foTL, the founding df a- Calle^e, M this Colony!

Bought with the income of the
Azariah Eldridge Memorial Fund,|
1916'

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS
IN LOUISIANA, '63 AND '64,
AND WITH
SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
IN '64 AND '65.

BY
Frank M. Fljnn,

LYNN, MASS.;
FRESS OF THOS. P. NICHOLS,
1887.

i^YALE

Copyright, 1887,
By Frank M. Flinn.

PREFACE.

This book is intended to bring before the Public the
campaign in Louisiana and the short but decisive cam
paign in the Valley under Sheridan. It is not a history
of any particular regiment or corps, but is a true and
faithfijl account of the movements of the armies under
command of Generals N. P. Banks and P. H. Sheri
dan ; therefore, I have not mentioned the special brilliant
charge of any one regiment, knowing that each and
every one did their part as they were ordered. I have
left out a great deal of fun and amusement, but it hap
pened just the same, for if there ever was fun it was
in the army.
The reader can rely on the historical corredtness of
the book as near as any one individual can tell the story
of three years' campaign.
I will here take the opportunity to return my thanks
to comrades of the different regiments and corps for the
use of diaries, without which this book could not have
been published. Especial thanks are due Colonel

PREFACE.

Charles H. Taylor, manager of the Boston Globe, for
it is greatly due to him that this history sa-w light ; and
as "the object of the expedition is accomplished," I
will commit the book to your care, and remain.
Yours truly.
In Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty, and Sobriety,
F. M. Flinn,
Lynn, Mass.

CONTENTS,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE
An Unwritten Part of the History of tlie War. — Scenes and Incidents of
Soldier-Life in tlie Department of the Gulf. — From the Bay State to
Baltimore : - Vivid Story  . 1
CHAPTER II.
General Butler's Napoleonic Farewell Address. — The Bobbin Boy takes
Command. — New Year's Day in New Orleans. — Army Life in the
Swamps and Low-lands of Louisiana  10
CHAPTER III.
Farragut's Fleet Before Port Hudson. — A Dreary, Tiresome March, and
a Still More Dreary Night. — A Skirmish with the Rebels, and a Night in
a Louisiana Swamp  21
CHAPTER IV.
Sailing Down the Mississippi from Baton Rouge. — Coming into Action. —
The Transports Under Terrible Fire of the Enemy. — Camp Life in the
Louisiana Low-lands. — An Interesting Story  .27
CHAPTER V.
Brave Conduct of the Union Soldiers Under Fire. — Generals Banks and
Emory Made the Target of Rebel Sharpshooters. — The Retreat of the
Rebels. — Banks Shelled by the Diana  33
CHAPTER VI.
The Bobbin Boy's Coolness Amid Flying Missiles. — The Gunboat Diana
in Action Tied to a Controlling String.— A Lively and Interesting Sketch
of a Sharp Engagement  41

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII. PAGE
Gallant Work of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts. — Advancing Steadily
Upon the Enemy's Works Under a Fearful Fire. — The Rebels in a Bag,
but Held by a Rotten String  50
CHAPTER VIII.
At Close Quarters with the Rebels. — Lively Fighting. — General Dwight's
Flank Movement on the Enemy. — A Grand Charge. — Graphic Recital of
Movements Never Before Described  58
CHAPTER IX.
A Whole Army Engaged in Gathering Cotton. — Rebels Watching for Col
onel Chickering and His Train of Booty. — How the Gallant Colonel Suc
ceeded in "Yankeeing" the Spies  C5
CHAPTER X.
Tlie Rebels Surrounded and a General Fight Begun. — Weitzel Bound to
Win.— Stubborn, Bloody Work on Both Sides. — Good Work of the
Louisiana Colored Troops. — General Sherman Wounded  72
CHAPTER XL
Soldier-Life Among the Grand Old Magnolia Forests. — Splendid Work of
the Sharpshooters.— Picking Off the Rebels. — The Story of a Sunday
Fight. — Striving to Capture Port Hudson ... . . ... 77
CHAPTER XII.
A Dangerous Journey. — Work in the Sap. —Vivid Description of Active
Work Close to the Enemy. — Port Hudson Surrendered. —Grant's Suc
cess at Vicksburg .  . . 84
CHAPTER XIII.
Opening of the Famous Red River Expedition. —Capture of Fort de Rus-
sey. — The River Open to Alexandria. — The True Inwardness of the
Red River Campaign . .  .... . . 93
CHAPTER XIV
Cavalry Contending with the Retiring Foe.— A General Conflict. — Pressed
Back by Overwhelming Numbers. — Emory Looked for as Anxiously as
Blucher at Waterloo  . 102
CHAPTER XV
A Council of War. — Withdrawal to Pleasant Hill. — Sharp Figlit Between
Cavah-y Forces. — A Fearfully Desperate Charge. — The First Line of
Battle of the Rebels Annihilated ... . .  110

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI. PAGE
The Navy in a Bad Way. — Ironclads-w. Infantry. — The Eastport Blown
Up with a Ton of Powder after Si.x Days' Delay. — Bravery of Porter. —
Safe Arrival at Alexandria  118
CHAPTER XVII.
Grand Ecore Evacuated. — Forced March of Forty Miles. — Battle of C.ine
River. — Flanking General Emory's Position. — The Arrival of the Union
Army at Alexandria  .126
CHAPTER XVIII.
Colonel Bailey's Success in Damming Red River. — The Gunbdats Saved
by the Nineteenth Army Corps. — Loss of the Covington. — A Break in
the Dam  ...  133
CHAPTER .XIX.
The Fleet Brought Safely Below the Rocks. — The Town of Alexandria on
Fire. — The Army on the I\Iove. — A Bridge of Twenty-six Boats Across
the River  IM
CHAPTER XX.
A Review of the Campaign. — Cause and Effects. — Insubordination of
Officers. — Jealousyand Conflicting Authority. — General Banks Credited
with Great Bravery and Honesty. — The Army and Gunboats Separate.
— Farewell to Mississippi. — The Nineteenth Corps at Washington . . . 149

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
CHAPTER XXI.
Under Sheridan. — Preliminary Manoeuvres. — The Shenandoah Valley
Campaign . . . ...  161
CHAPTER XXII.
Three Federal Corps in the Shenandoah. — Playing Checkers Up and Down
the Valley with Early. — Destroying Property. — Brilliant Engagement of
Cavalry and Infantry  108

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIII. PAGE
Lively Work in the Famous Shenandoah Valley. — Battle of Opequan
Creek. — Delay in Getting into Action. — Bravery of Yankee Soldiers. —
Opening of a Bloody Struggle  . 17G
CHAPTER XXIV.
Death of General Russell. — Sheridan's Escape. — A Grand Charge by the
Sixth Corps.— Bravery of the Cavalry.— Magnificent Spectacle Presented
by the Moving Wall of Men  184
CHAPTER XXV.
Grand Cavalry Charge. — Through Winchester. — Good Record of Massa
chusetts Soldiei-s. — Bravery of Color-Sergeant Lunt. — Advance of the
Troops to Fisher's Hill the Next Morning  192
CHAPTER X.XVI.
Story of the Midnight Charge on Fisher's Hill. — Retreat Down the
Valley. — Wholesale Destruction of Property. — General Ross' Cavalry
Chased for Twenty-five Miles   199
CHAPTER XXVII.
Battle of Cedar Creek. —General Wright in Command. — Midnight March
from Fisher's Hill. -Surprised by the Rebels. — A Wonderful Flank
Movement Successfully Accomplished  208
CHAPTER XXVllI.
Battle of Cedar Creek. — The Morning Conflict. — Cavalry Ordered to Left
Flank. — Vermont Troops Check the Rebels. — The Army Marching to
a New Line ih Good Order  216
CHAPTER XXIX.
Battle of Cedar Creek. — Sheridan's Ride. — Battle of the Afternoon. —A
Brilliant Word-Picture. — Defeat of Early. — Victory for the Union
Troops  324
CHAPTER XXX.
Gathering in the Spoils. — Thanks of Congress. — The Second Division
Ordered to go to Savannah, Ga. — Great Destruction of Property in the
Shenandoah  ,  232

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

CHAPTER I.

An Unwritten Part of the History of the War. —
Scenes and Incidents of Soldier-Life in the De
partment of the Gulf. — From the Bay State to
Balti?nore : a Vivid Story.

IN August, 1862, I found myself a high private in
Company E, Thirty-eighth Regiment, Massachu
setts Volunteers, in camp at Lynnfield. As soon as the
regiment was fully equipped, in the same month, it was
ordered to Baltimore, Md., where it went into camp and
entered upon that severe drill which stood it in such good
need in those severe engagements in which it participated
during its three years' term of service.
An amusing episode occurred soon after the regiment
arrived in Baltimore. An order was received by the
Colonel to drill the regiment in reversed arms, as their
services would probably be needed as a funeral escort for
a General who was supposed to be dying. The regi
ment drilled two days, when som? fool told the dying

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

General what the regiment was doing, when he got mad
and refused to die. Although the boys lost the fun of
escorting him to the grave, yet they were credited with
saving the General's life — and it was the only General's
life they did save during the war. In October, the regi
ment was attached to the Third Brigade, Third Division,
Gen. W. H. Emory commanding, Col. Timothy Ingra-
ham, Acting Brigade Commander.
Lieut. -Col. David K. Wardwell of Stoneham, Mass.,
took charge of the regiment, and looked after battalion
drills and dress parades.
During the first week in November, 1862, an order
came for all the troops in and around Baltimore to go on
board transports and proceed to Fortress Monroe, Va.
But it was not until the 9th that the troops got ready to
embark. This order created considerable speculation
among the soldiers, and their relatives and friends, as to
their destination. All that could be learned about it was
that it was a secret expedition. Numerous places were
assigned bythe boys as to 'its probable destination, and
Port Royal, Savannah, Texas and Mobile were named.
On Monday, the loth of November, the troops em
barked and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, the Thirty-
eighth being assigned to Gen. Emory's flagship, the
Baltic, on which they were quartered until the expe
dition reached Ship Island in the Gulf.
The Baltic reacljed Fortress Monroe on the 12th of
November. For nearly a month the troops remained on
shipboard in Hampton Roads, occasionally going oij
shore to drill and bathe.

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

While lying here a laughable incident occurred which
will never be effaced from the minds of those who took
part in it. One day the regiment was ordered to take
their clothes and a piece of soap and go on shore and
wash them. Espying a creek near the town of Hampton,
the boys made for it, and taking it for granted that the
water ^vas fresh, they commenced their washing. Some
would rub the soap on the clothes, and then attempt to
wash them. Neither the dirt, gray-backs nor soap would
budge, when presently a soldier thought to taste the
water. He laughed, gathered up his clothes and began
moving to the rear. The rest soon caught on, and with
looks of supreme contempt on their countenances they
turned their backs to the creek, and some, shall we say
it, " swore rite out in meetin'," just as though they were
accustomed to it, and knew every expressive adjective in
Webster's Unabridged. But the boys had learned a
lesson that army soap and salt water had no affinity for
each other.
An incident going to sho-w the love which the contrac
tors had for the Government and soldiers was witnessed
here. The fleet was nearly ready to sail, when Gen.
Emory ordered an inspection of the commissary stores.
As a result of the inspection on board of the Baltic
alone, ten barrels of beef and pork were found unfit for
use and thrown into the sea, and numerous cases of hard
tack were found wormy and moldy, and were also con
signed to the sea. Some thought it was a pity to throw
these stores into the sea, as Gen. Banks might have
saved them to feed the rebels with and saved an equal

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

amount of good provisions which he supplied them with
at Brashear City, La.
On Thursday morning, December 8, 1862, there was
every indication that Banks' secret expedition was about
to sail for its destination. The fleet was divided into
two divisions — one of six steamers, including the flag
ship Baltic and the convo}- gunboat Augusta, the other
of seven steamers, the Atlantic being the flagship, and
accompanied by a steam gunboat. The fleet was com
posed in all of about fifty steamers, a part of which
rendezvoused at New York. The number of troops was
10,000. On the Baltic were Gen. Emory and stafl'.
Gen. Banks and staff were on the North Star with the
Forty-first Massachusetts, and the Thirty-eighth Regi
ment. The vessels of the first division got under way
about 10 o'clock, one following after another until all
had left of both divisions, except the steamer Baltic. At
4 o'clock p. M., the Baltic weighed anchor, and thus
Banks' expedition was under way.
Great things were expedted of this expedition at the
North, and thc greatest secrecy as to its destination was
observed. A padlock was put on every officer's lips,
and it was considered a criminal offence subject to court-
martial, even to guess as to its destination. An officer
came very near being- shot by using his prerogative as
a Yankee, and asking Gen. Banks what destination
they were going to, and whether he should take light or
heavy clothing. The old fox was not to be trapped in
that way, however, and replied : " Take both, sir." It
was indeed a secret expedition to all engaged in it below

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

the rank of General, and as well to the people of the
North. But the joke of it was the rebels knew all about
it from its inception, and were all the time laughing in
their sleeves at the precautions taken to keep the knowl
edge from them. Thev rather liked the change of
Banks for Butler, so they made no attempt to sink the
fleet, feeling sure that Banks alive and Avithin their terri
tory would be of more value to the Confederacy than
making him food for powder or fishes.
Ho^v laughable it seems now with what jealousy the
officers kept the secret of the destination of the fleet from
the men, even after the fleet had put to sea. Possibly
they were afraid that some indiscreet soldier might put
the secret in his letter, which he intended to send hoine
after arriving at their destination, and thus the rebels be
let into the secret through the Northern press.
The between decks -were fitted up with bunks for the
soldiers, and here were stowed one thousand inen and
millions of gray-backs. It was a struggle between the
men and gray-backs -which should occupy the bunks. It
was a drawn battle.
The w^eather had been fine up to the time we sighted
the North Carolina coast, when it began to blow along
in the afternoon, and kept on increasing after the sun
went down. We were off Hatteras Inlet and in for a
regular norther. Everything was made secure in prepa
ration for the gale. It rained in torrents and the sea was
running so high that the steamer had to heave to. At
midnight the gale was at its height, and the steamer
rolling and pitching at a fearful rate. Now she would

CAMPAIGNING With BANKS.

rise on one of the mountainous waves, poise on its breast,
and then plunge down, down, into the dark abyss of the
trough of the sea. Every time she plunged down it
seemed as though she would go to the bottom. But the
oncoming wave would catch her under her bows, and
she would come up as gracefully as a duck. The scene
on board the steamer that night beggars description.
Nearly every man on board was sea-sick, and vomiting,
and many were frightened half out of their wits. To
•add to the discomfort, the fore-scuttle had been left off to
provide fresh air for the men. All at once the steamer
struck a tremendous sea, bows on, which came over the
bows in hogsheadfuls and poured down the fore-scuttle,
drenching the men in the bunks, who rushed on deck to
see if the steamer was going down. The next morning
the gale abated, and as the fleet had got dispersed during
the gale, the Baltic ran north for several hours to see if
there was any trace of them. Not seeing any of the
fleet, except the gunboat Augusta, the steamer's head
was pointed south again.
We had been told that the life of a soldier was a lazy-
one, and the life which we led on the Baltic seemed to
confirm the statement, as the only hard duty which we
had to perform was to try and eat our grub of salt-hoss
and hard-tack, and drink our coffee. It was a hard duty,
however. The coffee itself, was good enough, but " Big
Charlie," the cook, had such a way of compounding it,
that it was hard to tell where the coffee began, and the
salt-hoss and pork left off.
The passage south was a fine one, and as port after

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

port in the Southern States was passed — Charleston,
Pensacola and Mobile — the boys made up their minds
that New Orleans, or Galveston, Texas, was the point of
destination. But on the morning of December 13th, a
long, low, sandy and God-forsaken island, called Ship
Island, and off' the Mississippi coast, was made out, with
several vessels of the ffeet hovering around it. This
proved to be our stopping place, as the expedition was
to go up to New Orleans, and the Baltic drawing too
much v^rater to cross the bar at the mouth of the river,
¦we had to land on the island. There was a pier made
out into the gulf, with storehouses upon it, and a few
shanties -were scattered about.
There was a lighthouse on the northern side, and Gen.
Butler was building what he called a brick fort. But
had one of Commodore Porter's bombs landed inside, it
would have knocked sheol out of it. It was on this
island that the members got the first glimpse of a real
live butternut Johnny. They were Gen. Butler's pris
oners, and the men gave thein a thorough looking over.
The weather was balmy, and soon hundreds were
enjoying the luxury of a bath in the limpid waters of the
Gulf of Mexico.
The regii-nent stayed on the island two weeks, passing
Christmas here. On that day the regiment was turned
over to the men with full Hberty to do as they pleased,
so long as they kept within the bounds of propriety.
Officers were chosen, and dressed in the uniforms of the
regular officers. Guard mounting took place, and all
the commissioned and non-commissioned officers were

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

obliged to do guard duty. Several ran guard, and were
sentenced to the guardhouse. Col. Ingraham was ar
rested for attempting to leave the camp without a pass,
and taken to the guardhouse. He gave a satisfadlory
excuse and was released. The festivities closed with a
dress parade, when the regiment was turned over to the
regular officers. On the night of December 24th, the
regiment went on board of transports, and started for
New Orleans. The weather was fine, and the sail up
the river was magnificent. This w^as the first time the
men had a chance to see the South in all its glory, and
they were intensely interested spe6tators of the scenes
that passed in review. The large plantations of corri
and sugar-cane, with the slaves that were moving about,
or listlessly leaned over their hoe handles, and grinned
at the troops, the orange trees laden with fruit, all had a
charm for the boys.
As we approached the scene of Commodore Farragut's
brilliant naval exploits at Forts Phillip and Jackson,
every one was on the tip-toe of expedtancy, and -when
we swung around the bend, every eve was strained to
get a glimpse of the forts. The steamer kept steadilj- on
her way, and soon we were cleaving the waters where
Farragut's ships led the way to vidtory. It did n't seem
possible in so narrow a pass and at so short a range, that
an ironclad could have passed the forts, to say nothing
about w^ooden hulls. As the shades of evening fell on
December 31st, the glint of the light of the city of New
Orleans shone above the trees. Just before midnight,
with the expiring hour of the year 1862, the lights of

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 9
the city burst upon our view in the form of a crescent.
The steamer proceeded to the northern part of the city,
and dropped anchor. The secret of the expedition was
now solved, and was no more nor less than that the great
military chieftain and statesman, Nathaniel P. Banks, had
been sent to relieve Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, and to in
augurate important civil and military measures. This
was the secret of the Banks expedition.

CHAPTER II.
Gen. Butler's Napoleonic Fare-well Address. — The
Bobbin Boy Takes Command. — New Tear s Day
in New Orleans. — A,rniy Life in the Swamps and
Low-lands of Louisiana.

/O'ENERAL Banks landed at New Orleans Decem-
vrl ber 15th, 1S62, and Gen. Butler turned over the
department to him. On the same day Gen. Butler issued
the following pithy address to his troops :
I greet vou, my brave comrades, and say farewell. This word,
endeared as you are by a community of privations, hardships,
dangers, victories, successes, military and civil, is the only sor
rowful thought I have. You have deserved well of your country.
Without a murmur you sustained an encampment on a sand-bar
so desolate that banishment to it, with every care and comfort
possible, has been the most dreaded punishment inflicted upon
your bitterest and most insulting enemies.
You had so little transportation, that but a handful could ad
vance to compel submission by the Queen City of the rebellion.
Landing with a military chest containing but $75, from the
hands of a rebel government you have given to your country's
treasury nearly $500,000, and so supplied yourselves with the
needs of your service, and your expedition has cost your govern
ment less by four-fifths than any other.
By your practical philanthropy you have won the confidence
of the "oppressed race" and the slave. Hailing you as deliverer.

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 11

they are ready to aid you as willing servants, faithful laborers,
or, using the tactics taught by your enemies, to fight with you
in the field.
You have met the double numbers of the enemy and defeated
them in the open field. But I need not farther enlarge upon the
topic. You were sent here to do that.
I commend you to your commander. You are worthy of his
love. Farewell, my comrades! Again, farewell!
That was Napoleonic, surely ; but then Napoleon
never gushed over so small a fry. What achievements had
Gen. Butler accomplished to call out such fustian as the
above .'' He makes no mention, while landing his troops,
of any battles fought upon ensanguined fields, either
open or closed. That must have been a terrible engage
ment at Ship Island, where his troops fought to the
death Uncle Sain's commissary department without a
murinur, \vhile Farragut, with his brave sailors, was
opening up a way for his troops past the forts of St.
Philip and Jackson. The affair of his troops at Baton
Rouge was a creditable one, as also those expeditions up
the Teche country. But it is a notable fadt than when
he issued that bombastic address he held absolute pos
session only of New Orleans and the immediate surround
ing country. If that address had been made to the navy
there would have been more sense in it. They it was
who opened the river and gave Gen. Butler New
Orleans, Algiers, Baton Rouge, etc., and it was only by
the presence of the navy, that Gen. Butler held New
Orleans.

