from the Battle of New Orleans

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down.
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind.

n/t

newspapers from about 1830 through 1900, I never recall seeing anything about alligators relating to the civil war. Most of the Union forces seemed to concentrated East of the river on higher ground. However, the soldiers who were tasked with attempting to
divert the river on the Western side would have definitely come in contact with alligators, mosquitoes and other unsavory creatures. They abandoned that project.

and armies tend to stick to higher ground? Tough to march in swamps, especially carrying gear. Horses, wagons, and artillery are right out of the question.
Also, gators are cold-blooded...it might be too cold for them that far north. AFAIK, they're only prevelent in Florida and Missippippi Delta regions.