Louis Edward Rafield was born to William W. Rafield and Louisa Webb on June 1, 1849. He entered the War at the young age of 11 as a Drummer.

At the Battle of Shiloh, he earned the distinction of “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” after he lost his  drum and searched until he found a drum from the enemy army.

He survived the War, came home and in 1869 married Mary Ann Gannaway. He had various businesses in the Mobile and Bayou La Batre/Coden, AL area, including a livery stable, a general store, men’s clothing store. He was a pioneer in the oyster industry along the Gulf Coast. He was also elected to the Mobile County Commission.  Through his association with his fellow Confederate veterans and his business ventures he was widely known throughout the country.

MOBILE REGISTER 25 JUL 1921

LOUIS E RAFIELD

Funeral services for Louis E Rafield, pioneer of the Mobile oyster industry, who died Saturday (23 Jul 1921), will be held at Coden this morning at 8:30 from the family residence and at 9 o’clock from the Catholic Church. Interment will be made in the Coden Catholic Cemetery.
Mr Rafield was well known over the entire gulf coast where he had lived and worked for more than half a century. He was a Confederate veteran, entering the service when a youth, and winning the title of “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.” Survivors are a widow, Mary T Rafield; a daughter, Mrs Louise W Graham and three sons, Frank, Edward, and James Rafield.

Louis Rafield married 2 times ,
Mary Ann Gannaway and Mary Theresa Dellatorre
children by first marriage

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, he was the youngest volunteer of the War. An interesting note on this is that he was 4’7″ when he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a drummer boy.

Mr. Rafield owned and operated a cafe and lodging house in Coden, AL and would use his livery stable to transport people to and from Mobile and the Rolston Hotel.
He was from the time of his discharge from the Confederate Army devoted to the veterans with whom he served. He was a long time member of Admiral Raphael Semmes Camp 11 of the United Confederate Veterans. He reprised his role as drummer while a member.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108831739/louis-edward_a.-rafield