12 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

On the following day Gen. Banks issued his proclama
tion assuming command of the department. It was a
namby-pamby document in comparison with the one
issued by Gen. Butler. Banks patted the rebels upon
the back and told them what good fellows they were ;
that he did n't want to hurt them, and that the Govern
ment didn't want to free the slaves, if Benjamin Butler
did say so ; that if they would only come back into the
family of States again and promise to be good boys, and
keep still while his troops stole their cotton, why then
the past would be forgiven, the fatted calf, if any were
left, would be killed, and everything would be lovely.
But the rebels knew what chaff was, whether coming
from a statesman or General. They did n't bite worth
a cent ; they seemed to know better than Gen . Banks
the kind of treatment they deserved. The proclamation
had the contrary eflfedl desired, and considerable disorder
took place, when Gen. Banks was forced to promulgate
Gen. Butler's stringent orders in order to bring the
rebels under subjedtion.
On the morning of January ist, 1863, the men of the
transports of New Orleans were astir early to get a
glimpse of the Qiieen City of the South. The city lay
before us in peacefulness and quiet, and no one would
for a moment suppose that two hostile parties occupied
it, that it was held by One party only by the sword ;
but such was the fadt. At noon the steamer weighed
anchor and headed up the stream, and after a pleasant
sail of five miles, came to anchor off Carrollton, a sub
urban town of New Orleans. Here the troops debarked

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 13

and went into camp on a plantation which had formerly
been occupied as a rebel camping-ground. The rebels
must have left it in a hurry when Farragut came up the
river with his gunboats, for they forgot to take their
gray-backs with them, but left them as a legacy for the
Yankees. If Gen. Butler had been slow in his opera
tions, the gray -backs had not, for the ground was covered
with them, some of them being as large as a good-sized
kernel of wheat, and the Boys swore that they had the
C. S. A. stamp upon their backs. But there was no
need of the rebels being so generous, as every officer and
man had drawn his full quota of Uncle Sam's gray-backs
while on board of the transport, and the frequent picking
matches had made no perceptible diminution in their
number when the troops landed.
New Year's day found the Thirty-eighth, with the
other troops, settled down ainong the swamps and low
lands of Louisiana — those two inseparable adjuncts of
their army life in that State, and with which, through
the efficiency of the medical department, they- were to
become so familiar. It was here that the troops entered
upon that constant drilling, by regiment, brigade and
division, which later elicited the praise of Gen. Banks,
given to the Thirty-eighth and One Hundred and Six
teenth New York Regiments, but which filled the
hospitals with sick men, and materially reduced the
effedtiveness of the army.
The tents had hardly been pitched when the boys of
the Thirty-eighth espied an orange grove, the trees of
which were full of fruit. A rush was made for the

14 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
grove, and so eager were the boys to get the fruit that
they did not stop to taste of it until they had their haver
sacks full. The fruit was fair to look upon, but when
the boys attempted to eat some of it — ye gods ! lemons
were sweet as sugar in comparison to them. The boys
thought it was but right that the officers should have
some of the fruit, so they gave some of the finest to
them. The faces that they made up, when they under
took to eat them, would have made fine embellishments
for a comic almanac.
The troops had been landed at Carrollton but a few
weeks when a cold spell set in, and froze water that was
in the bog-holes, and the men gathered around the
cooks' camp-fires with over and under-coats on, and
earlier in the daj' with blankets over these, to keep
warm. The natives swore that the troops brought the
Northern weather with them, as they never saw it so
cold before.
In January, 1863, Gen. Wetzel planned an expedition
to Berwick Bay from Thibodeaux, for the purpose of
cleaning out the rebels in that section, and to capture the
rebel gunboat, J. A. Cotton, which was known to be
lurking somewhere in the Bayou Teche. This gunboat
had become the terror of the Union men in that part of
the country, and Gen. Wetzel wanted to make her
acquaintance. The expedition consisted of six regiments
of infantry, a squadron of cavalry, a company of sharp
shooters, two full batteries and two sedtions of batteries,
some six thousand troops in all. Added to this there
were four gunboats under the command of Conimodor?

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 15
Buchanan. To oppose this force, according to a rebel
account, there were eleven hundred men, two batteries
and the gunboat Cotton, and one or two other gunboats.
It was a hotly contested fight on both sides, and Com
modore Buchanan was among the killed. The gunboat
Cotton was set on fire by the rebels on the morning after
the fight, and drifted into our hands.
" The objedt of the expedition having been accoi-n-
plished," the troops were marched back to their old
camping in the swamps around Thibodeaux, bringing
with them a large number of horses, cattle and mules,
which they found in that country. But so far as any
real progress in occupying the enemy's country was con
cerned, and which they could easily have done as far as
New Iberia, they were just where the expedition started
from. But this was not the only expedition that did not
come up to the high-sounding manifesto. What makes
it look cheap is the fadt that our side had six men to the
rebels' one, and it was a drawn battle.
February loth, orders were received to march on board
the steamer, and -we land at Plaquemine, to open the
Bayou ; but it turned out to be a molasses candy expedi
tion, as while encamped at Plaquemine, the troops
borrowed all the molasses they could find in the place ;
and although it rained just as it did in the days of Noah,
only a little harder, yet over every camp-fire was a kettle
of molasses, and along in the morning the boys were
busily engaged doing three things at once — swearing,
pulling candy, and trying to pull their brogans out of the
Southern soil, which was knee-deep in spots. The

16 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
objedt of this expedition being accomplished — the Lord
only knows what that was — the troops returned to Car
rollton, and another perilous undertaking was over, and
another address of ' ' My brave comrades " was in order.
Again the same old manoeuvreing of drilling and keeping
out of the mud and from other disadvantages was re
sumed. On February 26th, so reduced had become the regi
ments from sickness and hard drilling, that a "rest"
was granted the men for the day. But the Brigade
Commander, fearing that the troops would forget how to
handle a gup if they were given so long a rest, in the
afternoon gave an order for them to drill as skirmishers.
The men of the Thirty-eighth drilled especially in the
movement of " lying down," and they became proficient
in the movement before the troops were recalled. This
order cemented the love which the men of the Third
Brigade had for their beloved Commander, and his ears
must have tingled while the boys were passing around
their compliments in regard to him.
The first week in March, the troops were ordered to
Baton Rouge. On the day that the camp was to be
struck, and when half of the tents were down, one of
those gentle showers for which the sunny South is noted
set in. It was none of your ordinary showers, but the
rain came down solidly ; the camp-ground was flooded,
and mud — well talk about Virginia mud, it was nothing
to this. The men had to strap their shoes on to keep
them, and walked with arms outstretched,- for fear of
sinking in the mud out of sight. The cai-np was struck,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 17
but two feet away it was hard to tell where the dividing
line was between him and the ground, the soldiers were
so covered with mud. For once the blue had donned
the gi'ay.
On the 7th of March, the troops arrived at Baton
Rouge, and found everything betokening a forward
movement. The town was full of troops of every arm
of the service. The river in front of the town was full
of gunboats, mortar boats and transports. The famous
ironclad Essex was with the fleet, and received the
greatest share of attention. The signal corps, from their
towers, were signalling despatches and orders.
Light marching order, was what the order said, but it
made the old soldiers laugh when they were told to pack
their dress coats and all other articles, except blankets
and overcoats, and a change of clothing. The contra
bands wore a broad grin on their faces as thej' -went out
and in among " Massa Lincoln's" troops, and the
Essex was their wonder and delight.
On the 1 2th of March, the division was reviewed by
Generals Banks and Emory, accompanied with brilliant
staffs. Admiral Farragut was also present. This was
the first time that the division had been drawn up in line
all together, and it was a magnificent sight. It was a
beautiful day, and the evolutions were upon the whole
creditable. It was upon this occasion that Gen. Bank s
complimented the Thirty-eighth and One Hundred and
Sixteenth New York Regiments, which compliment
soured Col. Gooding of the Thirty-first Massachusetts
Regiment, who was in command of the Brigade.
2

18 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
Gen. Banks said, after rebuking certain officers of
other regiments, the Thirty-first being among the num
ber, and which had been a year longer than the Thirty-
eighth in the department: "The General commanding
cannot forbear pointing to the marked contrast indicated
in the same reports concerning the condition of the
Thirty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment and the One
Hundred and Sixteenth New York Regiment, enlisted
at about the same time, but carried by the zeal of their
officers beyond the reach of this pernicious influence."
At another time Gen. Banks made the remark, in the
hearing of the Brigade Commander, that the Thirty-
eighth and One Hundred and Sixteenth New York
Regiments were the only regiments, so far as he could
see, that were drilling with any expedlation of meeting
the enemy. Col. Gooding was said to have made the
remark: "If that is so I'll give those regiments all the
fighting that they will want," and the boys, in view of
what transpired afterward, believe to this day that Col.
Gooding kept that promise, if he never kept any other.
At six o'clock on the evening of March 13th, orders
came to fall in. The sick, and some who thought them
selves sick, were sent to the hospital, and the regiments
composing the three divisions were put in fighting trim.
As this was another secret expedition, and one which
was supposed to mean fight, there was considerable con-
jedture as to its destination among the boys. There was
some talk of sending a committee to the rebels to try
and get them to disclose where, and what the movement
portended, but the suggestion came too jate,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 19
Gen. Grover had command of the First Division, and
his troops broke camp at 4 p.m., and took the road lead
ing up the river. Gen. Emory had command of the
Second Division, which had orders to leave at 7 p.m.
The Third Division was under command of Gen. Augur,
and was not to leave until 3 o'clock on the following
morning. The men were in fine spirits, and as they
moved out of the town they indulged in hearty cheers
and songs. As the Thirty-eighth passed Gen. Dudley's
headquarters, the General was standing on the stoop.
Noticing what regiment it was that was passing, he said,
"Men of the Thirty-eighth, keep cool, obey orders and
fire low." The bo3's gave him three cheers in answer.
After the troops had been on the march for two hours,
orders came to secure every canteen, tin cup and pan, so
as not to make any noise. The men were to talk in a
low voice for fear that the rebels, twenty-five miles
away, might hear and know that we were coming.
The line of march led through dense woods on each
side of the road, shutting out the light of the stars and
making the road pitchy dark. The march was kept up
until midnight, with frequent halts, when the welcome
bugles sounded a halt, and the army went into camp for
the night. But the men were too hungry to sleep, and
soon the camp-fires were burning brightly, and the mid
night air was laden with the perfumes of old govern
ment Java. The members of the Third Division had a
streak of jestheticism in their natures, and thought that
the Virginia fence which abounds in Louisiana, besides
being out of line, was also out of place, and never missed

20 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
a chance to take it in. This caused a little feeling on
the part of our Southern friends, and as the Third
Division, on the night in question, had borrowed a fence
to cook with, the owner went to headquarters and en
tered a complaint. Tbe result was that an order came
to take only the top rail, and the Nineteenth Corps
adopted the order, and took only the top rail as each
one found them, and the result was we'got there just the
same.

CHAPTER III.

Farragut's Fleet Before Port Hudson. — A Dreary,
Tiresome March, and a Still More Dreary Night.
— A Skirfnish with the Rebels and a Night in a
Louisiana Swamp.

AT daylight of the 14th, the march was taken up.
The air was hot, and the troops were in heavy
marching order, with overcoats, rubber and woolen
blankets, dress coats, extra shirts, towels, brush and
blacking, three days' rations, one hundred rounds of
ammunition, guns and equipments, a canteen of water —
just enough goods for proper housekeeping, and too
many for an adtive campaign, especially when you had
to tote them on your back.
A great many officers had purchased bullet-proof
linings for their vests ; but carrying an iron foundry,
with the thermometer at 80° in the shade, was too much
for them, and they were left on the side of the road with
the rest of the useless trash.
After marching eleven miles the army deployed in
line of battle. Heavy skirmish lines were formed, and
the artillery unlimbered and got in position.

22 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
The headquarters of the Army Commander were in
the proper place, at the house on the plantation in the
rear. And there we waited. What were we here for. ''
What next.? At about midnight, the boom of a cannon
and the crash of a ball through the tree tops brought
every man to his feet. Rockets streamed through the
air in the diredtion of the river aud Port Hudson.
Word was passed down the line that Farragut's fleet
was to make the attack on the river, and the army was
to stand in line of battle, within a few miles of the fort,
as an army of observation, to take no part in the achieve
ment, while the grand old Admiral and his hardy sailors
were to do the work, as they had done at Forts Jackson
and Phillips. If the army had advanced, we should
have taken Port Hudson without any doubt ; but at that
time others thought differently, and it would not have
been policy to have done too rnuch at one time, although
we stood ready and willing to advance if we had the
chance. We waited to receive the order from Gen.
Dudley to fire low, but received no such good news.
We were only to see the flashes, hear the reports, and
watch the flight of the mortar shells as they took their
flight upward, at an angle of forty-five degrees, with the
rapidity of lightning. Small globes of golden flames
were seen sailing through the pure ether ; not a steady,
unfading flame, but coruscating like the fitful gleam of a
fire-fly, now variable, and anon, invisible like a flying
star of the sixth magnitude. The terrible missile, a
thirteen-inch shell, nears the zenith. Up, and still up,
higher and higher. Its flight now becomes much slower,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 23
till, on reaching its utmost altitude, its centrifugal force
becoming counteracted by the earth's attradtion, it de
scribes, it may be, ere it reaches terra firma, a grand
parabola, but probably alighting in the rebel works ere
it explodes, when it scatters death and destrudtion
around. The fleet passed the head of Prophet Island, and up
to the mortar boats. We knew we were near the point
of danger. The rebels -were expedting us, and prepared
to give us a warm reception. A large fire was seen on
the Port Hudson side of the river in front of the fortifi
cations. Suddenly a rocket ascended into the air from
the west bank and exploded. The alarm was given,
and a shot from the rebel works was answered by a
broadside from the Hartford. Battery after battery
answered from the hillside.
The Hartford pushed ahead, towing the Albatross,
the Richm,ond towed the Genessee., the Afonongahela
the .Kineo, the Mississippi and the Sachem following.
The darkness was intense, and the location of the
enemy's batteries could be told only by the flash, and
the location of the fleet, vice versa. There could be no
lights on the decks, but the method of white-washing
the deck gun-carriages, caused the grape shot and can-
nister to produce the same effedt as a black hat upon
snow. The whole arena of adtion upon the land and upon
the water was soon enveloped in a sulphurous canopy of
smoke. The vessels could no longer discern each other,
and it became difficult to know how to steer ; as in the

24 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
gloom the only objedt at which they could aim was the
flash of the guns, the danger became imminent. They
might fire into each other. This gave the rebels great
advantage, for with their stationary guns, though they
fired into the darkness, they could hardly fire amiss.
The Richmond pushed 'alongside the Hartford in the
darkness, and came very near pouring a broadside into
her. The mistake was discovered, but it was a narrow
escape. The Mississippi ran aground on the west bank, and
the rebel battery, pouring an awful fire upon her, riddled
her through and through. It was impossible to move
her, and she was set on fire to keep her from falling into
the hands of the enemy. Soon after she loosened herself
and floated down the river, and the fleet, being unable
to pass, slowly drifted down the stream, while the
Hartford and the Albatross had pushed up and beyond
the forts. And so ended the first Port Hudson cam
paign. The army had stood in line of battle, in the rear of the
rebel works, listening to the sound of cannon and watch
ing the burning of the Mississippi as she drifted down
the river, till the fire reached her magazine, which ex
ploded, after which all was darkness. In the morning,
at about lo o'clock, the order came to take up our line
of march for Baton Rouge, and that famous announce
ment was made that the objedt of the expedition had
been accomplished.
In retreating we camped at the Bayou, and the march
was resumed. In the middle of the afternoon it began

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 25
to rain. The roads became mud, and the gutters rivers,
and our shoes were filled with water. At about 5
o'clock we reached a swamp — a dreary Louisiana
swamp. We were wet to the skin, and threw off" our
knapsacks and equipments into the mud.
When morning came we were a half-drowned, hag
gard, bedraggled and hungry set ; witli an extra supply
of wood-ticks, the army was as natural as usual. The
march was resumed, and we arrived at Baton Rouge
on the 21 st of March. The army went into camp,
and drill was resumed. Strong events were about to
transpire. Gen.W. T. Sherman had been left in command at
New Orleans, and in order to guard against the move
ment of the enemy on the place it became necessary to
put fortifications on the New Orleans and Jackson Rail
roads. Col. Clark of the Sixth Michigan was placed in
command of a force consisting of the One Hundred and
Sixty -fifth New York, Sixth Michigan, One Hundred
and Seventy-seventh New York, Ninth Connedticut, and
Fourteenth and Twenty-fourth Maine, with orders to
capture Ponchatmera, a station on the Jackson Railroad,
ten miles beyond the Manchac Pass. Col. Clark's plan
was to take them by surprise, attacking them on the
front flank and on the rear. Col. Smith with the
Zouaves, was to attack the front,. and the others were to
proceed up the Tickafaw River, where they were to
disembark, take the enemy on the flanks and rear, and
when Col. Clark reached the enemy's rear he was to
give the signal for Col. Smith to commence the attack.

26 CAMPAIGNING With banks.
Monday evening, March 23d, the Zouaves began the
march over the trestle works of the railroad, and a
disagreeable march it was. The rails were laid on
rafters six or eight feet above the level of the surround
ing weeds and water. If a man made a misstep it might
be his last.
Arriving at North Manchac Pass we were compelled
to cross over a long bridge partly destroyed by fire by
the enemy. We could hardly pick our way across.
That night we encamped on the track, cold and hungry,
disturbed all night by picket firing a few miles away.
At day-break the march was resumed, and at mid-day
we arrived at an open tradt of country. At the farther
end of this open space was a thickly-wooded place,
where the enemy resolved to make a stand. Soon after
Col. Smith heard the signal. Col. Clark advanced with
his force against the rebel position. The secessionists
waited only long enough to exchange a few shots and
then took refuge in the woods. None of our men were
killed in the skirmish, and only a few were wounded.
The next day, the railroad bridge having been burned.
Col. Clark, in accordance with orders, fell back on the
railroad. That night we encamped in a swamp.
The long nights in a Louisiana swamp, the alligators
that were killed, the snakes that came out of the water
to see us, the mosquitoes that worried us, all of these are
better imagined than described. Camping in Louisiana
is very much more disagreeable than in Virginia.

CHAPTER IV.
Sailing Down the Mississippi from Baton Rouge. —
Coming Into Adion. — The Transports Under
Terrible Fire of the Enetny. — Camp Life in the
Louisiana Low-lands. — An Interesting Story.

TV BOUT April ist, 1S63, the army gathered at Baton
J-^L Rouge. A large fleet of transports on the river
told us that the time had come when we were to start on
our new expedition. It was no surprise to us when the
order came for us to strike tents, and with three days'
rations, to march on board the transports. We had not
been in camp long enough to accumulate much furniture,
so we carried very light knapsacks compared with those
we had on our previous march. The time was coming
when we were to learn the art of soldiering, and find
how little we could get along with. Life on the trans
ports was pleasant, and we enjoyed our sail down the
Mississippi. Landing at Algiers, opposite New Orleans,
a new camp was laid out. Tents were pitched, and
drilling went on as usual. Regiments continued to
arrive every day, and soon the plains of Algiers were
white with the tents of Emory's division. Here, for the
first time since its organization, the regimental camp-
guard was dispensed with, and the men were allowed a

28 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
little liberty to look around and see the country tl^ey
were fighting for. They did not abuse the confidence
thus reposed in them by their officers, as may be inferred
from the fadt that no regimental guard was placed
around the Thirty-eighth after that time, and even when
other regiments were confined to stridt camp-limits,
Lieut. -Col. Richardson allowed his command, when off
duty, to roam anywhere within sound of the bugle, and
when stationed near a town or city, gave leave of
absence when it did not conflidt with orders from higher
authorities. At this time the Forty-seventh Massachusetts was
doing garrison duty in New Orleans, and its members
having many acquaintances in the Thirty-eighth, visited
them often. The contrast between the nicely-fitting
home-made uniforms of the Forty-seventh boys and the
shoddy affairs made bj' the contradtors to the Thirty-
eighth, was a .source of much amusement to the mem
bers of the latter regiment. In the field, clothing was a
matter of little importance, but when a haversack^ strap
or a knapsack buckle broke at the beginning of a long
march, or the sole came off' a shoe at a slight stumble,
which very often happened, the comments on the patri
otism of those who provided for the wants of the army
were more expressive than elegant.
Although New Orleans and Algiers had been in Union
hands for over a year, the feeling was still bitter toward
the North. A single incident will illustrate this feeling :
G. W. Powers, of Company F, was strolling through
the streets the day before Easter, looking at the objedts

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 29
of interest. As he passed a small church, the sound of
Easter hymns floated out on the air, and not having been
inside of a church for many months, and the sweet music
bringing memories of home to his mind, he stepped
inside, and stood near the door listening respedtfully.
The choir was engaged in a rehearsal under the diredtion
of a gentleinan whose whjte cravat and clerical air be
spoke the minister. Suddenly the singers caught sight
of the blue uniform, and the music instantly ceased.
Following the diredtion of their glances the clergyman
cast what he evidently intended to be a withering look
on the unwelcome spedtator. A silence ensued. Then
the soldier asked if he was intruding.
'¦ Yes," was the reply, in a very curt tone. Apologiz
ing for the unintentional intrusion, the visitor retreated,
followed to the door by the chivalrous clergyman, who
probably took precaution to prevent any more blue uni
forms from intruding while his choir was singing the
anthems of peace on earth and good will to men.
At 2 o'clock, on the morning of the 9th, the reveille
woke the sleeping camp. Tents were struck and b}' 7
o'clock the regiment was on board of the cars bound for
the interior of Louisiana. For eighty miles we rode on
platform and baggage cars, through the lowlands of
Louisiana. For a long distance we ran through a dense
Cyprus swamp, such a one as we had not seen before.
It was like a wall of vegetation, almost, on each side,
and through the leaves we could see dark bayous and
black pools. Alligators several feet long lay on logs or
in the water. Snakes, single or in coils, lay basking in

