not complete. The following includes officers serving in State units as well as those in regular CSA units. A few names may appear twice, if they served in more than one unit, been promoted, or if there were two soldiers by the same name. For a much more complete listing of Hispanic Confederates (officers and enlisted men), see a roster (ninety pages) compiled by Cuban exile, John O'Donnell-Rosales, (also a descendant of a Hispanic Confederate and member of the SCV). It has been called "a must for genealogist", especially if Texas, Lousiana, and Florida are your areas of interest.
One special addition to this list, even though the Cuban revolutionary journalist, John Thrasher, had no Hispanic surname, he was the son of an American father and a Cuban mother. Thrasher served as Superintendent of the Confederate Press Association. This and other information on Hispanic Confederates comes from Sterling Price Camp member Darryl Brock. Like John Thrasher, Darryl is of mixed Anglo-Hispanic roots (Puerto Rico) and has taken up the pen for the cause of the South.
Hispanic Surnamed Confederate Officers:
2nd Lt. Julien J. Acosta, Co I 8th Florida Infantry
1st Lt. Jose Albarez, Co 1 5th Reg't, European Brigade, Louisiana Militia
Capt. T. M. Alonzo, Co. D, 4th Reg't, 1st Brig., Louisiana Militia
Lt. Frank Angello, Co. C, Mosby's Reg't, Virginia Cavalry
Lt. Col. J. M. Anquera, Cazadores Espanoles Regiment, Lousiana Militia
Capt. Jose Anguera, Co 3, Cazadores Espanoles Regiment, LA Militia
1st Lt. Charles Arroyo, Co B, C.S. Zouave Battalion. LA
1st Lt. Feliz Arroyo, Co G, Orleans Guards Reg't, LA Militia
1st Lt. J. Barba, Co 1, European Brigade, LA Militia
3rd Lt. Antonio Barrera, Co. 5 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Francis Baya, Co H, 2nd Florida Infantry
Lt. Col. William Baya, Co. D, 8th Florida Infantry
Capt. Cristobal Benavides, Co H, 33rd TX Cavalry
Capt. Refugio Benavides, Co I, 33rd TX Cavalry
Col. Santos Benavides, 33rd TX Cavalry
3rd Lt. Edward Bermudez, Co 3, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
3rd Lt. Jose Bernal, Co 3, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Dormian Campo, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Anderas B. Canova, Co D, 1st Florida Infantry
2nd Lt. Paul B. Canova, Co G, 1st Florida Infantry Reserve
2nd Lt. Lorenzo Carbo, Co 8, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. J. B. Cassanova, Co K 3rd Reg't, 2nd Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. J.A. Cassanova, Co E, Orleans Guards Reg't, LA Militia
3rd Lt. L. Castera, Co 2, 1st Chasseurs, LA Militia
1st Lt. C.A. Castillo, Co H, Orleans Guards, LA Militia
1st Lt. Jesus T. Castro, Co C, Ragesdales Battn., TX Cavarly
1st Lt. J. F. Castro, Co H, Bairds Reg't, TX Cavalry
Capt. Pedro Cevallos, Co F, 3rd TX Infantry
2nd Lt. Erasmo J. Chaves, Co H, 8th TX Infantry
2nd Lt. E. J. Chavez, Co E, Benavides Reg't, TX Cavalry
1st Lt. John Cordero, Co A, 1st SC Infantry
2nd Lt. Rene E. Cortes, Tobin's Co., Tennessee Lt. Artillery
2nd Lt. John N. Cortinas, Co F, 3rd TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Manuel De Bolle, Co D, 8th LA Infantry
2nd Lt. N. De La Zerda, Benavides Reg't, TX Cavalry
1st Lt. G. Del Castillo, Co. 7 Chasseurs, LA Militia
1st Lt. Gabriel Corral, Co 8, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
3rd Lt. H. H. De Leon, Eason's Co., 16th SC Militia Regiment
2nd Lt. Esteban Del Nodal, Jackson Rifle Battalion, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Eduardo Deu, Co 6, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. J. Domingo, LA Defenders
2nd Lt. Jerome Eslava, Mobile City Troops, Alabama
Capt. S. G. Fabio, Co 1, Cazadores Espanoles Regiment, LA Militia
Capt. Domingo Fatjo, Co 5, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Denis Fernandez, Co A Orleans Guards, LA Militia
