WHY THIS UNIT?

We are family oriented and are dedicated to helping new recruits discover the fun of one of the most interesting and educational hobbies around! We have lots of loaner equipment and rifles for new recruits to borrow and we allow each member over a year to get themselves outfitted.  We will gladly assign a ‘veteran’ to assist our new members and they will personally help you to feel like one of the gang! You will find no other unit as friendly, or as helpful to beginners as our own 1^st Louisiana Tigers!

Our unit is made up a large group of fun people from a variety of backgrounds! We currently have several varieties of engineers, law enforcement, an interpreter, homemakers, a law student, carpenter, retired military, a medical student, teachers,  a person who "tells rocket scientist what to do" and high school students! Members of the Tigers herald from Escondido, Temecula, Torrance and Harbor City as well as from Colorado and Washington! Most of our members generally live in the Los Angeles and Riverside area, but wherever you are from, we want you to feel like an integral part of our special unit.

In 2007 our unit attended many exciting events! We attended Calico Ghost Town located in Barstow, California, as well as Wooden Nickel in Menifee, several events in Vista, Moorpark, Prado, Acton and even as far away as Fresno, and Las Vegas! In 2008 some of the Tigers went back east to the Gettysburg event! Of course we understand that everyone can not make every single event, and the great thing is, we don’t expect you too! You can be as active as you want! We generally have about one event a month but whenever you can come you are truly welcome!

One aspect of our unit that sets us apart is our diplomacy and democracy. Once a year we hold a unit meeting where we ELECT our officers and NCOs. Everyone’s vote counts and so you have a say in how things are operated within our ranks. We feel this is a great way to let everyone have a chance to shine and for every voice to be heard and for every vote to be counted. Should unit issues come up, we vote on how to best handle them! Democracy is a great thing!

Currently we are re-creating the 1^st Louisiana, Special Battalion Company B., the Tiger Rifles. This unit represents an early war (1861-1862) company with a unique style of  uniform developed from the French New Orleans style. Our uniform consists of bright red shirts, red fezzes or straw hats, blue jackets, and bloused trousers made from Hamilton Mattress ticking. This uniform, though flashy, is cool and comfortable during the warm California winters and warmer California summers! We have a complete compliment of tents, stoves, and other equipment that helps to make our camp look and feel historically accurate.

Do we eat at events??? YOU bet we do! and often we eat like KINGS. Each event different people within the unit volunteer to bring a meal. It is our goal to have great food and great fun. Some of our meals have been steak and lobster, porterhouse steaks, and smoked salmon. Of course there are meals of hotdogs and beans as well! There is always fruit available, and plenty of period correct snacks like hardtack and goober-peas! If it is your first time joining us, we can guarantee you will not be hungry!

The unit history of the 1^st Louisiana Tigers is like reading an adventure novel! Most of our members historically were Irish dock workers recruited in New Orleans. Among the ranks were thieves and cut throats with well deserved horrible reputations. Though the unit was made up of some of the ‘dregs of society’ this unit proved itself to be hard working and frightening to face on the battlefield. Portraying this group of fascinating people makes reenacting all the more fun for those involved!

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This page was made in remembrance of Arlin Somers.