30 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
the sun. There were turtles and lizards by the barrel,
and the trees were draped with the peculiar Southern
moss. The road was guarded by the New York and
Connedticut Regiments, and we did not envy them their
pleasant job. A little after noon the train arrived at
Brashear City. For fear the readers may dwell on the
idea that Brashear City is a large one, I will say at once
that it is not. It consists of a few houses, a dilapidated
wharf, and lots of mud. The regiment embarked on
the gunboat Clifton, accompanied by Gen. Banks and
staff. In my first chapter I said that he was on the
Baltic, but it was on the Clifton. Landing at Berwick,
we went into camp. Suddenly every regiment was
called into line, an order read that all men not able to
go on a long march should report to the surgeon imme
diately, and the army should be reduced to strong, adtive
service. In the meantime reports were coming in that
the enemy was strongly fortified at Bisland. The Union
gunboat Diana, under command of Capt. Peterson, was
ordered to take two companies of infantry to find if the
enemy had received reinforcements of infantry. Capt.
Peterson was to go no further than a point where a
bayou from Grand Lake unites with the Atchafalaya,
west of Pattersonville. Not content with this, he deter
mined to carry his observation into the very midst of the
enemy's stronghold. The expedition proved fatal to
him. Moving cautiously along the bayou, within half a
mile of Pattersonville, on the upper side, four of the rebel
cavalry suddenly came within range, and galloped along
the level road. A shell was fired at them from the

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 31
Diana without effedt. They continued retreating till
they reached the main body of cavalry, which had been
concealed behind a sugar-house. Upon discovering this
fort, ever)- gun on the Diana was brought upon the
enem}-, and shot and shell were poured into their ranks.
While the attention of the gunboat was diredted to this
force, a battery of four pieces was heard in a neighboring
corn-field, at no greater distance than twenty yards from,
the boat, where a most adtive cannonading was at once
commenced. At this time Capt. Peterson, while standing on the
deck, on the starboard side of the pilot-house, giving
orders to his men, received a ball in his breast, which
prostrated him to the deck. His only words were : "I
am a dead man ! " He never spoke again.
Master Mate Doliver, yvhile working one of the Dahl-
gren cannons, was instantly killed. It was evident that
the enemy -was trying to pick off' our men from the
larger guns. Mr. Mumford, having charge of the Par-
rott gun in the bow, had been killed. A perfedt hail
storm of bullets was showered upon those who were
stationed forward. Accordingly these pieces were aban
doned, and froin that time all firing ceased on board the
Diana. The upper decks of the boats were riddled,
and the wooden bulwarks knocked to pieces, which flew
in all diredtions, proving more destructive than the balls
of the enemy. The third shot of the enemy cut the
tiller-ropes of the Diana, and left her helpless in the
current. This damage was not repaired for some time,
the boat floating down stern foremost toward the enemy,

32 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
who from the short distance of sixty feet, raked her with
round shot from stem to stern. All the deck officers in
command were either killed or wounded. When the
boat changed position, the enemy's cannon were moved
so that they might be worked with the greatest effedt.
Mr. Hall, officer of the deck, was shot in the head,
and went below, saying to the men : " Boys, fight it out
till the last ! "
All the ship's officers armed themselves with muskets
during the adtion, and used them constantly. The gun
boat Calhoun went from Brashear City to Pattersonville
under a flag of truce, to secure the bodies of the killed,
carry provisions to the wounded, and if possible secure
the parole of the prisoners. The bodies of Capt. Patter
son, Master Mate Doliver, and ninety-nine of the men
paroled, came back in the Calhoun that night.
In the meantime, an expedition was started from Don-
aldsonville, under command of Gen. Grover, on the
west bank of the Mississippi River. The neighborhood
of this town, and the country along the Bayou La
Fourche is said to be the garden of Louisiana.
This command arrived at Assumption, March 31st,
having marched twelve or fifteen miles. April 3d, we
arrived at Terre Bonne, about three miles south of
Thibodeaux. The railroad from New Orleans to Bra
shear City was a few rods north of us, a road which our
forces held. About noon, we arrived at Thibodeaux.
April loth, we arrived at Brashear City, the army hav
ing been drawn together in full force, and everything
being ready, the order was given, " Forwai-d, march,"

CHAPTER V.
Brave Conduct of the Union Soldiers Under Fire. —
Generals Banks and E?nory JMade the Target of
Rebel Sharpshooters. — The Retreat of the Rebels.
Banks Shelled by the Diana.

TTy^ILLIAMSON'S and Perkins' Cavalry were in
V V the advance, skirmishing with the enemy all
day. The following is the order in which the advance
was made : Eighth Vermont, Col. Thomas, extreme
right ; One Hundred and Fourteenth New York, Col.
E. B. Smith, right centre; One Hundred and Sixteenth
New York, Lieut. -Col. Van Patten, left centre ; Twelfth
Connedticut, Lieut. -Col. Peck, left wing. Williamson's
First Louisiana Cavalry was in the extreme advance,
closel)' followed -by skirmishers from the different regi
ments. Capt. Bainbridge's First United States Artillery,
Co. A, and the Sixth Massachusetts Battery, Capt. Car-
ruth, accompanied them. The eneiny were seen along
the march in small squads, and singly, which thus com
pelled a careful advance and firing of the skirmishers at
doubtful points, with occasional shelling. After advanc
ing about five miles, the enemy opened with a battery
of six and twelve-pound light pieces, posted near a large
sugar-house on the right. Bainbridge's Artillery was
3

34 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
quickly in position, and so effedlive were the shells that
the rebels soon ceased firing, limbered up their guns, and
hurriedly left, never stopping to make another attempt
to stay our advance. Many of their shots, however, were
well diredted, falling in close proximity to our forces,
but fortunately, not a man was either killed or wounded.
One of their shells entered the chimney of a house,
another buried itself in the trunk of a tree by the side of
the house, while a third struck a residence two or three
yards in the advance, exploded in the closet, scattering
the china, pots, pans and victuals in every diredtion, and
leaving that part of the house in ruins. In addition to
the artillery, the enemy had four hundred cavalry and
two hundred infantry. The advance was now resumed,
and beyond an occasional stray musket shot, and the
capture of a few prisoners, nothing important occurred.
The cavalry were supported by the One Hundred and
Sixteenth New York and the gunboat Clifton, for by
Gen. Weitzel's orders, Col. E. B. Smith placed a guard
over the houses and plantations. The sugar houses and
out-buildings were filled with sugar, corn and molasses.
The advance was now very rapid, the Clifton ahead,
occasionally shelling the woods. Many of the families
of the planters were taken so unawares that when our
forces arrived at their residences, an untouched or half-
eaten dinner on the table, a valuable article left here and
there, proved with what surprise they heard of our ad
vance, and in what haste they left. Black and white all
hurriedly crossed the Atchafalaya, or accompanied the
enemy. None were there to welcome us. It was well

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 35
that Gen. Weitzel placed a guard over their houses and
property, or the owners would have returned to a home
less desert. At about 5 p.m., Pattersonville was reached.
This village is about nine miles frorp Berwick City. The
Atchafalaya runs to the right, parallel with it, and in
this neighborhood it will be remembered, that some four
weeks before, the Diana was captured by the rebels.
About 4 o'clock Gen. Banks and staff started from Ber
wick City for the front. Gen. Emory's Division followed
the advance, the ambulances and wagons bringing up
the rear. All had arrived at Pattersonville by 6 p.m.,
including the staff. Nearly every house of respedtable
size and appearance in the village was honored by either
division, brigade or regimental headquarters, while the
Commanding General and staff" occupied a large white
house to the right, some twenty yards from the side of
the road.
The whole army was in a very small space, but a
strong force of infantry and artillery guarded it well on
every side from surprise and attack. At 6 o'clock, on
Sunday morning, Williamson's Cavalry were scouring
the country ahead and on the right, occasionally skirm
ishing with the enemy, who were out of range of our
artillei-y. About 7 o'clock, the Seventy-fifth New York
moved slowly ahead, throwing out skirmishers and adting
as support to Bainbridge Artillery ; the infantry de-
ploj-ed toward the dense woods on the left, about one-
half mile in advance of a large force of Generals Emory
and Weitzel's command. Artillery was also posted to
the right and centre, and in front of the Atchafalaya. The

36 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
skirmishers, having moved about half a mile and beyond
a bend of woods about two hundred yards, discovered a
large force of the enemy's cavalry advancing on the main
road. Falling back to their support, the skirmishers
reported what they had seen, when the artillery opened,
firing three shells. The enemy hastily left. About 8
o'clock, a cloud of dust was seen in the distance. It was
evidently caused by a large force of the enemy advancing.
This fadt was cominunicated to Gen Weitzel. Capt.
Williainson was also notified of the move, and continued
to be on the alert against surprise.
Gen. Banks and staff, accompanied by Generals
Emory, Andrews and Weitzel, now rode up for the pur
pose of reconnoitering the country. After a careful survey
they were able to see only a few rebel cavalry, and in a
fe-w moments their horses' heads were turned in the
diredtion of Pattersonville, Gen. Banks remarking :
" There are no enemy in front, we will advance the
army, gentlemen." Half an hour after the cavalcade
returned. Gen. Weitzel's Brigade of artillery and infantry
advanced to the open ground beyond the point of woods
on the left, and formed in line of battle as follows :
Seventy-fifth New York, centre ; One Hundred and
Fourteenth New York, right centre ; Eighth Vermont,
right ; One Hundred and Sixtieth New York, left centre,
and the Twelfth Connedticut, left. Capt. Bainbridge's
Battery, Co. A, First United States, was in position at
the right, and Capt. Carruth's Sixth Massachusetts Bat
tery in the centre. Col. Ingraham's Brigade of Gen.
Emory's Division formed the extreme left of the line of

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 37
battle in the advance, and was composed of the One
Hundred and Tenth and One Hundred and Sixty-second
New York, Fourth Massachusetts, and Sixteenth Ver
mont. At this time both Generals Banks and Emory
had a narrow escape from the bullets of the enemy's
sharpshooters. Gen. Emory was placing his inen in
position when Gen. Banks rode up. The two com
manders were not more than three feet apart, and were
conversing together as to future movements, when sud
denly from the -woods on the left, not more than two
hundred yards distant, half a dozen muskets were dis
charged, and the bullets went whistling past and between
the Generals, one ball entering the breast and killing one
of the bod)' guard. Quick as lightning Gen. Emory
half turned in his saddle and pointing to the woods and
addressing his mounted guard, said : " After them, men ;
there are but five or six of them, or vfe should have had
more shots." As a number of the body guard put spurs
to their horses two or three hasty shots were fired from
the party in the -woods without doing any injury.
The remainder of Gen. Emory's Division was now
drawn up in second line of battle, supporting Gen.
Weitzel, and in different diredtions, the resei-ves being in
the rear. The enemy at this time began to show them
selves in considerable force. About 10.30 a.m., two
regiments were drawn up in line of battle diredtly ahead
and in front of a large sugar-house, not more than a mile
and a half distant ; the dark line of infantry, scarcely
visible to the eye, was in admirable position, forming a
half square with the point toward us ; they appeared ready

38 CAMPAIGNING WITH: BANKS.
to receive us. The rebel cavalry were quietly walking
their horses over the whole country, some very leisurely
toward our lines, approaching to within half or three-
quarters of a mile, for the purpose of reconnoitering.
When satisfied, they rode in haste toward the column.
Our advance remained stationary until cavalry could be
sent to feel the way ahead. Suddenly the two rebel regi
ments drawn up in line of battle disappeared, their cavalry
followed, and in a few moments after the dense cloud of
rising dust marked the course they were retreating. Capt.
Williamson's First Louisiana Cavalry of Maj. Robinson's
command now started in pursuit. They rode at full speed,
under a galling fire from the rebels on the opposite bank
of the river. Volley after volley was fired, as our men
rode rapidly past, and for a mile and a half the discharges
continued, but of all firing not a man was touched.
Three or four horses were shot however.
In the meantime, Capt. Mack's Eighteenth New York
Battery was rapidly put in position, and a sharp fire was
kept up for nearly an Jiour, the shells falling and bursting
in every diredtion. Under this fire, two regiments of
Col. Gooding's Brigade, and a sediion of Capt. Brad
bury's First Maine Artillery, Lieut. Morton, crossed the
river over the pontoon bridge, throwing out skirmishers
and driving the enemy before them. Several shots were
exchanged, but whether any of our men were killed or
wounded, I am unable to state. Whilst retreating, the
rebels on the other side fired the buildings along the
Teche, to prevent, as is supposed, their affording a
shelter to our sharpshooters. About i o'clock p.m., the

CAMPAIGNING WITM BANKS. 39
whole force \vas ordered to advance. Skinnishers from
the infantry and squads of cavalry from the different
companies were detached and sent ahead to feel the way.
Owing to the thickness of the cane-fields and the planta
tion houses and buildings, it was necessary for them to
keep up a pretty sharp fire.
Occasionally a rebel, mounted or on foot, could be
seen in the distance, but on observing our advance,
hastily left. As our forces were moving along the road
bordering the Teche, some ten miles and a half from
Pattersonville, fifty or sixty rebel cavalry suddenly sprang
from out of a piece of woods on the opposite side, ad
vanced a few paces and fired their carbines. Qtiick as
thought, a sedtion of artillery, twenty-pound Parrotts,
were turned upon them. The bursting shells forced
them from their cover to the open ground, and they
being in full sight and easy range, the shells were sent
amongst them in beautiful style, exploding, ploughing
up the earth, and scattering the pieces of shells all
around. Never men rode faster, and as each moment
their backs became less distindt, our men, who had
laughed and shouted at their disappearing, gave one
long, loud, wild yell, which echoed back from the -woods
the rebels had so recently left, seeming as if they too
marked them in their hasty retreat. Half an hour after
we again saw them, this time, however, at a very re-
spedtful distance, and out of range of our heaviest can
non. They could just be distinguished by the naked
eye. Their men were wiser than an hour ago, having
learned by experience.

40 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
An aide now rode up to Gen. Banks and reported that
there were obstrudtions in the river. It proved to be a
half-destroyed, half-sunken, wooden bridge, with a pas
sage cut where the current runs, to allow boats to pass
up and down. It could be repaired and made useful, as
it was fifteen or twenty feet wide, one hundred to one
hundred and fifty feet long, and reached two-thirds of
the distance over the river, A few moments later and a
report arrived that the gunboat Diana was in sight.
Gen. Banks and staff rode from the road to the bank of
the river, about one hundred yards distant, and from a
rising ground the masts of our former staunch little
gunboat Diana was seen, with a large rebel ffag flying,
nearly a mile distant. Everybody wished to take a good
look at her, and the consequence was that they remained
long enough to hear from her, for a flash, a puff of
smoke, a loud report, and a whirring, whizzing, whist
ling noise, the latter becoming each instant more distindt
as it approached them, passing over their heads, plung
ing into the ground beyond with a thud that no doubt
sounded musically to every ear, for it was a shell from
the thirty-pound rifled Parrott on board the Diana. The
next instant and another gun was fired, this time oppo
site, from the other side of the Teche. They were the
mark that both were firing at, for a shell whistled diredtly
over and lodged in the centre of a bank not fifty yards
distant, scattering the earth over several soldiers who
were resting themselves at the top, and who scampered
off in double quick time.

CHAPTER VI.
The Bobbin Boy's Coolness Amid Flying Missiles. —
The Gunboat Diana in Action Tied to a Control
ling String. — A Lively and Interesting Sketch of
a Sharp Engagement.

THE battle had continued without accomplishing
much up to this, 3 p.m., Sunday, April 12th, 1863.
The enemy had opened all their batteries, shells ex
ploded in the air, solid shot ploughing up the earth,
when Gen. Banks and staff galloped up to our front
line of battle, accompanied by his staff, sitting on his
horse, amid the flying missiles in the air, as cool and as
calm as if he -was presiding over the Legislature.
The first line of battle was under the coinmand of
Gen. Paine, composed of the Fourth Wisconsin, Eighth
Ne-w Hampshire, One Hundred and Thirty-third New
York, One Hundred and Seventy-third New York, ex
treme right resting on the bayou. Gen. Weitzel holding
the extreme left on the first line. The second line was
in command of Col. Ingraham of the Thirty-eighth
Massachusetts. The troops under his command. One
Hundred and Tenth, One Hundred and Sixty-second
New York, Fourth Massachusetts, Sixteenth Vermont,
the Third Brigade, commanded by Col. Goodwin, the

42 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
Thirty-first Massachusetts, and the One Hundred and
Seventy-fifth New York, had been detached and sent on
the other side of the bayou. The balance of the brigade,
comprising the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, One Hun
dred and Fifty-sixth New York, and Fifty-third Massa
chusetts, were attached to Col. Ingraham, in the second
line of battle. Capt. Bradbury, First United States Artil
lery, Co. A., were located near the Teche. Capt. Car-
ruth and one section of the First Maine Battery engaged
the enemy in front. One piece of Capt. Mack's Eigh
teenth New York was ordered to take position near the
road and silence the gunboat Diana, if possible. The
action of the Diana was very singular. She would sud
denly appear round the bend and open fire and disap
pear. It was afterward found that a rope was attached
to her, and it would be loosened, and after fire drawn
back again out of sight. In addition to powerful guns
on board the Diana, the rebels were supplied with bat
teries and guns of larger calibre, answering us, gun
for gun, with great vigor. Ahead and behind us, the
shells were exploding every instant. Generals Banks and
Emory rode the length of the line in this awful fire,
ordering the right of Paine's line still further forward,
and we pushed along up, and dark found us close to
their earthworks.
The firing ceased with the darkness, but the skirm
ishers kept it up all night, an order being given that the
advance should retire out of the range of the light artil
lery, and bivouac for the night, taking position in two
lines, the brigade of Gen. Paine forming the right half of

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 43
each line, and Gen. Weitzel's the left half. Gen. Paine's
command had scarcely obeyed this order when Gen.
Emory ordered the Fourth "Wisconsin, Col. Bean, to be
thrown forward to hold the woods and sugar-house on
the right of the main road, as the enemy's defences and
principal guns were masked by them. This position
was contested with spirit all night ; the pickets were
firing during the whole of the time, but the ground was
firmly and gallantly held by the Fourth Wisconsin, with
but small loss on our side.
About -I o'clock, on the next morning. Col. Bean sent
a communication to Gen. Paine, stating that under cover
of the fog and darkness, the enemy had been busily at
work near their picket line all night, hammering and
chopping, leading them to believe that they were plant
ing batteries, or preparing in some manner to give us a
-warm reception in the morning. Gen. Emory was in
formed of these facts. He at once gave Gen. Paine
permission to place an additional force in position to
support Gen. Bean, if necessary. Before the fog lifted,
Gen. Paine moved his headquarters up to the line held
by the Fourth Wisconsin. He was accompanied by the
Eighth New Hampshire. This regiment was placed in
line of battle in the rear of the Fourth Wisconsin, and
both regiments were ordered to place themselves in the
deep plantation ditches, so that by lying down they might
be sheltered from all missiles excepting shell bursting
directly overhead.
The remainder of Gen. Paine's Brigade now came up,
about 6.30 A.M., when it was determined to make a

44 CAMPAIGNING Wt-iTH BANKS*
reconnoisance, in order to learn the meaning of the
enemy's movements during the night. Gen. Paine ac
cordingly went up to the line of pickets in front of the
Fourth Wisconsin. Proceeding cautiously, he reached
the extreme advance, and from observation and informa
tion became satisfied that the Diana was within short
range, having moved from her former position during
the night. As Gen. Paine had just come to the conclu
sion that artillery could be placed in position so as to
easily destroy her, the Diana fired her thirty-two pound
Parrott, the shell passing in dangerous proximity to our
little force.
About 6.45 A.M., the signal was given for the second
day's fight to commence. About that time a large force
of the enemy, infantry and cavalry, advanced from behind
their breastworks for the purpose of regaining possession
of the sugar-house and woods. The guns on the Diana,
the thirty-two pounder at the corner of the road, the
batteries along the breastworks, together -with a battery
on the opposite side of the Teche, opened upon the
woods and Gen. Paine's command. The men bravely
stood their ground amid this terrific hail of iron missiles,
and met the advancing enemy with spirit. An infantry
fight of half an hour was kept up, our men still holding
their ground, and finally driving the rebels to the shelter
of their breastworks. While our forces and artillery were
getting into position on the left. Gen. Paine sent to Gen.
Banks, requesting that heavy guns might be sent forward
as rapidly as possible, as his position must soon become
untenable unless artillery arrived at once.