Capt. E. A. Fernandez, Fernandez's Mounted Co. (Supply Force) Florida
Capt. F. Fernandez, Co A, 1st Reg't, 2nd Brigade, LA Militia
1st Lt. Henry G. Fernandez, Co G, 11th Mississippi Infantry
1st Lt. John Fernandez, Co 5, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Juan Fernandez, Co 5, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. J.B. Fleitas, Co B, C.S. Zouve Battalion, LA
Capt. J.B. Fleitas, Waul's Legion, TX
1st Lt. S. J. Font, Co 2, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. A. Fornaris, Co 1, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Canazio Fraetas, Co E, 3rd VA Infantry
1st Lt. Charles L. Francisco, Co I, 14th VA Cavalry
2nd Lt,. M. Francisco, Hert's Co., Alabama Militia
Capt. Robert L. Francisco, Co E, 4th VA Infantry
Capt. Manuel Fruch. Co 10, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
3rd Lt. C. Garcia, Co A 1st Reg't, 2nd Brigade, LA Militia
1st Lt. Jas. M. Garcia, Co H, 33rd TX Cavalry
1st Lt. Jose Maria Garcia, Co H, 33rd TX Cavalry
1st Lt. Valerio Garcia, Co 3, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Eugenio Garza, Co. I 33rd TX Cavalry
1st Lt. Joseph R. Garza, Co H, 17th TX Cons. Dismounted Cavalry
1st Lt. Joseph R. Garza, Co K, 6th TX Infantry
2nd Lt. Luciano Garza, Thomas' Co., TX Partisan Rangers
1st Lt. P. A. Gomez, Co C, 22nd LA Infantry
Col. Ambrosio J. Gonzales, (Cuban) Chief of Artillery under Gen. Beauregard, Hardee and Johnston
2nd Lt. J.A. Gonzales, Co A, Ogdens Cavalry, LA
2nd Lt. T. Gonzales, 9th (Nichols') TX Infantry
Capt. Thomas Gonzales, Hughes' Co., TX Lt. Artillery
Capt. C. Gonzalez, Co. H, 1st Florida Infantry
Lt. Daniel Gonzalez, Confederate States Marine Corps (Savannah Station, CSS Macon, CSS Sampson)
Maj. Samuel Gonzalez, C.S. Marine Corps (Naval Storekeeper, Pensacola, FL)
1st Lt. Felix Gortari, Co. C, Benavides' Reg't, TX Cavalry
1st Lt. Felix Gortari, Co C 8th TX Infantry
Capt. A. L. Gusman, Co A, 8th LA Infantry
1st Lt. Paul Gusman, Co F, 10th LA Infantry
2nd Lt. Valentin Hamsen, Co A, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
1st Lt. Antonio Helizo, Co A, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
3rd Lt. Bernardo Heres, Co 4, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Francis Hernandez, CS Navy Pilot for the CSS Atlanta, CSS Macon, CSS Isondiga (Savannah Squadron)
1st Lt. J. M. Hernandez, "LA Defenders"
2nd Lt. Joseph S. Hernandez, Co A, 26th GA Infantry
2nd Lt. Randolph Hernandez, Co A, 1st FL Infantry
Lt. Severin Herrero, Co G, 10th LA Infantry
2nd Lt. Florencio Liscero, Trevinio's Co., TX Cavalry
Capt. Jose Llado, Co I, Cazadores Espanoles Reg't, LA Militia
A. Lopez (Surgeon), 2nd Alabama Militia Volunteers
Capt. John H. Lopez, Co B, 63rd GA Infantry
Capt. Pedro Lux, Co 7, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Antonio Madguer, Co 4, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. Jayme Magi, Co 5/6, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Antonio Mariadal, Co. 7, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. P. Marrero, Gomez's Co A, 22nd LA Infantry
3rd Lt. Alonzo C. Martin, Co A, 50th GA Infantry
1st Lt. Leonidas M. Martin, Co K, 6th TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Orlando Martin, Co B, 1st (Yagers) TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. R. Martines, Co C, Cater's Battn., TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. R. Martinez, Co 2, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
1st Lt. R. Martinez, Caters Battn., TX Cavalry
1st Lt. Vicente Martinez, Co A, Ragsdale's Battn., TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Antonio Mercadal, Co 7, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. M. Molina, Co D, 1st Battn., GA Militia
2nd Lt. Ceferino Monasteria, Cazadores Espanoles Reg't, LA Militia
