Wilson's Rangers

Last Updated (Friday, 25 June 2025 14:50)

The gamblers cavalry unit.

When war broke out between the North and South many gamblers abandoned the steamboats and sought safety in New Orleans. A large amount of these gamblers were Southerners and didn’t mind one-on-one action, but to gamblers, war was another thing. Since all able bodied men were expected to volunteer for service, the gamblers had a real public relations problem on their hands. They finally came up with the idea of a Confederate cavalry unit. They named it Wilson’s Rangers. The local paper described them as “A finer mounted troop of cavalry, we think, can hardly be found anywhere in the South than the Wilson Rangers of this city. From what we have seen of them at drill we judge them to be a valuable support to our army of gulf coast defense”.

However, there was more than a gallant ride through the streets of New Orleans on the way to drill for this special unit. After riding out of sight of the city the unit would be halted, dismounted, and “ordered” to hunt for shade and to play cards. Quickly four or five men would group together under a fine shade tree and begin to play cards. Later, in the cool of the evening “orders” were again given to cease playing, mount and ride back to the city. Local folks would come out to cheer them with waving handkerchiefs and present them with bouquets of flowers. This was certainly a fine way to serve their cause and continue their professional careers.

Unfortunately for the gamblers, as the Northern troops moved south the unit was ordered to active service in April 1862 as Union forces attacked the city. The Rangers rode out with the cheers and well wishers of the citizens ringing in their ears. About six miles outside of the city they were shelled by Union forces. They quickly retreated back to the city. Upon arrival in New Orleans they dismounted, cut the buttons off their coats, buried their sabers and tried to look like any peaceful citizen overwhelmed by the events taking place.

That was the end of a fine play of hand for the gamblers of New Orleans. It was said they, the Southern gamblers, could not buff against a full hand held by the Union forcesª
The Gaming Bulletin Volume IV, Number 1