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 45
Scouts in the meantime were sent forward to observe
the movements of the Diana, and in a short time they
returned, rejaorting that she was changing her position.
The fog, which had been very heavy, now lifted, discov
ering her position. A large flag was flying from her
mainmast. A rebel battery had been quietly placed be
tween the Diana and our forces, not one hundred and
fifty yards from their earthworks. They were attempt
ing to post their pickets, and get ready to open a fire,
which must have forced our gallant fellows back, when
Gen. Paine again sent a messenger to hasten up a battery.
A moment after, the artillery of Capt. Mack's Eighteenth
New York was heard thundering along the road. At
the bend he was seen galloping at full speed, and the
next moment the guns were in position.
So rapid and splendid was the whole movement per
formed, that the enemy had not time to open their
batteries before the staunch twenty-pounder Parrotts of
Capt. Mack were throwing shell into them, when the
¦whole of the rebel guns were limbered up and hurried
away without firing. Under the circumstance. Gen.
Paine was compelled to commence the fire with Mack's
Battery before the Fourth Wisconsin was called in, and
most of the shelling was over their heads. Capt. Mack
no-w turned his artillery upon the Diana and the guns of
the enemy ahead, and on each side of the Teche the
firing was kept up for two hours without cessation. The
whole were in easy range of his guns, the Diana and
batteries on this side of the river not being, more than
eight hundred yards distant, while that on the opposite

46 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
side, to the left, was about fifteen hundred. Four hun
dred rounds were fired, two caissons emptied. The
Diana and batteries, right and left, silenced repeatedly
the gunboat, finally steaming up the Teche, and never
firing a shot this side of the breastworks afterwards.
Generals Banks, Emory, Paine, and their staffs, rode up
and complimented Capt. Mack and his command. This
was the first time this battery had been engaged, and the
men under fire.
While this battery was answering the enemy from
every quarter, Col. McMillan of the Twentj'-first Regi
ment, Indiana Artillery, ordered Capt. McLaflin of Co.
G, to take a section of thirty-two rifled Parrotts, place
them in position on the bank, in easy range of the
Diana, and open on her. This was promptly done.
Twenty shot, were fired, six of which are said to have
struck her. The flag was shot away. The first shell
that was fired is reported to have passed through her
iron plating and wheelhouse, killing both engineers and
three other persons. Six were afterwards killed by two
other shells. A large number were scalded and wounded
on board the Diana, as one of the shells passed through
a portion of her steam works. In half an hour after the
first shot was fired from these guns she steamed up the
stream and disappeared. This was about 3 o'clock, a.m.
She never appeared to fight Mack's and McLaflin's guns
afterward. As the Diana was preparing to stand up stream to
get out of range of our guns, a severe skirmish took
place in front of Gen. Paine's Brigade, between Co. B,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 47
Fourth Wisconsin, Capt. Carter, and Co. B of the
Twenty-fifth Louisiana. The latter were driven ofl".
While this affair was going on, information was brought
to Gen. Paine that a regiment of the enemy's infantry
had been landed in the woods, and were advancing
toward our right wing for the purpose of flanking it.
This circumstance, and the discovery that another force
was passing down to the banks of the bayou out of the
woods, led him to suppose that the enemy were massing
in that direction, with the intention of suddenly descend
ing upon Capt. Mack's Battery for the purpose of cap
turing it. To guard against this move, the right wing
(Eighth New Hampshire) was ordered in position on
the banks of the bayou, slightly in advance of the right
of the battery, with orders to protect it to the last, and
charge upon any troops which might advance for that
purpose. This movement, no doubt, checked the enemy,
who fell back with their main body, leaving, however, a
large force of skirmishers, who opened a destructive fire
about 11.30 A.M. These were also partially driven back,
and their fire slackened. Ours increasing, they, too,
finally retreated behind the shelter of their earthworks.
The fire on both sides was fierce and constant. About
this time every gun of the enemy's batteries was silenced
also, and our firing ceased, leaving us in undisputed
possession of the woods and sugar house. The ground,
so hotly contested, was held during the whole time, the
enemy being driven off at every point by the infantry,
while the fire of the Diana, the thirty-two pounder, and
the guns on each side of the river, before and behind

48 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
their breastworks, were silenced. Mack's, McLaflin's
and Healy's Artillery observing this. Gen. Paine rode up
to Capt. Mack, thanked him and his command, when
the brigade gave three cheers for the battery and its
gallant, chief. This w:is followed by three more for Gen.
Paine, the members of the artillery company joining
with spirit. Several shells had struck some buildings in
the rear and to the right of the enemy's works, on this
side of the Teche, setting them on fire. The artillery
firing, infantry fighting, skirmishing, and the burning
buildings, presented one of the grandest sights we ever
witnessed. During the whole of this sharp engagement our forces
were in line of battle a little farther in the rear, skirm
ishing ahead the main body, gradually nearing the
enemy's breastworks, and the artillery replying to the
rapid fire of their batteries, and now the artillery opened
with renewed vigor along the whole line. Capt. Car
ruth's and Capt. Bainbridge's Batteries of Weitzel's
Brigade were also here. They fired from their position
on the left until all their ammunition was expended.
When they retired, several of the enemy's guns were
either silenced entirely by tliese batteries, or compelled
to change their position. About i o'clock, Capt. Duryea's
Battery of twelve-pound Napoleons was ordered up in
front, and was soon firing upon all the batteries of the
enemy on this side of the Teche. Lieut. Morris, with
one section of the battery, was ordered to proceed for
ward to within one hundred and fifty yards of their
breastworks. They did so, and engaged the enemy

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 49
from that time to 5 p.m., doing considerable execution,
firing in all two hundred and fifty-six rounds, when he
ceased for want of ammunition.
One shot from Capt. Duryea's command struck and
dismounted a large brass field-piece of the enemy posted
near the woods on the left. It was a gun of Valverde's
Battery. From the efl'ects of this shot, Capt. Valverde
and four horses were killed, and four men wounded.
The two thirty-two pound Parrotts which engaged the
Dia-na, were now turned on the land batteries distant
about a mile, compelling the rebel artillerists to change
their guns from one part of their works to another, as
could be seen from the smoke of their pieces. The con
stant roar of artillery was now deafening. All day there
had been firing, with more or less vigor, at different parts
of the field, but now all the artillery appeared to be en
gaged, battery replying to battery, and gun answering
gun. And now we will pass on the east side of the
bayou, to see what they are doing, as Gen. Grover is
there.

CHAPTER VI L
Gallant Work of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts.
— Advancing Steadily Upon the Enemy's Works
Under a Fearful Fire. — The Rebels in a Bag,
but Held by a Rotten String.

THE regiments composing Col. Gooding's command
were the Thirty-first Massachusetts, One Hundred
and Fifty-sixth and One Hundred and Seventy-fifth
New York, Fifty-third and the Thirty-eighth Massa
chusetts. The latter crossed the pontoon bridge about 8
o'clock, under a severe fire from the battery. The First
Maine Battery followed. The Thirty-first Massachusetts
was deployed as skirmishers through an immense cane
field, at the end of which, a mile and a half distant, the
enemy's breastwork extended for three-quarters of a mile,
reaching from the shore of Grand Lake to the banks of
the Teche.
The advance of the Thirty-first was hotly contested by
the enemy, and the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts moved
forward in three detachments as a support. The inten
tion was to immediately attack the battery, but as soon
as our advance was observed, it ceased to fire on Gen.
Paine's Brigade, and accordingly' the attack was not
made,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 51
Col. Gooding, however, decided upon finding the true
position of the enemy outside his works, and also to
ascertain if the guns which had been throvving grape
into Gen. Paine's Brigade, was a light battery posted on
the outside of the intrenchment, as was supposed by
Gen. Emory.
The Thirty-first Massachusetts was now advanced to
within one-half mile of the works, but no light battery
was found there. The advance was very hotly contested,
and the ammunition of the Thirty- first being exhausted,
they were relieved by the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts,
Col. Rodman.
An order was received from Gen. Banks to move on
the enemy's intrenchments on the right bank, while at the
same time an order was given to Generals Emory and
Weitzel to advance on them on the left bank. The
Thirty-eighth Massachusetts deployed across the whole
field, advancing to the position of the Thirty-first. The
Fifty-third Massachusetts was also deployed as skirm
ishers,. adTiing as a support. The One Hundred and
Seventy-fifth New York and Thirty-first Massachusetts
were placed on the rear of the left, and the right of the
second line of skirmishers as reserves, while at the same
time the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York was
ordered to turn the enemy's left flank. The battery,
under command of Lieutenants Healy and Morton, was
posted on parallel plantation roads, leading to the
enemy's works. Our sedtion was held in reserve, and
in rear of the second line of skirmishers. This being
done, the whole advanced on the enemy's works, driving

52 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
them into the same. The advance was very stubbornly
resisted, the rebel sharpshooters engaging our skirmish
ers, while the artillery belched forth fire and smoke all
along the extent of their fortifications, bravely answered,
however, by our own, which was well served, and the
guns of the enemy were twice silenced, and frequently
compelled to change their positions.
About 3 o'clock, a further advance was made under a
severe diiedt and cross-fire from their batteries, and it
having been found by this time that the enemy were
very strongly fortified with powerful guns, the Thirty-
eighth Massachusetts was ordered to advance steadily
forward toward the earthworks, and when within the
reach of musketry, to lie down and await orders. The
next moment another order arrived that they should ad
vance, and if they could reach the enemy's works, enter
them. As Col. Rodman rode along the line for the purpose
of issuing his commands, the enemy's sharpshooters
fired upon him. He was the only mounted man in the
regiment. The men advanced steadily and rapidly, so well that
our troops on the other side of the Teche cheered us,
and the rebels hastily entered their breastworks. The
fire was very severe on the left of the regiment under
command of Maj. Richardson of the Thirty-eighth
Massachusetts, the men being more exposed to the
enemy's fire than at any other point.
A shell exploded just in the middle of the left reserve,
killing Capt. Gault, Co, A ; Priv. Gill, Co. A, another-

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 53
of Co. D, and severely wounding seven others of these
companies. The front line at this time was distant from the enemy's
works about eight hundred yards. The advance was
now very slow, as the enemy was using every exertion
from their works, and outside, on the right, left and cen
tre, to drive us back.
At this time Lieut. Russell of the Thirty-eighth Mas
sachusetts, with his company, was in the woods to the
right, when about five hundred of the enemy's infantry
advanced from the works, with the intention of flanking
him. They opened a tremendous fire, checking their
further progress, and the right would probably have been
turned by this overpowering force, but for the thick
underbrush of the woods and the swampy nature of the
ground, thus rendering their movements very slow and
difficult. Col. Gooding at once ordered the One Hundred and
Fifty-sixth New York, Lieut.-Col. Sharpe, to strengthen
this position and drive the enemy back. Advancing
through the woods on the enemy's left, Col. Sharpe
reached their rear and flanked them, driving the rebels
before him. They were the Eighteenth Louisiana In
fantry and three companies of the Seventh Texas Cavalry,
the latter dismounted. A sedtion of artillery was also
posted by the rebels on that end of the works, for the
purpose of assisting their force to flank us.
Suddenly the enemy sent a powerful force to the
assistance of the rebels, as it was found that they were
being driven at every point.

64 CAMPAIGNING With BANKS.
Col. Sharpe had now a much superior force to contend
against. A sharp musketry fire by volleys was com
menced and kept up for some time, when word reaching
Col. Gooding that Col. Sharpe's force was outnumbered
by the enemy, the Thirty-first Massachusetts was imme
diately sent to reinforce him. As soon as they arrived,
a charge was made by Col. Sharpe upon a strong abattis
to the right of the earthworks in the woods, about two
hundred yards distant, and hidden entirely from sight of
the latter by the trees. The position was evidently a
strong one, for the enemy had dug a ditch and felled
trees around it.
The rebels in the abattis fought bravely, and our
forces fell back about twenty feet, when Sergt. Kennedy
of Co. I, advancing to the front, waved his musket as an
officer would his sword, shouted: "Let's try it again,
boys; we'll have it this time; follow me!" and the
gallant fellow bounded forward. The rest followed with
a yell, when the ditch obstrudtions and guns were passed
in a moment, and the next instant the abattis was taken
and the enemy was at the mercy of our soldiers.
One hundred men surrendered with three guns. The
abattis was held by pur men with little loss. The guns
were struck frequently by the shot and shell from the;
enemy's batteries.
The One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York, C<s^
Sharpe, and the Thirty-first Massachusetts, Col. Hop
kins, held the woods and abattis all night, fighting the
enemy the whole time, and killing and wounding a large
number.

campaigning WITM BANKS. 55
About 5 p.m., the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts having
expended all their ammunition, the Fifty-third Massa
chusetts, Col. Kimball, was ordered by Col. Gooding to
advance and relieve the Thirty-eighth.
The Fifty-third Massachusetts, nine months' men,
came under fire to relieve the Thirty-eighth, and for a
regiment that had not been in service but a short time,
and had only had guns in their possession two weeks,
moved up in a solid line of battle which would cause
envy of the veteran troops, pushing up close to the
enemy's works, and holding their position through that
long, dreary night, and planting their flag on the earth
works next morning.
The fight continued in that position. All day there
had been a constant roar of artillery and musketry, grape,
ball and shell, on both sides of the river. It was one of
the warmest and liveliest fights known, and the enemy
were driven at every point.
At daylight in the morning. Col. Kimball, command
ing the advance line of skirmishers, failing to discover
any trace of the enemy in front, concluded to advance
his line to the enemy's works, when he found them
evacuated. At the same time, Capt. W. Irving Allen
of the Thirty-first Massachusetts,! having his company
employed as skirmishers in the woods on the left, and
seeing the forward movement of Gol. Kimball's line of
skirmishers, ordered his men to advance, also entering
the enemy's works on the left at the same time.
While this movement was taking place. Col. Gooding
received an order from Gen. Emory to ascertain if pos-

56 campaigning With banks.
sible by an advance movement whether the enemy had
evacuated his works, when the welcome news was
received that the flags of the Fifty-third Massachusetts
already waved over them.
In the meantime. Gen. Emory on the other side of the
bayou, had ordered Gen. Paine to push forward imme
diately, deploying the Eighth New Hampshire in line of
skirmishers, and advanced, and, climbing the earth
works, the flag of the Old Granite State on one side, and
the Bay State on the other, waved over them, and the
rebels were in full retreat.
Before following the retreating enemy we must explain
what was occurring in their rear. As Gen. Banks said :
"We had the rebels in a bag, and Gen. Grover held the
strings, and the whole rebel army was gobbled up ; but
the d — n string was rotten, and they slipped through."
Gen. Grover had started from Brashear City on the
gunboat Clifton with his division, and the transports
Laurel Hill, ^uinnebog and St. Mary's. The whole
proceeded up the Atchafalaya River, the Clifton taking
the lead. About thirty-five miles, at a place known as
the McWilliams Road, we disembarked the First Louis
iana, and the brigade of Col. Birge landed at the same
time. The former immediately formed in line of battle,
and Lieut.-Col. Fisk advanced with two companies and
deployed as skirmishers toward -the woods, supported
by Col. Holcomb with the balance of the regiment.
Suddenly, after proceeding a short distance, artillery
opened upon our forces from the woods beyond the road,
instantly followed by a sharp discharge of musketry.

campaigning with banks.

Col. Fisk, with his command, was ordered to advance
into the woods, while Col. Holcomb moved rapidly with
his regiment to take the enemy's guns, or drive them
back and advance through the woods to the opposite
edge, distant about three-quarters of a mile.
At this time. Col. Fisk fell, wounded through the
leg, and his men moved forward with more spirit, as if
determined to dearly avenge his fall, when the enemy
retreated in haste. Our force now advanced to the edge
of the woods, which it held, and the Twelfth Connedti
cut, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth and Sixth New York
shortly after arrived as a support. ,
Here Gen. Dwight was ordered to halt, and await the
disembarking of the rest of the division. Gen. Dwight
was now reinforced by the remainder of his brigade,
and Capt. Closson's battery of artillery. The enemy, in
considerable numbers, was moving about on the plain
ahead and across the bridges of the Teche. This force
consisted of four guns, three hundred cavalry, and a few
infantry. As soon as our cavalry and artillery arrived at the
ground, the former was sent to occupy and hold the
junction of the Lake Road that runs parallel with the
Teche. The next morning the division again advanced,
Birge's Brigade in front, followed by the brigades of
Dwight and Kimball. Rogers' Battery was in advance,
with Capt. Closson, Nims' Battery in reserve. The ad
vance reached Irish Bend, about eleven miles from the
rebel earthworks, where Generals Banks and Emory
were engaged.

CHAPTER VIII.
At Close Quarters with the Rebels. — Lively Fighting.
— General Dwight's Flank Movetnent on the Enemy.
— A Grand Charge. — Graphic Recital of Move
ments Never Before Described.

THE enemjj was strongly posted at this point, Irish
Bend. Their right flank was supported by artil
lery, and their left extended round into another wood in
such a manner as to completely encircle any force which
should simply attack their position in the woods.
Col. Birge of the Third Brigade of Gen. Grover's
Division, at this time in command of the advance, and
supported by two' sections of Rogers' Battery, now
skirmished with the rebels in front for about an hour,
our skirmishers and their supports engaging the infantry
and dismounted cavalry of the enemy. Col. Birge then
ordered the Twenty-fifth Connecticut and One Hundred
and Fifty-ninth New York in front of the first skirt of
woods. He had no sooner done this than the enemy
commenced a flank attack, endeavoring to take the
section of Rogers' Battery which was on the right.
These two regiments, assaulted by a fire on their front
and right from an enemy very perfedlly concealed, re
plied ineffectually to the fire, and commenced to fall

campaigning with banks. 59
back, when Gen. Grover rode up to the front and rallied
them, and at the same time ordered Gen. Dwight to
hasten up with his brigade.
This section of Rogers' Battery was ordered to limber
up and go to the rear, the firing of the enemy being so
lively as to pick off nine of the cannoniers at their guns.
At this time Gen. Dwight moved on the field with his
brigade, placing the Sixth New York on his right in such
a manner as to outflank the enemy's left.
The Ninety-first New York was ordered to the front
to advance toward the woods occupied by the First
Louisiana, supporting the Sixth New York, Twenty-
second Maine, One Hundred and Thirty-first and Ninety-
first New York.
Forward ! was the order, and like veterans they moved
across the, field, through the woods, over another field,
the rebels retiring slowly. Then with one grand charge
the enemy fled before us, leaving over one hundred
prisoners. Thus, the position- which Birge's Brigade
failed to take with the loss of over three hundred men,
was taken by Gen. Dwight's flank movement with a loss
of seven killed and twenty-one wounded. Then Gen-
Grover ordered a halt, and we rested till 3 o'clock, when
the order was given to forward ; it was found that the
enemy had retreated, and that the entire line of earth
works of the rebs extended from the Grand Lakes to
the Teche, about two and one-half miles. In some
places the works were higher than the guns ; the earth
was cut away, in order to give them range, the ground
being literally covered with shot, shell, grape and canis-

60 campaigning with banks.

ter, and over forty dead horses. The gallant charge of
the Thirteenth Connecticut, and the capture of the rebel
battery flag, was one of the features of this movement.
The army of Grover having failed to bag the rebs,
united with the main army under Emory and Weitzel,
which had passed through Franklin ; the army pushed
on to New Iberia on Thursday. Summing up the result
of this fight, the gunboat Diana, and transport Newsboy,
the Gossamer, and Era No. 2, and the ironclad Hart,
the Blue Hammock, Darby, Louise, Uncle Tommy,
and Cricket, were all fired or sunk by the enemy in their
retreat. All of the commissary stores and ammunition
were destroyed with them.
The Cornie, the rebel hospital boat, was captured,
with over sixty wounded. On board of her was found
Capt. Jewett and Lieut. Alice, two of our officers, who
were captured and refused parole when the Diana was
first captured. We had destroyed an iron foundry at
Franklin, also a large saw mill, and a larger one at New
Iberia, and salt works.
Forward ! was still the order, and through the hot sun
and dusty roads the grand army of Banks trailed along
behind the retreating rebels.
A dashing cavalry charge was made by Maj. Robin
son's command ; the companies were Williamson's, Bar
rett's and Perkins'. The rear-guard of the enemy's
cavalry, which for two days had desperately attempted
to check our pursuit, made a stand for the purpose of
attacking our party ; they numbered nearly two to our
one, and when our party approached them a charge was

campaigning with banks. 61
made upon the enemy's body with such bravery and im
petuosity, that, completely taken by surprise, they made
a feeble resistance and turned and fled in great disorder.
They were chased nearly four miles. Seventy-five pris
oners were captured. A halt was at last ordered, as the
enemy's infantry had massed in considerable force to
receive us. We lost ten wounded, and fifteen horses
killed. One of our men was taken prisoner by the
enemy. He could not check his horse. In a second
charge he was rescued by our men. Gen. Emory com
plimented the commanders for this brilliant aff'air. The
Nineteenth Corps was under fire for the first time. Some
of the troops had b^en in some hard fights and skirm
ishes, but the majority of the regiments were under fire
for the first time.
Every regiment, every section and battery of artillery,
and cavalry, did their duty nobly ; and the record made
in this maiden fight, under the command of that grim old
warrior. Gen. William H. Emory, demonstrated that the
flag of the Nineteenth Army Corps was never to suffer
defeat, for, as a matter of history, wherever the flag of
the Nineteenth Corps was, victory was sure to perch on
the shoulders of the General commanding, if he had the
courage ; but the Major-Generals commanding the armies
did not always have the staying powers, but would order
a retreat to a safer place for themselves.
On the i8th, we retreated near Vermilionville. On
the 19th, we arrived at Opelousas, where the defundt
Confederate government of Louisiana was not in the
saddle, but headquartei's were on wheels.