2nd Lt. F. Mondragon, Co B, Benavides' Reg't TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Franco Mondragon, Co H, Baird's Reg't, TX Cavaly
Aristides Monteiro (Surgeon) 26th Virginia Infantry
2nd Lt. Celestino Moreno, Co G, 60th NC Infantry
2nd Lt. F. Moreno, Co A, Orleans Grds Reg't., LA Militia
Maj. F. A. Moreno, 17th Alabama Infantry
Capt. Angel Navarro, Co H, 8th TX Infantry
1st Lt. E. Navarro, Co K, 6th/15th Cons. TX Infantry
Capt. S. E. Navarro, Benavides' Reg't, TX Cavarly
Capt. Sexto Navarro, Co H, 8th TX Infantry
Capt. W. C. Nicolas, Co A, 3rd TX Infantry
3rd Lt. Eduardo Del Nodal, Co 8, 1st Chasseurs a pied, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Felix Nunez, Co B 18th Cons. LA Infantry
Capt. Robert F. Nunez, Co. B, 7th FL Infantry
Capt. B. Otero, Otero's Titterton Guards, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Antonio Padilla, (Mexican Volunteer) C.S. Army, TX
2nd Lt. Joseph Pardo, Co. C, 15th LA Infantry
2nd Lt. Juan Parra, Co 5, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Samuel M. Pedro, Morris's Co., Ferguson's Battn., VA Cavalry
Capt. Joseph M. Penaloza, Co C, 8th TX Infantry
1st Lt. Vicente Planellas, Cazadores Espanoles Reg't, Euro. Brigade, LA Militia
1st Lt. Andrew J. Pou, Co C, 1st Alabama Infantry
Capt. Magin Puig, Co 5, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. Jose Quintana, Co 4, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Jose Agustin Quintero, Confederate "Diplomatic Officer"
2nd Lt. R. Reyes, 1st Native Guards, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Thomas Ribero, Co F, 28th Battn. GA Siege Artillery
Francisco Ribot (Surgeon), Cazadores Espanoles Reg't, LA Milita
2nd Lt. Hilaire Rivas, Co B., 8th LA Infantry
Capt. John J. Rivera, Co E, 6th LA Infantry
1st Lt. Antonio Robira, Co 4, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
1st Lt. L. Roca, Co. 3, Cazadores Espanoles Reg't, LA Militia
Lt. Oscar Rodrigues, Castellanos' Batty., LA Artillery
3rd Lt. Bernardo Rodriguez, Co 8, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. Thomas A. Rodriguez, Benavides' Reg't, TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Tomas Rodriguez, Co H, 8th TX Infantry
2nd Lt. Manuel H. Rogero, Co F, 9th FL Infantry
Capt. Alex M. Ruiz, Co A, 3rd TX Infantry
2nd Lt. Armand Ruiz, Co A, 30th LA Infantry
Capt. Emile Ruiz, Co I, 4th Reg't, 1st Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Jacobo Salinas, Co I, 33rd TX Cavalry
3rd Lt. Jose Salor, Co. 10, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Juan Sanceda, Co C, 8th TX Infantry
2nd Lt. Antoine Sanchez, Landry's Co., Donaldsonville Artillery, LA
1st Lt. Bernardio S. Sanchez, Claghorn's Co., 1st (Olmsteads) GA Infantry
Capt. William Sanchez, Co C, 18th (Cons.) LA Infantry
1st Lt. A.F. Santos, Co. H 12th VA Infantry
Capt. M. Gracia Soto, Recruiting Officer (TX)
3rd Lt. F. Suarez, Co 1, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. Lorenzo Trevinio, Trevinio's Co., TX Cavalry
Capt. Justo Trevino, Trevinio's Squadron, TX Partisan Mounted Volunteers
Capt. L. Trevino, Cater's Battn.m TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Pedro Trevino, Co I, 33rd TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. Ydalecio Trevino, Rhodes Co., 3rd (Yagers) Battn., TX Cavalry
2nd Lt. A. Truxillo, Co F, Jeff Davis Reg't, LA Infantry
Capt. A. Pons Valencia, Co. 3, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
2nd Lt. Atanacio Vidanani, Co I, Benavides' Reg't, TX Cavalry
Capt. A. Gonzalez Vigil, Jackson Rifle Battn., LA Militia
1st Lt. Eduardo Villa, Co. 6, 5th Reg't, European Brigade, LA Militia
Capt. J. Viosca, Co. H, Orleans Guards, LA Militia
1st Lt. Eduard Vivies, Co. H, 28th (Thomas') La Infantry
Capt. Manuel Yturri, Co F, 3rd TX Infantry
Missouri Confederates with Hispanic Surnames:
Pvt. Ferdinand Alvarez**(see note below.)
