Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[45] from him. He found at the Station three freightcars, one passenger-car, two barbette guns, spiked, (thirty-two-pounders,) two twelve-pound iron howitzers, in good order, and guns, equipments, etc., scattered along the road.

I therefore propose now to give you a more detailed report of my operations since I left Donaldsonville. I left this place at six o'clock on Sunday morning last, and marched on the left bank until I was within one mile of Napoleonville, where I bivouacked in line of battle. Believing that the enemy would, by means of the numerous flatboat ferries which I knew were in the bayou, probably cross from one side of the bayou to the other, I took in tow a flatboat bridge and carried it with me all the way, and have it with me now. 1 destroyed every boat I passed as a prudential military measure. It has proved of invaluable service to me.

I moved on the first day with but one company of the Eighth New-Hampshire on the right bank. The enemy's scouts were continually in sight of my advance-guard of cavalry, and just before going into camp one captain of the enemy was killed by my advance-guard and three prisoners were taken. Immediately afterward one of the Eighth New-Hampshire privates on the right bank was taken prisoner by the enemy.

I started on Monday morning again at six o'clock, but feeling that the enemy was in some force on the right bank, I threw over the whole of the Eighth New-Hampshire and Perkins's cavalry by means of my floating bridge, and in this order moved down the bayou.

At eleven o'clock, when I was about two miles above Labadieville, I received the report that the enemy was in force about one mile ahead, on the left bank, and that they had six pieces of artillery, I immediately ordered four pieces of Carruth's battery up, (two pieces were with the rearguard and Thompson's was already ahead,) and formed the Thirteenth Connecticut and Seventy-fifth New-York in line of battle to support Thompson.

These two regiments formed splendidly, and moved at once forward to the attack, through a dense cane-field. I moved on with them, and after emerging from the cane-field I received the report, which was, that the enemy was in position on the right bank also, and that he had four pieces of artillery on that side. At the same time I received the report that the enemy's cavalry was in the rear of my rear-guard. I immediately swung my bridge across the bayou, ordered eight companies of the Twelfth Connecticut over to support the Eighth New-Hampshire, leaving two companies of this regiment, one section of Carruth's battery and Williamson's cavalry to guard the rear. I immediately ordered, also, that a road be cut up the steep bank on both sides of the bayou for the passage of artillery and my train. I found soon that the enemy on the left bank, after delivering only the fire of its advanceguard, which killed one of my cavalry and wounded another, and killed two horses, had disappeared for some unaccountable reason. Fearing some ruse, I immediately ordered the Thirteenth Connecticut across the bayou to support the Eighth New-Hampshire and the Twelfth Connecticut, Thompson's battery to play upon the enemy's artillery on the right bank, which was firing splendidly upon our forces and my bridge; ordered Carruth to cross over with his two advanced section, and the Seventy-fifth New-York to support Thompson and guard the head of the brigade and the front of the train.

I then crossed over, ordered the Eighth New-Hampshire to form line of battle across the road, the Twelfth Connecticut to form on its right, and ordered these forward to attack at once. They had scarcely commenced moving when the Thirteenth Connecticut arrived at a double-quick from across the bayou. I immediately ordered this in reserve. Subsequently, as the centre guides of the Eighth New-Hampshire and the Twelfth Connecticut moved in different lines of direction, they became sufficiently separated to allow me to throw the Thirteenth Connecticut on the line between the two. I ordered this regiment forward in line of battle. The line thus formed advanced steadily at my command forward. In a very short time the enemy's battery retreated, and also the infantry support. The fight did not last long. I found that the enemry had four pieces of artillery in the road. It was Connor's battery, Company A, Withers's light artillery, commanded by Captain J. Rutson, (who was wounded and is now a paroled prisoner.) This battery supported by the remnants of the Eighteenth Louisiana and the Crescent City regiments, numbering together about five hundred men. They were lying down in a ditch on the lower side of a plantation road in the edge of woods at Georgia Landing, and immediately on the left of the battery.

I ordered skirmishers at once in tire woods to secure prisoners. Carruth arrived about this time, and I sent him with one section and Perkins's cavalry in pursuit. They pursued about four miles, Carruth firing upon the retreating forces on both sides of the bayou. I have since learned that Simms's battery of six pieces, supported by Col. Clark's (tile Thirty-third) regiment of Louisiana volunteers, was in front on the left bank.

I lost eighteen killed and seventy-four wounded. Lieut. Francis, of the Twelfth Connecticut, was taken prisoner before the fight. We have buried five of the enemy, and have seventeen wounded in our hospital, but I have proof that their loss was greater. I took one hundred and sixty-six of the enemy prisoners the day of battle, and forty-two of them since — total, two hundred and eight; I released them all on parole. The commanding officer of the enemy, Col. J. P. McPheeters, was killed. I delivered his body to some of his brother officers, who were prisoners, and he was decently buried near the battle-field, the Chaplain of the Eighth New-Hampshire officiating. One of the pieces of the enemy's artillery broke down in the retreat. We secured it, and have it now in our possession. All of my command did very well, both officers and men. The