62 campaigning with banks.
After our long and dusty march of one hundred miles,
we were abofit to enter the annex capital. Regiments
braced up, flags unfurled, drums beating, and fifes play
ing, we marched in. A few houses on the right of the
road, and a few on the left, then the open field, and the
question was : Where was Opelousas.'' And the answer
came : " You have just passed through the city."
The army went into camp in this vicinity, and wagon
trains were sent out after cotton ; and the battles through
which we had passed, the hard maixhing which we
had endured, was now to result in being constantly
employed gathering cotton to ship to New Orleans, the
entire wagon train being employed for this purpose,
and the army on short rations, and an order from head
quarters forbidding foraging, under severe penalties,
according to army regulations, so we had to indulge in a
little private foraging.
My company (E of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts)
had been detailed as guard at Gen. Emory's headquarters
during the entire campaign. Fighting and marching
with the regiments during the day, and reporting at
headquarters at night, made our life somewhat easier
than the others ; but we were hungry sometimes, and
some generous-hearted citizens had presented the old
man with a good-sized calf. The orders of the guard
were, " Keep your eyes on that calf." And we did ! I
think I can see now, at that hour in the morning when
slumber is the deepest, a line of objects creeping in the
grass. Was it the enemy.!' No ; for instead of rifles they
carried pieces of fence rails, made into short bludgeons.

campaigning with banks. 63
Suddenly they moved quicker. A dull thud is heard,
and then they rise to carry an object with them. All ij
still. Suddenl)' the fires brighten up in the company's
streets, and the pot boils merrily ; and ere daybreak we
had finished as fine a soup as we had ever indulged in,
and every bone was buried deep, deep in the ground, and
no sign left to tell the tale — for even that was ate.
The old man stirs in his tent, and suddenly comes out,
looking a moment, and misses his pet, and in that deep,
gruff voice, which he used to speak in, says, " Sentry,
where in h — 11 is that calf.' " The sentry replied, meekly,
" What, sir ; what calf.'" Oh, what innocence ! Then
suddenly the old man broke out with, " Send Capt.
Smith to me." Capt. John Ed. appeared, and with a
salute which did credit to his military education, and
with a face which did credit to his innocence, as his
tongue tasted of the meat he had just devoured, asks,
" What 's wanted. General.'' " " Where is that calf, sir.'
Where is that calf, sir, that was in your charge .' "
"What, is he gone.'" "Damn it, don't you see it's
gone.' Your men stole it." The Captain denied this.
The result was, that the Captain and company were
ordered to report to their regiment immediately, but as
we had those orders every day, we did not pay any
attention to them, but served at the headquarters until
the remainder of the campaign.
On the 2ist, Gen. Dwight, of Gen. Grover's Division,
with his brigade and detachment of artillery and cavalry,
pushed forward toward Washington. We found the
bridge over the bayous Cocodue and Boeuff destroyed,

64 campaigning with banks.
and spent the night in replacing the bridge. The steamer
^ave was burnt at this place. A despatch was found
by Gen. Dwight, in which Gov. Moore tells Gen. Tay
lor to slowly retreat to Alexandria, and if pressed hard,
to retire to Texas.

CHAPTER IX.
A Whole Army Engaged in Gathering Cotton. —
Rebels Watching for Colonel Chickering and His
Train of Booty. — How the Gallant Colonel Suc
ceeded in ' ' Tankeeing " the Spies.

A PRIL 27th, the army settled down. Cotton is
-^^L king, for the army is doing nothing else but gather
ing cotton. An expedition, consisting of the One Hun
dred and Sixty-second New York Regiment, Lieut.-Col.
Blanchard, and one section of artillery, Co. B, First
Louisiana Cavalry, went out to examine the road and
the bay on Courtableau. Gen. Grover's Division was
ordered to encamp there, and all cotton, sugar and
molasses, was delivered there ; and instead of being com-
missariaged for the rebels, the rebels were furnishing us
with supplies to be shipped to New Orleans and Brashear
City. The drilling was omitted on account of the heat.
A grand review by Banks and Emory. The Fourth
Wisconsin Regiment, and the Third Massachusetts Cav
alry, made their first appearance at this review, mounted
on horses and mules of every description, creating con
siderable merriment.
An order was read announcing the arrival of Col.
Grierson's Cavalry at Baton Rouge, after a gpccegsful

66 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
raid through Mississippi. General orders were read by
Gen. Banks, congratulating the army on its success, and
stating that he now held the key to the position, and the
rebel armies were defeated and demoralized. The lock
must have been terrible rusty, for the rebels very easily
broke it a few weeks afterwards.
Forward 1 March ! and the army moves again. Arriv
ing at Alexandria, on the Red River, which had been cap
tured by Admiral Porter's gunboat, May 14th, we are off
again, twenty miles a day, back over the old road as far
as Chaineville, and there the diredtion of the army was
changed in the diredtion of the Mississippi, arriving at
Simsport on the Atchafalaya River. May 19th, part of
the army was ferried across and marched on to Morganza
Bend ; the rest of the troops were carried on steamers to
Bayou Sara, and also the troops at Morganza wei'e landed
there, pushing on into the interior, passing through the
village of St. Francisville, where we encamped for the
night. The next morning, on the arrival of Mack's
Black Horse Battery (Eighteenth New York) , the column
moved to Port Hudson. We will now return to Col.
Chickering's command, where we left them gathering
supplies at Opelousas.
The Forty-first Massachusetts Infantry was mounted,
and called the Third Cavalry ; the Fifty-second Massa
chusetts, One Hundred and Fourteenth, One Hundred
and Twenty-fifth, Ninetieth New York, with one com
pany of the Thirteenth Connedticut, and the Twenty-
second and Twenty-sixth Maine, and a sedtion of Nims'
Massachusetts Battery, under the cgrprnand of Col,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 67
Thomas E. Chickering, having seen the last steamer
load of cotton on its way by the river to Brashear City,
getting the remnants on hand and loading thein into
three or four hundred wagons, started on the march to
Berwick City. The ponderous train, once in motion,
soon began to wind itself back along the banks of the
Teche, over the same road which the army of Gen.
Banks marched a month previous.
On arriving at St. Martinsville, Col. Chickering,
learning from his trusty scouts that the enemy were in
ambush just beyond the town, at once crossed the Teche
and marched rapidly to New Iberia, where he found the
steamer y. M. Brown, laden with supplies for his troops,
unloading the supplies. They were at once distributed
amongst the various regiments. The steamer was at once
laden with cotton, sugar, corn and molasses, and with
one hundred contrabands sailed for Brashear City. From
New Iberia the march was resumed toward Franklin,
and the warlike caravan entered this pretty little secesh
town, amid the reverberation of the different bands, and
the choruses of the regiments, swelling with the notes of
the various camp songs, our glorious colors proudly flut
tering their silken folds over the serried ranks, all tend
ing to form a thrilling and beautiful picture. Perhaps
you can form some sort of an idea of the gigantic pro
portions of one of these wagon trains, when we tell you
that the one under command of Col. Chickering was five
miles long.
The noise of such a train in Virginia could be heard
fpr. miles,, owing to th^ rocky soil arid |he iron axleg.

68 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
But in Louisiana, one must hunt very hard in order to
discover a pebble, so that a train can move with but little
noise, an advantage of great importance to an army on
the move. On the evening of the 22d, the advance had
bivouacked at Centreville, and the weary sentinels paced
up and down their posts, anxiously listening for the wel
come footsteps of the relief-guard, when a mounted
messenger dashed into camp with news of an attack on
our rear. Three squadrons of the Forty-first Massachu
setts Cavalry were at once ordered to the rear to prevent
any surprise in large numbers, and to disperse the cow
ardly guerillas that followed in the track of the train,
annoying us constantly, evidently with the intention of
harassing us to such an extent that a rapid advance would
be impossible.
In the meantime other messengers came in reporting
that Gen. Moulton, son of the ex-Governor of Louisiana,
with Brig. -Gen. Greene, were but a short distance in
our rear, with five thousand men, including a large
number of Texans. It was very plain that Moulton's
object was to engage our rear, and then, by a coup^de-
main, endeavor to flank the entire division. Upon
discovering this scheme. Col. Chickering had three
regiments of infantry drawn up in line of battle, diredtly
in front of the wagon train, and orders were then given
for the train to move on. Col. Morgan of the Nineteenth
New York, whose regiment formed the rear-guard, was
instrudted to retreat, giving battle, and at the sarne time
protedt the rear of the train. Col. Morgan indulged in a
few lively skirmishes with the scattered forces of the

Campaigning with banks. 69
enemy, chiefly guerillas. The train was pushed on with
aH possible speed during the night, followed closely by
the most daring guerillas, and on the morning of the 26th
we reached Berwick City, after a forced march of one
hundred and ten miles in four days. The last forty
miles ¦Was accomplished in the almost unprecedented
short time of twenty-four hours, and the enemy followed
close upon our heels.
The rebels were exceedingly vigilant, and we were
continually reminded that they were on the qui vive at
all points. Col. Chickering received information through
reliable sources that the main body, numbering five thou
sand men, were at Calcosien, or Lake Charles Court
House, forty miles southwest of Opelousas, near the
Texas boundary line, and from which State the troops
were being drawn.
The rebels were expedting Col. Chickering and his
train of booty on the Grand Coteau, and the shrewdness
of the Colonel in command alone prevented the rebels
from gaining a rich prize. The enemy's spies, who pre
tended, of course, to be the strongest kind of Union men,
were permitted to hold conversation with Col. Chickering,
and he very adroitly made use of them by pretending to
divulge to them the plan of the retreat, and he succeeded
most admirably in " Yankeeing " the sincere Union men.
They were told confidentially that our forces were going
to stop at Vermilion Bayou and construdt the bridge over
that stream, and the Union men of course had a strong
force there, as we afterwards learned from a trusty negro.
It was agreed between the rebel officers that we should

70 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
be flanked at St. Martinsville, but the rapidity of the
Colonel's movements thwarted them, when Franklin wae
decided upon as the spot where this immense Yankee
potent corn-hopping nigger train was to be engulfed in
the mighty jaws of the rebel army ; but lo, presto,
change, they passed through and beyond Franklin.
Considerable powder and lead was wasted for the so-
called Confederacy, and the chagrin of the balked rebels
was so bitter, that for sixteen miles, from Franklin to
Centreville, they fought us in their brave guerilla style.
The rebels fired from the windows of the house at
which Col. Chickering took dinner on the same day.
At Franklin their performances were all laid out, but
owing to some slight disarrangement of the machinery,
the performances of the Confederate theatre did not
satisfy the eager audience. They had been told that the
retreat of the d — d Yankees was to be cut off, as well
as all their heads, but suddenly their boasted tragedy
became, if possible, worse than a farce.
Nims' Battery fired several shots into a sugar-house,
where upward of one hundred and fifty rebels were con
cealed. A number of them fled to the woods. The
contrabands who were iri the train were terribly alarmed
at the guerillas, and the scene beggared description. It
required the greatest exertion and vigilance on the part
of Col. Chickering to keep the road open.
Lieut. Woods of the One Hundred and - Sixtieth New
York Regiment, was killed, and a Major and several
commissioned officers were captured by these guerillas.
Col. Chickering has heard since that they hanged two

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 71
of our officers, but he had not, at last accounts, received
anything authentic in relation to the matter.
Gen. Banks was very solicitous for the safety of this
immense train, and a disaster to it would have sadly
injured our cause. Now, as for the success, the follow
ing figures will show plainly. Six thousand negroes
came into our hands, five hundred plantation wagons,
three thousand mules and horses, besides a fabulous
number of cattle. While the Forty-first Massachusetts
was stationed at Berrie's Landing, five thousand bales of
cotton were sent from that point, besides immense quan
tities of sugar and molasses, and it is estimated that
upwards of ten thousand negroes had been sent from
Berrie's Landing to Brashear City and Algiers.

CHAPTER X.
The Rebels Surrounded and a General Fight Begun.
— Weitzel Bound to Win. — Stubborn, Bloody Work
on Both Sides. — Good Work of the Louisiana Col
ored Troops. — Gen. Sherman Wounded.

ON the 23d of May, the command under Gen.
Augur and Gen. Sherman having marched to
Baton Rouge, where they had been in camp during
the operation on the West bank of the Mississippi,
now marched toward Port Hudson, uniting with the
forces under Gen. Banks, which had moved down from
the Red River. Gen. Grierson's Cavalry had raided
through the State of Mississippi, and arriving at Baton
Rouge, were attached to Gen. Banks' command. The
rebs were now surrounded. We immediately advanced,
drawing them out of their rifle pits. The troops were
in the following position : The right was command
ed by Gen. Weitzel with his own and one division
of Gen. Emory's command ; the right centre by Gen.
Grover ; the left centre by Gen. Augur, and the extreme
left by Gen. W. T. Sherman. Our line extended from
the river above to the river below. On the 25th,
Weitzel's Brigade, with the divisions of Grover and
Emory, and two regiments of colored troops, advanced

fcAMfAlGNING WtTH BANKS.

to the assault on the extreme right, crossing, and driving
the enemy across Sandy Creek and into his fortifications.
On the 27111, a general assault was ordered all along
the line. The line of battle was formed at daybreak. It
soon became evident that every foot of ground we gained
had got to be fought for. On the right, the sharp rattle
of muskets and roar of artillery gave notice that Weitzel
was at work. As it increased in intensity, it became
evident that he was having no boy's play, and he had
not. Every inch was disputed, and the enemy fought
with the ferocity of demons, but it was to no purpose.
Our boys drove them slowly, but steadily, using clubbed
muskets and bayonets when they could not load.
It was soon apparent, that whatever else would be
done by the army, Weitzel was bound to win. His
column could not be checked, although suffering greatly.
The enemy went down before them as grass before the
scythe of the mower, and although the work was tedious
and bloody, no one faltered. Gen. Weitzel, keeping his
men -well in hand for the last rush, put them at the
enemy's works on the river side, and they went on with
a will, making the air resound with their shouts. Here
the fight became murderous. It was hand to hand and
breast to breast, the bayonets doing the main part of the
¦work. The rebels could not stand it, however, and
were compelled to fall back, and finally were driven into
and then out of the celebrated six-gun battery, that did
such terrible execution upon the steamer Mississippi the
night she was destroyed.
Here was a great point gained, a point that we could

74 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
use to advantage against the other works of the enemy,
and it did not take long for the quick eye of Weitzel to
see all this and profit by it. As soon as possible the
guns were put to work. This was decidedly the most
brilliant and successful part of the day's work ; not that
the men fought any better, or showed more determina
tion than those on the other part of the field, but it was
the greatest point gained, and proved what we could
do when resolved to accomplish certain ends.
By this operation the enemy's left was turned, and in
a manner to prevent the lost ground being recovered.
The battery captured was the most annoying of any of
the line, for it raked completely the channel- way of the
river. The second division of the Nineteenth Army
Corps, in the attack of yesterday upon the right of the
enemy's position, made an impetuous charge. The
Sixth Michigan and the One Hundred and Twenty-
eighth New York carried the enemy's works at the
point of the bayonet, but were compelled to give way,
as the enemy had massed its troops here, and it became
necessary to fall back before overwhelming numbers.
Not much ground was lost, however. We failed to
maintain our position within the main works. The
First, Second and Third Louisiana colored troops were
in this charge, and they fought with the desperation of
tigers. After firing one volley they did not deign to
load again, but went in with bayonets, and wherever
they had a chance it was all up with the rebels. During
the attack of the centre by Grover, Duryea's Battery was
placed in position. The advance had to be made by the

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 75
flank through a narrow pathway, hardly wide enough
for four to go abreast.
The Twelfth Maine was in the advance, followed by
the Thirty-eighth and Thirty-first Massachusetts, sup
ported by the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth and One
Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York. Advancing
rapidly, the rebels opened a brisk fire in front, also a
cross fire from both flanks. Lieut.-Col. Rodman was
killed at this point, the fire was so heavy. The rebels
concentrating a heavy force in our front, the assault at
this point was a dead failure, and the attack on the left
amounted to the same.
Owing to some misunderstanding who was to blame
for the assaults on the right, Weitzel charged about 8
o'clock, Grover at about lo. Augur and Sherman at 2.
Taking our part in sedtions, the rebs had time to con
centrate against each assault. Gen. Sherman led the
attack in person, and fell, severely wounded in the leg.
Gen. Neal Dow was also wounded. Col. Clark, of the
Sixth Michigan was killed ; Col. Cowlesj of the One
Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York also, by a bay
onet thrust; Lieut.-Col. Smith, of the Zouaves, severely
wounded. It must not be supposed that while the army was
doing all this desperate fighting on shore, the navy was
idle. On the contrary, the gallant Admiral was at work
with the entire squadron, both above and below. The
gunners moved their position much nearer the enemy's
works, and kept up a continuous fire of thirteen-inch
shell. The Hartford and Albatross engaged the upper

76 CAMPAIGNING With Banks.
batteries, and when Gen. Weitzel captured the six-gun
battery before referred to, they moved further down and
supported him by attacking the next below ; as the sun
went down, the guns became silent, and the troops found
their way into the ravines, and under the fallen trees,
holding our position close to the parapets, which we
were not able to go over at present, for reasons best
known to ourselves. Our loss was about two thousand.
In Chapter III, I said on March 14th, when we
marched from Baton Rouge towards Port Hudson, and
then marched back again — I said that we were well
able to take Port Hudson at that time, for now we were
worn out by our forced marching of three hundred
miles through the Teche country, wearing out more men
than we could have lost, if we had attacked at that time.
The earthworks around Port Hudson were remarkably
strong, the parapets of an average thickness of twenty
feet, and the ditch fifteen feet deep and twelve feet wide,
commencing at a point below the town, about one mile,
known as Ross' Landing, extending to Thompson's
Creek, about half a mile above. Near Ross' Landing,
on the river bank, the line began in an enclosed bastion
work. At the south-east salient of the line was another
work ; a third was situated at the forks of the roads
leading to Baton Rouge and Bayou Sara, and there was
a fourth facing Thompson's Creek.
The entire length of the line was about four miles,
our line about six miles ; then for half a mile in front of
their works every tree had been cut down and allowed
to fall in every diredtion.

CHAPTER XI.
Soldier Lif e Among the Grand Old Magnolia Forests.
— Splendid Work of the Sharpshooters. — Picking
Off the Rebels. — The Story of a Sunday Fight. —
Striving to Capture Port Hudson.

TTERE we are still among these grand old magnolia
_L J_ forests, with the almost incessant roar of artillery
and musketry in our ears, the desultory firing kept up
night and day being enough to keep the beleaguered
rebels, one would imagine, perpetually without rest.
They must certainly attach a deep importance to this
stronghold, or human endurance could scarcely hold out
against the dreadful ordeal to which we had subjected
them. The bloody result of May 27th, taught us that it
is far easier to talk of taking a strongly fortified place
than to do it ; and we paid the dear penalty of that in
sane supineness which ever permitted such a fortress as
Port Hudson to be built, when we could at one time have
prevented it with scarcely more than a corporal's guard.
All that the 27th of May left us we not only retain,
but have gone far beyond. Along our whole line, from
the extreme right to the extreme left, we have been
gradually gaining upon the enemy, dismounting their
guns as fast as they are remounted, picking off, by our

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.

splendid sharpshooters, every man who dared to show
his head above their ramparts, and by these means ren
dering their armaments almost useless as we steal up
closer and closer to them. In some places we have got
our batteries to within three hundred yards of them ;
and it is really terrible to peep through the embrasures
of one of them, and almost look down the throats of the
enemy's guns, so close to us in front.
Thus matters continued until June 13th, when the
commanding General, deeming the time had arrived to
give the rebels another strong dose, gave the order for
one more simultaneous attack on Sunday morning, June
14th. Before dawn the most terrific cannonading commenced
along our whole line that ever stunned mortal ears. The
shells bursting over Port Hudson, mingled with their
own firing and that of our fleet, and the dense clouds of
our artillery, gave the place the appearance of one vast
conflagration just about to burst into flame.
After two hours of this dreadful cannonading, there
was a comparative lull, and the sharp and continuous
rattle of musketry told where the work of death was
going on most furiously. This was at the right, where
Gen. Grover's Division was placed, and under him those
gallant and fearless soldiers. Generals Weitzel and
Paine. If Weitzel had the larger share in the work of the
27th, that duty seemed to-day to fall on the command
immediately under Gen. Paine. The forces of the latter
consisted of the Eighth New Hampshire, Capt. ^arj-ett,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 79
and the Fourth Wisconsin, under Capt. Moore, who
were in advance as skirmishers. Behind these came five
companies of the Fourth Massachusetts and the One
Hundred and Tenth New York, under Capt. Bartlett,
followed by four companies of the Third Brigade.
Closely upon them came the Third Brigade, under
Col. Gooding, and composed of the Thirty-first Massa
chusetts, Lieut.-Col. Hopkins ; Thirthy-eighth Massa
chusetts, Maj. Richardson ; Fifty-third Massachusetts.
Col. Kimball ; One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York,
Col. Sharpe ; One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New
York, Col. Bryan, who was killed. Then the Second
Brigade, under Col. A. Fearing, and composed of the
One Hundred and Thirty-third New York, Col. Currier,
and the One Hundred and Seventy-third New York,
Maj. Galwa)', the rest of this brigade being detailed as
skirmishers. After the Second came the First Brigade,
under Col. Ferris of the Twenty-eighth Connedticut ;
the Fourth Massachusetts, Col. Walker ; and four com
panies of the One Hundred and Tenth New "York, under
Maj. Hamilton. These were all followed up by the
necessary number of pioneers, and Nims' Massachusetts
Battery. At 3.30 a.m., Sunday, June 14th, the column
formed on the Clinton road and commenced moving.
At about 4 a.m., the skirmishers moved right up the
scene of action. Gen. Paine being with them in advanc
ing, and the deadly work commenced, the enemy pour
ing on them the most terrible volleys, and our dauntless
men combating their way right up to the enemy's breast
works.