Pvt. Agustin Calderon, Co C, 2nd Missouri Cavalry
Pvt. J. B. Cassanova, Barrett's Company, Missouri Light Artillery.
Pvt. M. Castillo, Co A, 1st Missouri Infantry
Pvt. Ferdinand Cortes, 9th Missouri Infantry
Pvt. D. Faria, Co. F, 8th Missouri Infantry
Cpl. A. Francisco, Farris' Battery, Clark Artillery, Missouri Light Artillery
Pvt. Andrew Francisco, Co C, 3rd Battalion, Missouri Infantry
Pvt. H. C. Francisco, Farris' Battery, Clark Artillery, Missouri Light Artillery
Pvt. Henry Francisco, Co. G, 6th Missouri Infantry
Pvt. James J. Francisco, Co. E, 6th Missouri Infantry
Pvt. John Francisco, Walsh's Company, Missouri Light Artillery
Pvt. John Guitar, Co. C, Robertson's Reg't., Mo. State Guard
Pvt. Manuel Ignacio, Co. C, 2nd Missouri Cavalry
Pvt. R. Martinez, Co. E, 2nd Missouri Infantry
Pvt. S. Munis, Co. K, 5th Missouri Cavalry
**Pvt. Ferdinand Alvarez is listed as serving in both Co A, Boone's Reg't, Missouri Mounted Infantry and Co. G, 9th Missouri Infantry. Ferdinand Alvarez was a resident of Florissant (St. Louis Co.), the grandson of Eugenio Alvarez, the military storekeeper for the Royal Spanish Government (that governed Louisiana Territory before the Louisiana Purchase). According to an article in the "St. Louis Republican", Alvarez, as one of the 49 Confederate Guerillas, under command of Capt. Nathaniel Ferguson, that was captured 20 Aug 1862 near Manchester (along Meramec River in St. Louis County)( Alvarez was also a member of Von Phul's Company, Missouri Light Artillery). Alvarez's boyhood home is located at 289 Rue St. Dennis, overlooking the Spanish Land Grant Park in the City of Florissant. The family attended St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, whose original building still stands nearby.
"Hispanics in Gray and Blue"
By Darryl Brock
This fact sheet is prepared by the Education Committee of the Sons of Confederate Veterans for distribution by its members to professors, teachers, librarians, principals, superintendents, ethnic leaders, city officials, members of the press, and other groups interested in promoting an understanding of Hispanic contributions to United States history. The SCV hopes this information will enrich the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This sheet may be freely copied and distributed without permission or notice; if republished in part or whole, please credit the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Confederate:
• The Cuban patriot Narciso López approached Mexican War heroes Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee in 1848 with the request to head a liberation army to free Cuba from Spain -- Lee seriously considered the offer, but turned it down.
• José Agustín Quintero, a Cuban poet and revolutionary, ably served Confederate President Jefferson Davis as the C.S. Commissioner to Northern Mexico, ensuring critical supplies from Europe flowed through Mexican ports to the CSA.
• Santiago Vidaurri, governor of the border states of Coahuila and Nuevo León, offered to secede northern Mexico and join the Confederacy; Jefferson Davis declined, afraid the valuable "neutral" Mexican ports would be then blockaded.
• The Spanish inventor Narciso Monturiol offered the Confederacy his advanced submarine Ictineo to smash the Federal blockade. Never purchased, Jules Verne apparently based the Nautilus on this, the world's most advanced vessel of the day.