80 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
For hours the carnage continued furiously ; our de
termined soldiers, in spite of their General being seriously
wounded, and in spite of the fearful odds against them of
fighting against men snugly screened behind their bar
riers, keeping up the fight with the most indomitable
bravery. It was impossible for any men, under their
circumstances, to show more reckless disregard of death.
But Port Hudson was destined not to be carried this
time, at this point at any rate. Owing to the horrible
inequalities of the ground, and the impediments which
the overwhelming slaughter of our advance had created,
the whole column was not able to come up as expected,
and late in the afternoon our troops had to be with
drawn .
During the intensest part of the struggle it is only fair
to say, that Col. Kimball of the Fifty-third, and Col.
Currier of the One Hundred and Thirty-third New
York, advanced most gallantly with their men to re-
enforce those in front. It is impossible to overrate the
courage and endurance which Gen. Paine showed on
this occasion. Although so severely wounded in the
leg as to be quite disabled, he would not consent to leave
the field, but remained there during the long sultry day,
to cheer on his men, at the momentary risk of being
killed by some rebel shot. Various eflibrts were made by
his men to get him off the field, or at least to get refresh
ments to him, and two gallant fellows, on two separate
occasions, lost their lives in the attempts. One was E.
P. Woods, Private, of Co. E, Eighth New Hampshire ;
and the other, John Williams, Co. D, Thirty-first Ma§-

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 81
sachusetts. S. N. Busnach, Co. A, Thirty-eighth Mas
sachusetts, succeeded in reaching the General, and
supplying him with water, but was wounded in the
attempt. Before Gen. Paine was wounded, he had succeeded in
getting five regiments within three or four rods of the
enemy's works, some of the skirmishers actually getting
inside. Our loss on this occasion was very great, the killed,
wounded and missing of Paine's command reaching to
nearly seven hundred. A number of officers and privates,
among them Capt. Stanyan of the Eighth New Hamp
shire, Lieut. Harsley and Lieut. Newell of the same
being wounded, were ordered in as prisoners, under
threats of being shot from the enemy's works.
The loss in the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, was Lieut.
Holmes killed; Lieuts. V. K. Spear, N. Russell, Jr.,
and Charles H. Taylor (now of > The Globe), were
wounded. Ninety-one out of two hundred and forty,
that formed in line that morning, were either killed or
wounded. Gen. Paine was shot below the knee of the
left leg, and was not brought off the field till night time,
when his wound was dressed, and he immediately con
veyed to New Orleans.
While this was going on in one portion of Gen.
Grover's command, the remainder, if not so hotly
pressed, were scarcely less adtively engaged. At 2 a.m.,
the troops under Gen. Weitzel's immediate command
got into motion from their present locality (which they
so gallantly won on the 27th of May), and advanced
6

82 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
round to the left to Col. Dudley's front, leaving five
companies on the picket line.
The attack (for assaults these demonstrations can
scarcely be called), was made by two columns in two dif
ferent places. The column on the right was composed
of Grover's Division and Weitzel's Brigade, under com
mand of Gen. Weitzel, while the left was composed of
Gen. Emory's Division, under command of Gen. Paine.
Col. Dudley's Brigade, of Augur's Division, was held in
reserve. The forces under Gen. Weitzel, comprised his own
brigade, formed of the Eighth Vermont, Lieut.-Col.
Dillingham ; ' Twelfth Connedticut, Lieut.-Col. Peck ;
Seventy-fifth New York, Lieut.-Col. Babcock; One
Hundred and Fourteenth New York, Lieut.-Col. Per-
lee, and two regiments of Grover's Division ; the
Twenty-fourth Connedticut and the Fifty-second Massa
chusetts. The history of the adtion on the part of Gen.
Weitzel would be but a counterpart of that of Gen.
Paine, the same obstacles to overcome, the same in
domitable bravery in opposing them, the same temporary
suspension of hostilities in the face of opposition too
elaborately difficult to be surmounted for that moment.
On the right. Gen. Weitzel in command, the advance
was made by the Seventy-sixth New York, under the
command of Capt. Cray, and the Twelfth Connedticut,
led by Lieut.-Col. Peck, were detailed as skirmishers,
forming a separate command under Lieut.-Col. Babcock
of the Seventy-fifth New York. The Ninety-first New
York, Col. Van Zandt commanding, each soldier carry-

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 83
ing a five-pound hand grenade, with his musket thrown
over his shoulder, followed next in order. The skirmishers
were to creep up and lie on the exterior slope of the
enemy's breastworks, while the regiment carrying the
grenades were to come up to the same position and
throw the grenades into the enemy's lines with a view to
rout them, and drive them from behind their works.
The Twenty-fourth Connedticut, Col. Mansfield, with
their arms in like manner to the grenade I'egiments fol
lowed, carrying sand-bags filled with cotton, which were
to be used to fill up the ditch in front of the enemy's
breastworks, to enable the assaulting party the more
easily to scale them and charge upon the rebels. Fol
lowing these different regiments came, properly speak
ing, the balance of Gen. Weitzel's whole brigade under
command of Col. Smith of the One Hundred and Four
teenth New York. This command consisted of the
Eighth Vermont, Lieut.-Col. Dillingham ; the One Hun
dred and Fourteenth New York, Maj. Morse; and the
One Hundred and Sixteenth New York, Lieut.-Col.
Van Petten. Next came Col. Kimble's and Col. Mor
gan's Brigade,

CHAPTER XII.
A Dangerous Journey. — Work in the Sap. — Vivid
Description of Active Work Close to the Enemy. —
Port Hudson Surrendered. — Grant's Success at
Vicksburg.

"T'T'^TE will now go into the ravine and know what
V V sights and sounds it is our business to be familiar
with. First, we must creep out of the ravine, through
the tops of the prostrated trees, whose boughs catch our
clothing ; then up by the charred trunk, the feet slipping
in the mud. Your head now comes in range of riflemen
in the trees over there. A few steps more and we come
within full range from the parapet ; but do not stop to
look. Stoop as low as you can, and run. The stumps
will shelter you, pitted with the striking of balls against
it, as if it had the small-pox when a sapling. When
you have caught your breath, run for a trunk ; it is an
ugly one to get over, for it is breast high, and one's
whole body has to come into the enemy's view. Once
over this, and the road is smoother. We soon gain the
cover of the woods, and are comparatively safe.
Down through a little gully and we enter the begin
ning of the sap, at the end of the military road. Be
hind the angle, just back there, is the station of the

CAMPAIGNING With banks. 85
ambulance men. They wait there, day and night, with
stretchers ready. Three or four a day out of the brigade
and working party, are carried out. The ambulance
corps is made up largely of the musicians ; but music,
we never hear it now, not even the drum and fife. It is
too stern a time for that. We pass out into the sap.
Here is the most dangerous point of all, just at the
entrance. You can see how the rebel parapet com
manded it. We are going considerable nearer to it, but
we shall be better sheltered. 'T is just in front, with an
old shot-pierced building behind it, and white sand-bags
laying on top of the tawny slope. That old building
might be a ruinous mill, and those bags might be grist,
laid out there along the wall until the miller was ready
for it, but, every day or two, there is a sharp-eyed Mis-
sissippian with his riffe pointed through some chink.
The trench goes under a large trunk, stretching from
bank to bank, and from here we are tolerably safe.
Only tolerable ; for one of our boys was hit in the face
by a glancing ball, and another -was mortally wounded
by a fragment from one of our shells, which flew back
into our lines from over the rebel parapet, where the
shell exploded.
Climb a steep pitch now, and we reach the station of
Co — . The sap is here about six feet wide, and four feet
deep, dug out of the hard soil, the dirt being thrown out
on the side toward the enemy, forming a bank rising
about five feet from the surface, and therefore about nine
feet above the bottom of the trench. Here, now, are
our boys, the few that are left, barely twenty. Alohg

86 CAMPAIGNING WtTH BANKS.
the top of the ridge of earth, logs are placed, into the
under side of which, notches are cut at intei-vals of three
or four feet, leaving between the earth below and the
timber above a loophole four or five inches in diameter,
for the men to fire through.
Let us climb up and take a view of the world through
the hole. Carefully laying your body up against the
steeply-sloping bank, resting the feet on the edge of the
sap. By all means take care that the top of your head
does not projedt above the narrow timber. Your face is
at the hole now. From the outside, a groove runs along
the top of the thick bank ; then comes the open air ; and
opposite you, within call easily enough, is the deadly
ridge ; the two or three tents behind it, the old, ruinous
chimneys, the one or two shattered buildings, so near
you can plainly see threads, and bricks and splinters.
Try one more look. Can you see any one .' No head,
I '11 warrant ; for though they are brave enough over
there, they are not often careless. The most you will be
likely to see will be a hand for a moment with a ramrod,
as the charge is pushed home, or a glimpse of butternut,
as a fellow jumps past some interval in the sand-bags.
You duck your head now as the balls whistle over. It
is a nei-vous sound, but you would soon get over that
here. They go with one hundred different sounds through
the air, according to the shape, size and velocity of the
projedtile. Two strike the bank. It is like two quick
blows of a whiplash. That went overhead, sharp as the
cut of a scimitar; another goes with with a long moan,
them drops into the earth with a thud. It comes from

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 87
some more distant point, and is nearly spent. A shot
comes from some great gun in the rear, an earthquake
report ; then the groaning, shuddering rush of the shell,
as if the air were sick and tired of them, and it was too
much to be borne that they should be so constantly sent.
Sit on the edge of the trench now, with your feet
hanging down and your back leaning against the pile of
earth. The boys have built shelters of boughs just -on
the other side, to keep off" a little the intolerable sun. A
line of men goes along the sap, each carrying a fascine.
Then comes a party into the bank beyond to give it
strength. Dinner is ready, which is cooked back in the woods,
to the rear. Coffee and stewed beans to-day. Then a
shower of dirt falls over us, dinner and all, from a ball
that hit near the loop-hole ; but to dirt and balls alike
we are growing indifferent, so we only laugh. But let
us go out to the end of the sap.
We pass the Captain of Engineers, who is in charge
here. We push through to the cotton-stuffed hogshead
at the extremity. Looking back on to a side hill, we
can see some of the old -wreck of the assault, a rusty gun
or two, mpuldy equipments, and then a skeleton. Some
of the regiments got very near on the 14th. The regi
ments remaining in advanced position, were constantly
under fire and constantly losing a member, killled or
wounded. With hundreds and hundreds in hospitals,
or silent under brown mounds — mounds which, as it is,
have become numerous on hillsides, and wherever the
ground is soft and at all easy to the shovel.

CAMPAIGNING With banks.

While the siege had been in progress, a small body of
cavalry had been hovering in the rear, between Clinton
and Camp Moore, but they were easily beaten off by
Grierson. A very serious danger had, however, arisen
in the return of Taylor's forces from Alexandria to the
lower Teche and La Fourche Bayous, from which they
now threatened the city of New Orleans, as well as
Banks' communication on the river. After Banks had
left Alexandria for Port Hudson in May, Taylor had
been ordered, as we have seen, to accompany Walker's
Division from Arkansas on its bootless expedition against
Milliken's Bend.
After this expedition had retired from the vicinity of
Vicksburg to Monroe, Taylor had asked to take this
division to Alexandria and unite it with his own troops,
which would give him a force of between seven and
eight thousand men. With these he proposed to move
down the river and either raise the siege of Port Hudson, .
or capture the city of New Orleans, according to the dis
position of Banks' forces. In this plan Taylor was over
ruled by Kirby Smith, who ordered Walker's Division
to remain in the vicinity of Vicksburg.
Taylor then returned to Alexandria alone, and there
recruited and reorganized his own forces, which num
bered about three thousand men. He divided them into
two detachments, the first of which consisted of the
infantry brigades of Mouton and Thomas Green, was to
move down the Teche to its mouth, and attack Brashear
City in front, while the other detachment, consisting of
three cavalry regiments, under Col. Major, was to move

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 89
from Opelousas by way of Placquemine and Thibodeau,
and attack Brashear City in the rear. Small detach
ments of Union troops were at this time posted at Plac
quemine, Donaldsonville and New Orleans, on the river,
and at Brashear City and Thibodeau, on the Western
Railroad. All the rest of Banks' troops were at Port
Hudson. The detachments moved as ordered, and Major's com
mand reached Placquemine June i8th, capturing its
little garrison of seventy men, and burning two steamers ;
thence Major's hurried on, avoiding Donaldsonville, to
Thibodeau, when he attacked and was defeated on the
20th and 21st; thence he moved westward on the rail
road to Brashear City. Mouton and Green had mean
while marched down the Teche, and near its mouth had
colledted some small boats and rafts. With these they
crossed Grand Lake on the 22d, and attacked Brashear
City simultaneously with Major's command. The place
¦was captured with everything in it. Taylor's captives
numbered seventeen hundred, and the captured guns
twelve. Taylor also got the medical and commissary
stores, and Banks was once more Commissary for the
Confederacy. Taylor colledted his captured property as rapidly as
possible, and on the 24th he sent Green with his own
and Major's men to Donaldsonville, while Mouton moved
along the railway to the La Fourche, whence he sent his
pickets as far as Bayou des Allemands, within twenty-
five miles of New Orleans, creating no little excitement
in that city, which was pradlically without defenders.

90 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
There can be little doubt that had Walker's Division
been sent to Taylor, as he requested, he would have cap
tured New Orleans, though he would have been unable
to hold it for more than a short time. In regaining it,
however. Banks might have felt obliged to raise the
siege of Port Hudson. It was still two weeks before Port
Hudson surrendered.
Green arrived in front of Donaldsonville with a force
of about fourteen hundred men, on the afternoon of the
27th. There was a small earthwork at the place, garri
soned by one hundred and eighty men of the T^wenty-
eighth Maine, under command of Maj. J. D. Mullin.
At 1.30 A.M., of June 28th, the Confederates assaulted
the work, but in the darkness there was a good deal of
confusion in their movements, and they were completely
defeated by the combined adtion of the little garrison
and of three gunboats in the river. The affair lasted
until daylight.
Being repulsed in this assault, the Confederates moved
down the river a few miles, and then eredied batteries
commanding its navigation. The situation was now
very serious, one force of Confederates in front of the La
Fourche, diredtly threatening New Orleans, and another
on the river cutting off all communication by transports
with Port Hudson. Gen. Emory, then in command at
New Orleans, wrote to Banks, on July 4th, that he must
come to the assistance of New Orleans at once or it
would be lost : that the choice lay between New Orleans
and Port Hudson.
Banks, however, wisely determined to remain at Port

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 91
Hudson, as he felt confident it must fall in a few days,
when he would have abundant force to drive Taylor off.
This confidence was justified. Port Hudson was sur
rendered on the morning of July 9th, and on the same
afternoon all the transports available, were loaded with
Weitzel's and one of Grover's Brigades and sent down
to Donaldsonville, where they arrived the same after
noon. Other troops followed, and on the 13th, Grover
attacked Green's force on the La Fourche, and a sharp
engagement followed, which was undecisive in its result.
A day or two later, however. Green withdrew to Bra
shear City, and Mouton was called in to the same point
from the Bayou des Allemands.
Banks overestimated Taylor's force, and did not pursue
vigorously, so that Taylor had a week longer in which to
remove all the stores for which he had means of transpor
tation. On July 2 ist, he ran all the captured cars and
heavy guns in Berwick's Bay, and on the following day
began his retreat up the Teche. Banks' troops arrived at
Brashear City on the 22d, but did not continue the pur
suit. Taylor retreated without molestation to Opelousas,
where he remained, skirmishing occasionally on the
Teche, until the opening of Banks' Red River Cam
paign, in the Spring of 1864.
On July 7th, a letter was received from Grant, com
municating the intelligence of the surrender of Vicks
burg. Salutes were fired, and loud and prolonged cheers
were given along the Federal lines. The news quickly
spread among the Confederates, and in the afernoon of
that day, Gardner asked Banks to give him an official

92 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
assurance that the news was true. Banks replied during
the night, sending a copy of Grant's letter. Gardner
immediately announced his willingness to surrender, and
proposed the appointment of three commissioners on
each side to arrange the details. Banks acceded to this,
and the commissioners met at 9 a.m., and drew up the
articles of capitulation, by which the entire garrison was
surrendered as prisoners of war, together with all arms,
munitions, public funds, and materials of war and the
post. The garrison laid down its arms on the morning of
the 7th, and was paroled a few days later. The num
ber adtually paroled was five thousand nine hundred and
fifty-three, exclusive of about five hundred sick and
wounded in the hospitals. The losses during the siege
of forty-five days were about five hundred. The artillery
numbered fifty-one pieces, and the small arms over five
thousand. There were also large quantities of ammu
nition, but almost no commissary stores.

CHAPTER XIII.
Opening of the Fa?nous Red River Expedition. —
Capture of Fort de Russey. — The River Open to
Alexandria. — The True Inwardness of the Red
River Campaign.

EARLY in March, Gen. Franklin'with his division
moved from New Orleans by railroad to Brashear
City, along the Teche Bayou, and by way of Opelousas
towards Alexandria. Admiral Porter had, in the mean
time, collected at the mouth of the Red River a power
ful fleet of armed steamers — the Ozark, Osage and
Neasho, monitors ; the Benton, Carondelet, Pittsburg,
Mound City, Louisville, Essex and Chilicothe, iron
clads ; the Price, Choctaw and Lafayette, rams ; the
Black Hawk, Ouachita, Champion and Tyler, smaller
and lighter gunboats, besides other vessels. On the loth
of March, the force under Gen. A.J. Smith, consisting
of the first and second divisions of the Sixteenth Army
Corps, and the first and fourth divisions of the Seven
teenth, embarked at Vicksburg in twenty transports,
descended the Mississippi to the mouth of the Red
River, and joined the fleet of Admiral Porter on the
afternoon of the nth. On the 12th, the fleet moved up
the more southerlv of the two arms of the Red River,

94 campaigning with banks.

called Old River, and entered the Atchafalaya, a navi
gable outlet of the Red River, a portion of whose waters
flow southwest by this channel to Lake Chehinachea,
whence they subsequently find their way to the Gulf of
Mexico, passing Brashear City.
On the 13th, a landing was effected at the site of
Simmsport, about ten miles down the bayou, the town
having been destroyed during the siege of Port Hudson,
and some troops under Gen. Mower were sent to Bayou
Glace, where a rebel force, estimated at two thousand,
had been encamped in a strongly fortified position. The
enemy had disappeared from that point, as well as from
Yellow Bayou, where strong, though incomplete earth
works indicated an intention on the part of the rebels to use
Atchafalaya as a base of supplies, its shallowness during
a great part of the year rendering it comparatively safe
from naval attacks. Gen. Smith immediately decided to
march overland against Fort de Russey, distant about
thirty-five miles from Simmsport, leaving the fleet to
follow as soon as the obstructions in the river could be
removed. Fort de Russey, situated at Gordon's Landing, on the
south bank of the Red River, seventy miles from its
mouth, was a formidable quadrangular work, with bas
tions and bomb proofs, covered with railroad iron, con
nected with a water battery, the casemates of which
appeared to be capable of withstanding the heaviest shot
and shell.
The position of the fort was such that its guns com
manded the approaches by the river, both above an^

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 95
below, so that Admiral Porter's gunboats might have
found it a serious obstacle. Fortunately the garrison
had been reduced from one thousand to little over three
hundred. It was important, therefore, that it should be
attacked before re-enforcements could be thrown into it.
At daybreak on the 14th, the army set out in light
marching order for the fort, the brigade of Gen. Mower
in the advance. The enemy's cavalry, a part of the force
of Gen. Dick Taylor, kept up a series of harassing
demonstrations during the entire march, and more than
once the rear division had to form line of battle. About
3 o'clock in the afternoon the advance arrived in the
woods surrounding the open space about the fort, from
which a fire of shell and shrapnell was opened from four
guns. A brisk cannonade was immediately commenced
on the fort from two batteries, and continued for two
hours; then followed an advance of skirmishers, a heavy
fusilade, and a charge led by the Fifty-eighth Illinois
and the Eighth Wisconsin. When the ditch was reached
the garrison surrendered, and within twenty minutes
from the time that the assault was ordered the color-
sergeant of the Fifty-eighth Illinois planted the flag of
the Union on the enemy's works. In the meantime the
fleet had returned to the Red River, demolished a formid
able barricade which had cost the rebels months to con
strudt, and two vessels, the Neasho and the Eastport,
arrived opposite the fort while the attack was going on.
The Eastport opened her batteries, but suspended fire
when the assault commenced.
The loss was trifling on both sides, that of the Federals

96 campaigning with banks.
being nine killed, and thirty-nine wounded ; that of the
rebels five killed, and four wounded. Ten guns were
taken, a large number of small arms, two thousand bar
rels of gunpowder, and a quantity of ammunition and
commissary stores. The immediate destruction of the
fort was ordered, but on the 17th it was accidentally
blown up. The capture of Fort de Russey opened the
Red River to Alexandria, about one hundred and fifty
miles above, on the south bank, and that portion of Gen.
Smith's force which had been engaged at the fort was
immediately embarked on transports, sent up the river
and occupied the town, shortly afterwards followed by
the remainder of tlie troops and the fleet.
The enemy's forces retired, as well as several of their
gunboats, towards Shreveport. On the 19th, Gen.
Stone, Gen. Banks' chief of staff, arrived at Alexandria,
aud on the 20th, Gen. Lee, with the cavalry of Gen.
Banks' Division, after marching from Franklin across
the Teche country. During the first week after the
occupation of Alexandria, four thousand bales of cotton
were obtained, besides large quantities brought in by
negroes. Gen. Banks declaring that the occupation of
the country would be permanent, hundreds of citizens,
among whom were a number of prominent residents of
Alexandria, came forward and took the oath of allegiance
to the United States ; a recruiting office was opened, and
a large number of white men enlisted in the Federal
service. Gen. Mower ascended the river as far as Natchitoches,
eighty miles above Alexandria, on the west bank of th^

campaigning with banks. 97
river, and on the 21st defeated a body of the enemy, cap
tured two hundred and eighty-two prisoners and a
battery of four guns, and took possession of the town.
On the 26th, Gen. A.J. Smith left Alexandria and com
menced a march toward Natchitoches, to be followed by
the troops of Gen. Banks as they arrived. Twelve gun
boats and about thirty transports having succeeded, after
extraordinary exertions on the part of Admiral Porter,
in passing the shoals above Alexandria, also moved up
the river, their co-operation with the land force being
deemed essential to the success of the expedition. Some
of the larger vessels were detained below till the water
should rise in the river.
On the 4th of April the column of Gen. Banks reached
Natchitoches, and remained there two days, when the
march from Shreveport was resumed by the Mansfield
road. This road runs south of and at a considerable
distance from the river, through pine woods and a barren,
sandy country, without water or forage. It was desir
able, therefore, that the army should spend as little time
as possible in traversing it. Gen. Lee, with the cavalry,
had the advance, followed by the Thirteenth Army Corps
under Gen. Ransom ; after which moved the first division
of the Nineteenth Army Corps, under General Emory, a
brigade of colored troops under Col. Dickey, bringing
up the rear. A division of the Sixteenth Army Corps,
under Gen. A. J. Smith, followed two days later.
The army consisted of about forty thousand men, and
was thus commanded : The cavalry by Gen. Lee, form
erly of Grant's army — said to be a favorite of the
7

98 campaigning with banks.
Lieutenant-General, and with the reputation of being an
efficient and adtive officer. The artillery was under
Brig.-Gen. Richard Arnold, a Captain of the Second
Artillery of the Regular Army, and chief of the service
in this department. Gen. Franklin was second in com
mand of the forces. He had one division of his army
corps with him — that commanded by Gen. Emory.
The division of Gen. Graves was left at Alexandria to
hold the post. Gen. Smith's forces consisted of two
divisions. Gen. Ransom's forces also consisted of two
divisions. With this army he began his march. The
country through which he was to move was most disad
vantageous for a marching army.
The topography of Virginia has been assigned as a
reason for every defeat of the Army of the Potomac, but
Virginia is a garden and a meado^ when compared with
the low, flat pine counties that extend from Opelousas,
far in the South, to Fort Smith in the North, and cover
hundreds of thousands of square miles. There are few
plantations and fewer settlements. These are merely
built in clearings, of pine logs thatched and plastered
with mud, a few narrow roads, with no sign of life or
civilization beyond an occasional log house and half-
cleared plantation. The bark is stripped from the trees,
that they may rot and die in a few months, and thus save
their lazy owners the trouble of cutting them down.
Into this country Gen. Banks was compelled to march.
He found in the beginning that the arms of his service
would be almost worthless. So long as he marched, his
cavalry might picket the woods and skirmish along th§

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 99
advance, but in action they would be helpless as so many
wagon trains. His artillery would be of no use unless
he should manage to get the enemy into an open clear
ing, which was as improbable as it would be to get
troops with works to fight in front of them. The coun
try was little more than a great masked battery. It was
an unproductive, barren country, and it became neces
sary to permanent military operations to carry along
everything that an army could use.
Such a thing as subsisting an army in a country like
this could only be achieved when men and horses could
be induced to live on pine trees and rosin. About forty-
four miles from Grand Ecore there is a clearing of more
than usual size, and upon it there was built more than
the ordinary number of houses, and showing more than
the common degree of enterprise and taste. This clear
ing forms a plateau, and as it rises as high, perhaps, as
fifty feet, the people have taken advantage of the fact and
called it "Pleasant Hill."
Against this point it was determined to march. We
knew that the rebel army was in that diredtion, and it
was not at all likely that they would make a stand and
show us battle. The army marched accordingly, Lee
leading the advance, moving slowly with his cavalry,
and followed as rapidly as possible by the infantry
division of Gen. Ransom. By Thursday, April 7th,
the whole army was in motion, and the advance was
nearing Pleasant Hill. Gen. Banks broke camp, and
with his staff" and a small escort rode to the front. Be
fore him were two-thirds of bis army ; behind him the

100 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
remainder, under Gen. Smith, and, composed of many
of the bravest veterans in Grant's army, was marching
rapidly. Early in the day, on Thursday, our cavalry had passed
beyond Pleasant Hill, and about two miles above, near a
ravine, they had met the rear guard of the enemy. A
sharp skirmish ensued. The fighting became so earnest
at last that Gen. Lee begun to doubt the ability of his
cavalry to force a passage, and sent to Gen. Franklin for
a brigade of infantry, as a re-enforcement. The enemy
were driven, however, before the infantry arrived, with
severe loss, the cavalry being compelled to dismount and
fight through the woods. In this skirmish we lost about
fifty men killed, wounded and missing. The object of
Gen. Banks' spring campaign was political as well as
military. The importance of the Southwest may be
properly estimated, when we consider our relations
with Mexico and the embarrassments occasioned by the
French interference with that Republic.
The occupation of Brownsville, on the Rio Grande,
by Gen. Banks, last year, did much towards checking
the designs of the French Emperor. An American army
was placed on the frontier of the new-made dependency,
and any diplomacy between Davis and Napoleon was
thus shattered and silenced. That occupation was merely
a check. To make it a checkmate, the capture of
Shreveport was necessary. This town occupies a point
in the extreme north-western part of Louisiana, near the
boundary line of Arkansas and Texas. At the head of
steamboat navigation on the Red River, in the midst of

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 101
the largest and richest cotton districts in the trans-Missis
sippi department, the rebel capital of Louisiana, the head
quarters of Kii'by Smith, and the depot of supplies for
the rebel army. But the Government desired Shreveport
and the undisturbed possession of the Mississippi, and
Gen. Banks was charged with the duty of taking it.

CHAPTER XIV.
Cavalry Contending with the Retiring Foe. — A
General Conflid. — Pressed Back by Overwhelming
Numbers. — Emory Looked for as Anxiously as
Blucher at Waterloo. •

THIS skirmish convinced us that the enemy in front
¦was in more than usual force. We learned from
prisoners that Lieut. -Gen. E. Kirby Smith of the rebel
army was in command, that his trains had fallen back
on the road to Mansfield, and that his army was retreat
ing with more than usual disorder. It of course sug
gested itself that our pursuit should be rapid, and if we
showed proper enterprise, ¦we might capture Mansfield
and the whole train of the rebel army. An order was
given that the army should march early in the morning,
and shortly after dawn the whole force was on the ad
vance. Gen. Banks and staff following.
The advance was pushed with energy. Our arrny
skirmished all the way, and once or twice the enemy
made a demonstration of force. Our troops quietly
drove them, and we marched on. The roads began to
be in a horrible condition, and frequently we were com
pelled to halt and repair them, building bridges, remov
ing stumps and widening the paths. At about ii in the

CAMPAiGNiNG WITH BANKS. 105
morning. Gen. Banks reached Gen. Franklin, at a jaoint
about ten miles from Pleasant Hill. The cavalry had
passed on the train following. One division of his in
fantry had crossed the Fourth Division of the Thirteenth
Army Corps, under the immediate command of Brig.-
Gen. Ransom. His men were engaged building a bridge
over a bayou that embarrassed the march, and his train
was about to cross. He reported to Gen. Banks that
everything was going on finely ; that his force was press
ing the enemy, who ¦was slowly falling back, and that,
as he could not hope to march much further, he had
thought it best to make his headquarters at a neighboring
log hut, and had accordingly halted his trains. Gen.
Banks diredted his own trains to be halted there, and
after resting awhile and holding a conference ¦with Gen.
Franklin, remounted and rode to the front.
This was shortly after noon. A brief ride brought
the General to the advance. He found the cavalry slowly
pushing on, and the enemy disputing their march. It
was a tedious process. The quietly retiring foe — the
quietly advancing cavalry — the soldiers dismounted,
and, creeping from tree to tree, occasionally interchang
ing shots, and sometimes so many at a time that it
sounded like the badly fired volleys by which some of
our militia escorts at home pay the last honors to a dead
comrade. Still ¦we pushed on until we reached a point
that seemed to be about fi^^^e miles from the bayou, and
the clearing beyond, where Gen. Franklin had established
his headquarters.
At this point another clearing had been made for a

104 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
plantation. It was roughly divided into fields for cotton
and cane, and an old saw mill near by seemed to indicate
that the owner had a larger share of enterprise than is
generally given to the chivalrous lords of these majestic
pines. The irregular firing was at an end, for here the
enemy ceased to creep and seemed disposed to make a
stand. Evidently we were marching too rapidly, and if
they desired to save their trains they must fight for them.
Gen. Banks saw this, and ordered the infantry to the
front to support the cavalry, and make a spirited assault.
In the meantime, in the event of the enemy being
stronger than was expedted, or too strongly posted, aids
were sent to the rear to hurry forward the advance of
Ransom's other division, commanded by Gen. Cameron,
as well as to Gen. Franklin, dirediing him to advance
with Emory's Division of the Nineteenth Army Corps.
The Union forces were stationed as follows : On the
right and in the belt of timber which separated the first
from the second field was Lucas' Cavalry Brigade, mostly
dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, while beyond
and supporting this brigade, was the Fourth Division,
Thirteenth Army Corps, under the command of Col.
Landrum ; the Twenty-third Wisconsin, however, which
occupied the left flank of this division, was on the left of
the road adting as a support to Nims' Battery. The
Fourth Division was composed of the following regi
ments, stationed in' line of battle in the following order,
commencing at the right, namely : Eighty-second Ohio,
Ninety-sixth Ohio, Nineteenth Kentucky, One Hundred
and Thirteenth Illinois, Forty-eighth Ohio, Sixty-seventh

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 105
Indiana, Seventy-fifth Indiana, and Twenty-third Wis
consin. Between the Eighty-second and Ninety-sixth
Ohio, on the right, two small howitzers were placed.
The field on the left side of the road beyond the Twenty-
third Wisconsin, was occupied by Col. Dudley's Bri
gade of cavalry, composed of the Thirty-first and Forty-
first Massachusetts, Fourth Wisconsin and Eighth New
Hampshire (mounted infantry), the main body being
deployed in line with a small force in reserve near the
centre of the field ; Nims' Battery, six pieces, was sta
tioned on our extreme front, just at the point of the belts
of timber on the right. One sedtion was on the right of
the road and trained so as to fire through the woods into
the field beyond ; one piece was in the road and three on
the left ; to the left of this battery there ¦were two small
howitzers. The Chicago Mercantile Battery was sta
tioned not far from the centre of the first field on the
right, and near a cluster of log houses, where Gen. Banks
had his headquarters. The sedtion of Battery G was
further to the left and rear, and trained so as to fire to
the right. About 4 o'clock p.m., the Fourth Division
was moved forward through the belt of timber, and took
position in line of battle behind the fence that inclosed
the field beyond.
The enemy was reported to be advancing, and Col.
Wilson of Gen. Banks' staff. Col. Brisbin of Gen. Lee's
staff, Maj. Cowan and other staff officers were sent to
ascertain the truth of the report. These officers soon
returned and reported the whole rebel line to be in motion
and rapidly advancing. Our troops in silence awaited

106 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
the attack, and it soon came, the right being brought
into adtion first. High and dreadful swelled the conflidt.
The enemy pressing forward at all points met a terrible
resistance. Volley after volley was poured into their
ranks, sweeping down hundreds, only to give place to
new hundreds, who pressed forward to supply the place
of the fallen.
Our troops stood firm, but the rebels, who outnum
bered us more than two to one, began, after an hour's
hard fighting, slowly to gain ground, and our thinned
and bleeding ranks were pressed back by overwhelming
numbers into the woods.
The rebels now began to show a heavy force on our
left, which was the real point of attack, their movements
toward our right having been a ruse to induce us to
weaken our left by sending troops to the right, in which
they had succeeded. It was plain to all that no human
bravery or skill could long withstand the odds against
which our troops were fighting, and that unless Franklin
speedily arrived, we would be forced to retire. Gen.
Franklin, with his staff", did come up, but his division,
under command of Gen. Emory, was yet in the rear.
Our thinned and wearied ranks stood up nobly against
the masses and murderous fire of the rebels, and cheer
after cheer went up, mingled with the almost incessant
roll of musketry and roar of cannon. The forces of the
brave Gen. Ransom had been cut up dreadfully, and he
himself borne wounded and bleeding from the field ; but
still they held this position, fighting gallantly. Gen.
Cameron's Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps

CAMPAIGNING _ WITH BANKS. 107
arrived and hastened to the support of Col. Landrum's
Division, but like bees from a hive the rebels swarmed
upon it, and it was fast melting away under the storm of
bullets that was continually rained upon them.
Blucher at Waterloo was not more anxiously looked
for than was Emory of Franklin's Corps upon that field.
But he came not. We had now engaged less than eight
thousand men fighting a force of over tw^enty thousand
men in their chosen positions. Emory was reported to
be within two miles ¦with his division, and rapidly com
ing up. The officers encouraged their men to hold the
field until his arrival, and bravely indeed did they struggle
against the masses that constantly pressed them upon
both flanks and in front, but, borne down by numbers,
their shattered ranks were pushed over the field and into
the woods beyond.
The enemy had now driven back our left, and were
within sixty yards of Nims' Battery, which was firing
double charges of grape and canister, sweeping down
the rebels in piles at every discharge. Gen. Lee, seeing
that Nims' Battery, if it were not speedily removed,
would be captured, by diredtion of Gen. Stone, ordered
Col. Brisbin to have it taken from the field. The order
came too late. Not horses enough were left alive to haul
the pieces from the field. The cannoneers lay thick
about the guns, and dead and wounded rebels in wind
rows before them. Two of the guns were dragged oft"
by hand, and Lieut. Snow ¦was shot down while spiking
a third. Four of the guns of this battery could not be
got off and fell into the hands of the enemy.

108 CAMPAIGNING WtTH BANKS.
In the meantime our right was fiercely engaged, and
our centre was being pressed back, and finally the right
also gave way. Six guns of the Mercantile Battery, two
guns of Rawle's G Battery, Fifth United States Artillery,
two mountain howitzers of the Sixth Missouri Howitzer
Battery, four guns of the First Indiana Battery, and six
guns of Nims' Battery were left on the field.
Nims' Massachusetts Battery worked manfully. The
veteran battery, the hero of seventeen engagements,
always successful, but this time doomed to defeat, de
serves to have its name written in letters of gold.
When the time was approaching that it could hold out
no longer, each piece -was loaded ¦with a case of grape
and canister, spherical case shell and a sack of bullets
containing about three hundred. This hurled death and
destrudtion into the ranks of the enemy, who wavered
and fell back at every discharge of these fated guns. The
battery lost twenty-one officers and privates, sixty-four
horses and eighteen mules. Then came one of those
unaccountable events that no genius or courage could
control. Suddenly there was a rush, a shout, the crush
ing of trees, the breaking down of rails, the rush and
scamper of men. Men found themselves swallowed up
as it were in a hissing, seething, bubbling whirlpool of
agitated men, who could not avoid the current. The line
of battle had given way. Gen. Banks took off his hat
and implored his men to remain. His staff officers did
the same ; but it was of no avail. Then the General
drew his sabre and endeavored to rally his men, but they
would not listen. Behind him the rebels were shouting

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 109
and advancing. Their musket balls filled the air with
that strange file-rasping sound that war has made so
familiar to our fighting men. The teams were abandoned
by the drivers ; the traces cut and the animals ridden off
by the frightened men. Bare-headed riders rode with
agony in their faces, and for at least ten minutes it seemed
as if all were going to destrudtion together. They rode
nearly two miles in this madcap way, until on the'edge
of a ravine, which might formerly have been a bayou,
we found Emory's Division of the Nineteenth Army
Corps, veterans who had never been defeated. The rock
of safety to the Thirteenth Corps ¦was drawn up in line
of battle. Opening their ranks to permit the retreating
forces to pass through, each regiment of this fine division
closed up on the double quick, quietly awaited the ap
proach of the rebels, and in less than five minutes on
they came, screaming and firing as they advanced, but
still in good order and with closed ranks.
All at once from that firm line of gallant soldiers that
no^w stood so bravely there came forth a course of rever
berating thunder, that rolled from flank to flank in one
continuous peal, sending a storm of leaden hail into the
rebels' ranks that swept them back in^dismay, and left the
ground covered with their killed and wounded. In vain
the rebels strove to rally against this terrific fire. At every
effort they were repulsed, and after a short contest they
fell back, evidently most terribly punished. It was now
quite dark, and each party bivouacked on the field.
Thus ended the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, April Sth,
1864.

CHAPTER XV.
A Council of War. — Withdrawal to Pleasant Hill. —
Sharp Fight Between Cavalry Forces. — A Fear
fully Desperate Charge. — The First Line of Battle
of the Rebels Annihilated.

TV FTER the close of the battle of Friday, a council
J-^L of war was called by Gen. Banks, and it was
decided to withdraw the army to Pleasant Hill, that
place offering a better position to give battle to the
enemy, who, it was expected, would renew the attack
early in the morning. It was also known that Gen. A.
J. Smith's command had reached Pleasant Hill, and
Gen. Banks was anxious to unite the forces of Smith
with his own. The withdrawal of the force commenced
at lo o'clock, and before daylight the rear of the army
was well on the road. The enemy in the night had
pressed his pickets down on our front, but he failed to
discover the movement of our troops, the withdrawal
being conducted with greatest silence- and expedition. It
was not until morning that he was made aware that our
army had left his immediate front when he followed after
with his main force, sending forward his cavalry in hot
haste to find our whereabouts. But they failed to come
up with our forces until they had reached Pleasant IJill,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. i 111
Gen. Emory's Division brought up the rear, and
arrived at Pleasant Hill about 7 o'clock in the morning.
Our forces were all at Pleasant Hill. The rebels were
advancing, calvary in front, endeavoring to discover our
position. Col. O. P. Gooding, with his brigade of Lee's
Cavalry Corps, was sent out on the Shreveport road to
meet the enemy and draw him on. He had gone about
a mile when he came upon the rebel advance. Skirm
ishing immediately ensued, and, according to the plan,
he slowly fell back.
The fight was very sharp between these cavalry bodies,
and Gooding lost nearly forty men killed and wounded,
inflicting, however, as much damage as he received.
Among his casualties, were Capt. Beck and Lieut. Hall
of the Second New York Veteran Cavalry. Col. Good
ing made a narrow escape, a ball passing through and
tearing the crown out of his hat, and grazing the skin.
The brigade behaved very gallantly, covering Gen.
Emory's front until his line of battle was formed.
The battlefleld of Pleasant Hill is a large open field,
which had once been cultivated, but was then overgrown
with weeds and bushes. The slightly elevated centre of
the field, from which the name Pleasant Hill is taken, is
nothing more than a long mound, hardly worthy the
name of hill. A semi-circular belt of timber runs around
the field on the Shreveport side.
Gen. Emory formed his line of battle on the side
facing these woods. Gen. McMillan's Brigade being
posted on the right. Gen. Dwight's in the centre, and
Col. Benedict's on the left, Taylor's Battery L, First

112 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
Regulars, had four guns in the rear of the left wing, on
the left of Shreveport road, and two on the road in rear
of Gen. Dwight's line. Hibberd's Vermont Battery was
on the right. In the rear of Emory, and concealed by
the rising ground, were Gen. Smith's tried troops, formed
in two lines of battle fifty yards apart. All his artillery
was in the front line, a piece section, or battery, being
on the flank of each regiment, the infantry lying between
them. The Thirteenth Corps was in reserve in the rear
under Gen. Cameron, Gen. Ransom having been wounded
the day before. Gen. Smith was commander-in-chief of
the two lines back of the crest, while Gen. Mower was
the immediate commander of the men.
The commander of the right brigade on Gen. Smith's
first line was Col. Lynch ; the left brigade was Col.
Shaw's. The second line also consisted of two brigades,
the right under control of Col.  , and the left com
manded by Col. Hill. Crawford's Third Indiana Battery
was posted on the right of the Eighty-ninth Indiana
Infantry, and the Ninth Indiana Battery on the right of
the line of battle. The Missouri Iron Sun Battery was
also in this section of the battle.
The wind howled piteously through the trees, fanning
the long pendants of gray, funereal-like mass, which
decked the tops of the tall waving cypress and pines.
The sky was shrouded with portentous clouds, while
dense volumes of dust partially concealed the long pon
toon trains as they rumbled heavily to the rear. At 4.30
o'clock, precisely, the rebel cavalry advanced toward the
right and centre, the exultant foe yelling in the most

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. . 113
fiendish manner, at the same time brandishing their
sabres in the air.
On they came at a slow trot, in good order, as they
neared our lines gradually quickening their pace, while
close in their rear came the three solid battle-lines of the
enemy, shouting an indescribable battle-cry which would
cause the nerves of the timid to vibrate, reminding one
of all the ferocity of savages. From out the woods
belched the enemy's artillery, when there arose from the
crouching forms of several thousand loyal men a fearful
roar of musketry, opening wide gaps in rebel lines, but
they were as speedily closed, and the enraged foe with
sudden dash threw his gigantic force against our front,
and for a moment our whole line seemed to waver,
giving way a few yards. The suspense of this fearful
moment was terrible to bear, for it seemed to portend
defeat ; in another moment our artillery scattered grape
and canister in appalling quantities upon the exasperated
enemy, literally mowing them down with an enormous
scythe. The fighting was terrific : old soldiers say it
was never surpassed for desperation.
Notwithstanding the terrible havoc in their ranks the
enemy pressed' fiercely on, slowly pushing the men of
the Nineteenth Corps back up the hill, but not breaking
their line of battle. A sudden and bold dash of the
rebels on the right gave possession of Taylor's Battery,
and forced our line still further back. Now came the
grand coup-de-m.ain. The Nineteenth, on arriving at
the top of the hill, suddenly filed off over the hill, and
passed to the left.
8

114 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
We must here mention that the rebels were now in
but two lines of battle, the first having been almost
annihilated by Gen. Emory, what remained being forced
back into the second line. But these two lines came on
exultant and sure of victory. The first passed over the
knoll, and, all heedless of the long line of cannon and
crouching forms of as brave men as ever trod mother
earth, pressed on. The second line appeared on the
crest, and the death signal was sounded. Words cannot
describe the awful eft'edt of this discharge. Seven thou
sand rifles and several batteries of artillery, each gun
loaded to the muzzle with grape and canister, were fired
simultaneously, and the whole centre of the rebel line
was crushed down as a field of ripe wheat through which
a tornado had passed. It is estimated that one thousand
men were hurried into eternity, or frightfully mangled by
this one discharge.
Scarcely had the seething lead left the guns, when the
word " Charge ! " was given, and seven thousand brave
men precipitated themselves upon the shattered ranks of
the enemy. Emory's Division, which had only yielded
to superior numbers, and remained unbroken, now
rushed forward and joined the Sixteenth Corps, driving
the rebels rapidly down the hill to the woods, where
they broke and fled in the greatest confusion and dis
may. Col. Benedict, while gallantly leading his brigade
in the charge, fell dead, pierced by five balls. The
battle was fought, and the vidtory won.
Our troops followed up the rebels until night put an
end to the pursuit. In the last charge we recaptured