• Ambrosio José González, a famous Cuban revolutionary, served Confederate general P.G.T. Beauregard as his artillery officer in Charleston; earlier, in New York, he helped design the modern Cuban and (inversed) Puerto Rican flags.
• The Mexican Santos Benavides, a former Texas ranger, commanded the Confederate 33rd Texas Cavalry, a Mexican- American unit which defeated the Union in the 1864 Battle of Laredo, Texas. He became the only Mexican C.S. colonel.
• Thomas Jordan, a Confederate general responsible for early codes used in spying on Washington, after the war led the Cuban revolutionary army as Commander-in-Chief, training its generals and in 1870 routing the Spaniards at two-to-one odds.
• Lola Sanchez, of a Cuban family living near St. Augustine, had her sisters serve dinner to visiting Federals, while she raced out at night and warned the nearest Confederate camp. The Yankees thus lost a general, his unit and a gunboat the next day.
• Loretta Janeta Velazquez, a Cuban woman, claimed to have fought in the war disguised as a Confederate soldier, Lt. Harry Buford. She chronicled her amazing and harrowing adventures in an account called The Woman in Battle.
• James Hamilton Tomb, a Confederate engineer on the innovative semi-submarine ship David, accepted a post-war offer from the Brazilian emperor as technical expert on torpedoes (submarine mines) in the Paraguayan War of 1865-1870.
• Hunter Davidson, a Confederate torpedo (submarine mine) scientist, assumed the head of the Argentine Torpedo and Hydrographic Bureau for some years, training its leadership, and retired to Asunción, Paraguay, where he is buried.
• John Randolph Tucker, head of the Charleston Confederate Naval Squadron, accepted a post-war position as Vice-Admiral heading the combined Peruvian-Chilean fleets in a Pacific conflict against Spanish coastal incursions.
• John Newland Maffitt, who before the war captured illegal slave-trading ships, served the Confederacy as the CSS Florida's commander. Afterwards, he served in the Paraguayan war and commanded the Cuban gun-runner Hornet.
• Thomas Jefferson Page, a Confederate naval commander who learned of the war's end in Cuba after sailing the ironclad CSS Stonewall from Spain, settled in Argentina, his son becoming an Argentine naval commander, his grandson an admiral.
• Mexican service influenced Confederate general Stonewall Jackson; he often spoke Spanish endearments to his wife, Anna. • After the war, many prominent governors and other Confederates established a colony, Carlotta, in Mexico.
Union:
• Admiral David G. Farragut, a Southerner, was also Hispanic, his father Jorge Ferragut being from Spain. Fluent in Spanish, the admiral served the Union navy and is remembered for saying "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."
• Federico Fernández Cavada, a Cuban, served the Union army with distinction at Gettysburg, and later wrote his famous Libby Life, describing Confederate prison. After the war, he led the Cuban revolution, but was captured and executed.
• Julio P. Garesché du Rocher, a promising Cuban of French extraction, designed Washington's defenses and served General William Rosecrans as chief of staff. At Stone's River (Tenn.), a cannon ball decapitated Garesché, ending a brilliant career.
Revolution:
• Bernardo de Gálvez, Governor of Spanish Louisiana, defeated the British during the American Revolution at Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola, St. Louis and in Michigan, diverting away thousands of British troops as America's forgotten ally.
More Info? Check Out These Fine Books:
• Richard H. Bradford, The Virginius Affair, 1980
• Light Townsend Cummins, Spanish Observers and the American Revolution, 1775-1783, 1991
• James W. Daddysman, The Matamoros Trade: Confederate Commerce, Diplomacy and Intrigue, 1984
• Ella Lonn, Foreigners in the Confederacy, 1965 (reprint, 1940 edition)
• Andrew Rolle, The Lost Cause: The Confederate Exodus to Mexico, 1965
• Ronnie C. Tyler, Santiago Vidaurri and the Southern Confederacy, 1973
• Frank de Varona (ed.), Hispanic Presence in the United States: Historical Beginnings, 1993
• David Werlich, Admiral of the Amazon: John Randolph Tucker - His Confederate Colleagues and Peru, 1990