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 115
Taylor's Battery, which had been lost in the earlier part
of the action, and retook two guns of Nims' Battery,
which had been lost in the battle of the preceding day.
The ten-pound Parrott gun which the rebels captured at
Carrion Crow was also retaken. Five hundred prisoners,
all the dead and wounded, three battle standards, and a
large number of small arms, fell into our hands.
Our vidtorious army slept upon the battlefield, which
was one of the bloodiest of Louisiana. Early the next
morning, our line of march was taken up to Grand
Ecore to obtain rest and rations, the army being too
much fatigued by the three days' fighting and severe
marching it had undergone, to attempt pursuit of the
enemy. This battle was one of the best appointed and delivered
of the war. It reflects much credit upon the head of the
Army of the Gulf, and is equally honorable to all who
were engaged in it. Gen. Banks was present from the
beginning to the close of the engagement, and rode over
the field through showers of bullets, personally diredting
the movements of the troops. Gen. Banks' staff ably
assisted him, freely sharing the danger with their chief,
and behaving throughout the adtion with the greatest
gallantry. Gen. Franklin and staff were in the hottest
of the fire.
Of the soldiers who so bravely fought the battle, and
achieved a splendid vidtory, it need only be said that the
men of Maine, Missouri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
New York, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, sustained
their reputation, standing shoulder to shoulder with the

116 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
loyal Louisiana troops, and well may their States be
proud to claim them as sons of their soil. The heroes
of Vicksburg and Port Hudson now added the name of
Pleasant Hill to the list of their glorious victories.
The cavalry division, except a part of Col. Lucas'
Brigade, was not in the adtion on Saturday, the main
body having been sent to convoy the wagon-trains to
Grand Ecore. No part of the Thirteenth Army Corps
was in the battle.
In the battle of Friday the rebel Gen. Moulton was
killed by the unerring rifles of the Nineteenth Kentucky.
He received four balls in his body. The rebel Gen.
Kirby Smith was in command of the troops in the battle
at Pleasant Hill.
The entire losses of the campaign thus far may be
summed up as follows : Twenty pieces of artillery,
fifteen hundi'ed men in Gen. Ransom's Corps, six hun
dred men in Gen. Emory's Division, five hundred men
in Gen. Smith's Sixteenth Army Corps, four hundred
men in the cavalry division, one hundred and thirty
cavalry division and brigade wagons, twelve hundred
horses and mules, including the great number that died
on the march across the Teche from disease.
It was difficult to determine at that time what would
be the result of this expedition. It would take some
time to reorganize before an advance could be resumed.
The transports and gunboats were all above Grand
Ecore. The rebels were very troublesome on the river
above Grand Ecore. They succeeded in planting a
battery between our fleet and this place. The gunboats

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. Il7
shelled the woods all day, and perhaps dislodged them.
The transports were almost constantly fired on from both
sides of the river. Seventeen miles below here the
rebels appeared on the east side of the river. The Ohio
Belle, loaded with soldiers and quartermasters' stores, in
charge of Chief Clerk O'Neil of St. Louis, was fired into
at that point and two soldiers badly wounded. The fine
passenger steamer, Millie Stephens, loaded with troops,
was fired into at the same place, sixty shots taking effedt.
Six persons were wounded, and one killed.

CHAPTER XVi.
The Navy in a Bad Way. — Ironclads vs. Infantry. —
The Eastport Blown Up with a Ton of Powder
after Six Days' Delay. — Bravery of Porter. — Safe
Arrival at Alexandria.

ON the arrival of the army at Grand Ecore, they
immediately began building fortifications. A pon
toon bridge was thrown across the river, and two bat
teries, two brigades of infantry, and a brigade of cavalry,
crossed over and marched up on the other side of the
river to the relief of the gunboats and transports under
command of Admiral Porter, which had left -Grand
Ecore on the 7th to make their way up the rivers to
Shreveport. They had reached as far as Springfield
Landing when they were brought to a stop by the rebels
sinking a very large steamer, the New Falls City, right
across the river, her ends resting on each bank, and her
hull broken in the middle, resting on the bottom. This
was a serious obstrudlion to the navy, which would take
some time to remove. The river was still falling, and
in the mean time the following despatch was received by
Gen. Banks : —
Should you find that the taking of Shreveport will occupy ten
or fifteen days more time than Gen. Sherman gave his troops to

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 119
be absent from their command, you will send them back at the
time specified (forty days), even if it should lead to the abandon
ment of the expedition. (Signed) U. S. GRANT.
As the navy had already delayed us so long, orders
were therefore sent to the army, which was protedting
the gunboats, to return to Grand Ecore.
It would be difficult to describe the return passage of
the fleet through this narrow and snaggy river. As long
as our army could advance triumphantly it was not so
bad, but they had every reason to suj)pose that this return
would be interrupted in every way, and at every point,
by the enemy's land forces, and they were not disap
pointed. They commenced on them from high banks, at
a place called Coushatta, and kept up a fire of musketry
whenever an opportunity was offered them. By a proper
distribution of the gunboats they had no trouble in driv
ing them away, though from the high banks they could
fire on the decks almost with impunity. As the boats
proceeded down the river they increased in numbers,
and as the boats only made thirty miles a day they could
cross from point to point, and be ready to meet them on
their arrival below. On the left bank of the river Gen.
Harrison, with nine hundred cavalry and four or five
pieces of artillery, followed them down, annoying them.
It was very fortunate that this General and his com-.
mand were severely handled by a gunboat a few weeks
before, which made them careful about coming within
range. On the evening of the 12th instant, the boats were

120 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
attacked from the right bank of the river by a detach
ment of men of quite another character. They were a
part of the army which two or three days previous had
gained success over our army, and flushed with victory,
or under the excitement of liquors, they appeared sud
denly upon the right bank and fearlessly opened fire on
the Osage (ironclad), Lieut.-Com. T. C. Selfridge, she
being hard aground at the time, with a transport (the
Black Hawk) along side of her towing her off. The
rebels opened with two thousand muskets, and soon
drove every one out of the Black Hawk to the safe case
ments of the monitor. Lieut. Bache had just come from
his vessel (the Lexington), and fortunately was enabled
to pull up to here again, keeping close under the bank,
while the Osage opened a destructive fire on these poor
deluded wretches, who, maddened with liquor, and led
on by their officers, were vainly attempting to capture an
iron vessel. I am told that their hootings and adtions
baffle description.
Force after force seemed to be brought up to the edge
of the bank, where they confronted the guns of the iron
vessel, only to be cut down by grape-shot and canister.
In the meantime, Lieut. Bache had reached his vessel,
and widening the distance between him and the Osage,
he opened a cross-fire on the infuriated rebels, who
fought with such desperation and courage against certain
destruction that could only be accounted for in one way,
" Louisiana rum."
This affair lasted nearly two hours before the rebels
fled. They brought up two pieces af artillery, one of

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 121
which was quickly knocked over by the Lexington' s
guns, the other they carried off. The cross-fire of the
Lexington finally decided this curious affair of a fight
between infantry and gunboats. The rebels were mowed
down by his canister, and finally retreated in as great
haste as they had come to the attack, leaving the space
of a mile covered with the dead and wounded, muskets
and knapsacks. Gen. Green was in command of these
forces, and was killed. Night coming on, the fleet was
troubled no more with guerilla fighting. The next
morning, 13th inst., the fleet arrived at Compte. Six
miles from Grand Ecore the fleet all got aground, and
here was another delay. The troops which Gen. Banks
had sent up on the other side of the river arrived at this
time, and with pulling and hauling the fleet floated to
Grand Ecore, under the escort of the Nineteenth Army
Corps. The fleet was still in a bad predicament ; there
was no rise in the river. The gunboat Eastport, after
getting over the bar at Grand Ecore, sank, eight miles
below. The great trouble with the fleet was a lack of pilots
who understood the Red River, as the vessels were con
stantly running aground. Col. Bailey offered to construdt
dams and float them down to Alexandria. As the navy
was an independent auxiliary, they did not wish any
assistance from the army in navigation, so his services
were declined. But they were very glad to accept of his
proposition when they arrived at Alexandria. On ex
amination it was determined to save the Eastport, if
possible, and finally, on the 21st of April, she started in

122 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
tow of the pump-boat. Champion, No. 5, and with the
pump of Champion, No. 3, transferred to the Eastport,
and connected with her boilers. This arrangement kept
the water out of the fire-room, and confined it to the
bow. The transports followed, a gunboat bringing up
the rear, towing a flatboat on which were all of the
Eastport's guns.
On the first day the Eastport made twenty miles down
the river, but at 6 o'clock in the evening, she grounded
from not being in the channel, and the first of our diffi
culties commenced in getting her over the bars and
other obstrudtions which abound in this river. She had
grounded eight times badly, and each time under cir
cumstances where it was very doubtful if she would
come off. The men worked with almost superhuman
efl'orts to save the Eastport, sleeping apparently neither
night or day. On the sixth day everything looked hope
ful. Sixty miles had already been made, when bang ! the
Eastport went into another sandbar ; another efl"ort was
made to float her, but it was no use, they only succeeded
in getting her in a worse position. At the same time a
gang of guerillas made appearance on the right bank and
opened fire. The vessel was lying tied to the bank.
They made a rush to. board the Cricket. They were
driven off, and the Cricket dropped out into the stream
and opened on them with grape and canister, and with a
heavy cross-fire from the other vessels they were driven
off". The Eastport was in a position right across the chanr
nel, with a bed of logs under her. From that position

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 123
no human power could move her. If she had been
destroyed at Grand Ecore, it would have saved the loss
of a great many lives. The fleet would have kept along
with the army, and would have had no trouble with
guerillas. Six days and nights had already been used up
in trying to save her, but to no purpose, and at last the
order was given to destroy her. One ton of powder was
placed in her in various positions, she was filled with
such combustibles as they could procure, and at i .45
P.M., April 26th, the Eastport was blown up, Lieut.-
Com. Phelps applying the match, and being the last one
to leave the vessel. He had barely time to reach the
boat when the Eastport blew up, covering the boat with
fragments of wood. Seven different explosions followed,
and then the flames burst forth in every diredtion. The
vessel was completely destroyed — as perfedt a wreck as
ever was made by powder. All stores, etc., were re
moved, and such parts of the machinery as could be
made available by the rebels. There was nothing but
the iron plates left behind, which finally fell inside the
hull. The Eastport was blown up, and they proceeded
down the river. They were not molested until they had
gone about twenty miles, at a point above Cane River,
When rounding the point, the vessels in close order and
ready for adtion, they descried a party of the enemy,
with artillery, on the right bank, and they immediately
opened fire with their bow guns. The enemy immedi
ately returned it with a large number of cannon, nine
pieces in all, every shot of which struck this vessel.

124 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
The Captain, H. H. Gorringe, gave orders to stop the
engines, for the purpose of fighting the battery, and
covering the boats astern.
Admiral Porter corredted this mistake, and got head
way on the vessel again, but not soon enough to avoid
the pelting shower of shot and shell which the enemy
poured into them, every shot going through and through
them, clearing all our decks in a moment. Finding the
guns not firing rapidly the Admiral stepped on the gun-
deck to see what was the matter. As he stepped down,
the after gun was struck with a shell and disabled, and
every man at the gun killed and wounded. At the same
moment the crew from the forward gun were swept
away by a shell exploding, and the men were wounded
in the fire-room, leaving only one man to fire up.
The Admiral made up a crew from the contrabands,
who fought the gun to the last moment. Finding that
the engine did not move, he went into the engine-room
and found the engineer killed, whose place was soon
supplied by an assistant. He then went to the pilot
house and found that a shot had gone through it and
wounded one of the pilots ; he took charge of the vessel,
and as the battery was a very heavy one, he determined
to pass it, which was done. They let us drift down
around the point and shelled the enemy's batteries in
the rear. This enabled the fuliet and pump-boat
Champion, lashed together, to escape from under the
bank. The Admiral started down a few miles below where
he had ordered the ironclads to be ready to meet him in

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 125
a case of emergency. He ran ashore a short time after
passing the batteries, and had to remain there three or
four hours. It was after dark when he reached the iron
clads, where he found the Osage lying opposite a field-
battery of the enemy, which they had been shelling
through the day. As the firing had ceased above, hopes
were entertained that the Hindman had silenced the
batteries. In five minutes the Cricket was struck thirty-
eight times with shot and shell, with a loss of twenty-
five men killed and wounded ; the Juliet, with fifteen
killed and wounded ; the Hindman lost three killed, five
wounded. The firing of the gunboats was so heavy that
the rebels withdrew, when the fleet continued on its way
to Alexandria, and was safe once more under the pro
tection of the army.

CHAPTER XVII.
Grand Ecore Evacuated. — Forced Alarch of Forty
Miles. — Battle of Cane River. — Flanking Gen.
Emory's Position. — The Arrival of the Union
Army at Alexandria.

THE army marched from Grand Ecore on the even
ing of the 2ist of April, having been detained there
by the condition of the navy, ten days, and to prevent
the occupation of Mouet's Bluff, on Cane River, a strong
position commanding the only road leading across the
river to Alexandria, or to prevent the concentration of
the enemy's forces at that point. If it was in their pos
session, it was necessary to accomplish the evacuation
without their knowledge, and to prevent their strength
ening the natural defences of the position, by the rapidity
of our march. We partially frustrated the first objedt,
but the second was fully accomplished.
About eight thousand men and sixteen guns, under
command of Gen. Bee, were found in possession of the
bluff on the opposite side of the river, who were evidently
surprised at the unexpedled presence of our army, but
ready to dispute our only passage to Alexandria. At
daybreak one division of the Nineteenth and Thirteenth
Corps each, the cavalry commanded by Gen. Arnold,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 127
and the artillery by Capt. Classon, the whole under com
mand of Gen. W. H. Emory, were ordered forward to
the river for the purpose of forcing this position. The
head of the infantry column, consisting of Gen. Emory's
Division, marched at 4.30 a.m., preceded by the cavalry,
under Gen. Arnold, Col. Gooding's Brigade leading. In
less tlian three miles from Clenturville, the enemy's
pickets were encountered. Tbe cavalry was ordered to
drive them in and press them until they ascertained the
line of battle occupied by the enemy, which was very
strong, and defended by two batteries of eight guns each,
which crossed their fire on an open field, through which
it was necessary to pass before we could reach the en
emy's position. The ground occupied by them, besides
being covered with timbers, was about one hundred
feet higher than that by which we were obliged to
approach. The pickets of the enemy ¦were encountered on the
west side of the river and quickly driven across, but the
main position was found to be too strong to be carried
by diredt attack. A reconnoitering party under Col.
Baily of the Fourth Wisconsin Volunteers, was sent to
ascertain the pradlicability of crossing the river below the
ferry towards Red River, on the morning of the 23d.
They reported that the river was not fordable below the
ferry, and that owing to the impassable swamps on one
side, and the high bluffs on the other, it would not be
possible to cross Cane River at any point below the ferry.
If we failed to dislodge the enemy at the ferry, the only
alternative upon us was to attempt a crossing at the

128 campaigning with banks.
north side of Red River, an exceedingly difficult and
dangerous movement.
Capt. Classon, Chief of Artillery, was ordered to bring
forward his artillery and batter the enemy's position,
supported by Gen. McMillan, commanding two brigades
of the First Division. Gen. Arnold was diredted to send
a brigade of cavalry over to our left, cross below and
threaten the enemy's left flank and -rear, with orders if
Birge was successful, to pursue the enemy.
The ground over which Gen. Birge had to pass was
exceedingly difficult, traversed by muddy bayous, high
and sharp ridges, covered by dense growth of pine. His
progress was necessarily very slow and tedious, and he
did not get into position until late in the afternoon.
While he was getting into position, the artillery was
beautifully handled by Capt. Classon, who kept the
enemy's attention fully occupied ; and at the moment the
first rattle of Gen. Birge's musketry was heard, the bat
tery was placed in position diredtly in front of the cross
ing, and displayed lines of skirmishers as if preparing
for an assault. The enemy made an attempt to cross the
river and charge this battery, but was quickly repulsed
by the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York, who
were supporting it ; and Col. Chrisler, commanding
Second New York Cavalry, dismounted as skirmishers,
with great gallantry led his skirmishers on foot imme
diately, and took possession of the crossing.
At 9 o'clock in the morning, troops under command
of Gen. Birge, consisting of a detachment of the Third
Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps,

campaigning with banks. 129
composed of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts and the
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York, and the
Third Brigade, First Division, Nineteenth Army Corps,
Col. Fessenden, commanding, and a division of the
Thirteenth Corps, under Gen. Cameron, were ordered
to ford the river three miles above the ferry and turn the
left flank of the enemy, and carry the heights in the rear.
The first troops to cross wei'e the Thirty-eighth Massa
chusetts and the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New
Y'ork, followed by the rest of the command. Four com
panies of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, under com
mand of J. H. Wyman, were deployed as skirmishers ;
six companies, under command of Col. Richardson,
adting as support. Two companies of the One Hundred
and Twenty-eighth New York were thrown out as flank
ers, this command under Col. Smith. Following an old
wagon road about one mile, we came in the rear of the
enemy. Moving steadily forward through woods and across
open fields, driving in the enemy's skirmishers, who
obstinately contested every foot of ground over which we
were obliged to pass, we crossed a narro^w stream, skirm
ished up a thickly-wooded hill and down its descending
slope until a rail fence ¦was reached bounding a closed
piece of ground, beyond which were high bluffs, where
the enemy w^ere strongly posted and kept up an incessant
fire. A halt was made beyond this fence, while the
reserve formed in the rear, and dismounted cavalry was
sent into the woods on the right to reconnoitre.
The order Forward ! soon came, and the Thirty-
9

130 campaigning with banks.
eighth Massachusetts, still deployed, went over the fence
and charged the hill, under heavy fire. Thanks to Gen.
Birge, the regiment was not thrown forward unsupported.
Emerging from the woods, the Thirtieth Maine, and the
One Hundred and Sixty-second and the One Hundred
and Sixty-fifth New York, followed the skirmishers in a
magnificent line of battle, charging across the open field
and up the bluff, and after a short resistance the rebels
retreated precipitately, leaving a portion of their dead
and wounded on the ground.
Re-forming the lines and being strongly reinforced, the
column advanced through the woods to another opening,
with a hill beyond similar to the one just taken, and
where it was expedted the enemy would make a more
stubborn resistance, but when the charge was made, no
foe was found and the road to the river was clear. That
night we encamped near the spot where we had crossed
in the morning, and glad enough were the men to
unsling their knapsacks, which they had carried all day,
and gather around the camp fires to discuss the battle,
while they ate their simple supper. Our loss in this
most brilliant and successful afl'air was about two hun
dred killed and wounded. Among the killed was Capt.
Julius Lathrope, Co. I, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts,
a brave and efficient officer.
As soon as the enemy was drawn off, a pontoon bridge
was thrown across the river, and the wagon trains and
batteries passed over. The Nineteenth and Thirteenth
Corps had continued the march during the night ; the
next morning the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New

campaigning with banks. 131
York marched on, leaving the Thirty-eighth with the
Sixteenth Corps, who had been engaged with the enemy,
and who reached the crossing as the rear of the other
corps left it.
An immense number of contrabands of all ages, sizes,
and colors came in with Gen. Smith, laden down with
bundles, hastily packed up as they deserted the planta
tion, and left old massa and missus to hoe their own corn
and bake their own hoecakes. Some were mounted on
mules, some had rigged up old mule-carts and filled
them with bags of clothes, iron pots and babies. An
artist would have found many subjedts worthy of his
pencil in the quaint procession. One group impressed
itself on my mind very vividly. A woman with an im
mense bundle on her head, was leading a mule with a
rope halter, walking with as stately a tread as did ever
Cleopatra. Astride of the mule were two little children,
the foremost one holding on to a large bundle, the other
clasping his companion's waist. The children were
neatly dressed, the long fringe on their straw hats par
tially shading their faces. The complexion of the ¦whole
party told of other than African blood.
The appearance of these contrabands reminded the
spedtator of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt ; for,
like the ancient fugitives from slavery, these modern ones
had evidently borrowed largely from their masters and
mistresses, and many a gay parasol and lace mantle
spoke of the mansion rather than the cabin. They wisely
prepared, however, with such loads to accompany a
retiring army closely pursued by its foes, and either by

132 campaigning with banks.
the advice or command of some wise officers, a sifting of
their effedls took place at the crossing, and a portion of
their burdens was left behind. The Western boys rigged
themselves in the cast ofl" bonnets and gowns. They
looked more like a masquerading party than a retreating
army as they filed across the pontoon. For some unex
plained reason the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts was
detained to support a battery until the whole army had
crossed the river and the pontoon was taken up, when
the battery moved on and the regiment followed.
Everything now in the rear was rebels, and the unfor
tunate soldier who fell out, had a fair chance of seeing
Galveston, via Shreveport. The enemy followed, and
had constant skirmishes with the cavalry, but the infantry
was not again engaged, and after three days' hard march
ing, partly through the pine woods, we entered Alexan
dria on the afternoon of the 26th, and went into camp
near the place from which it had started.

CHAPTER iVIII.
Colonel Bailey's Success iti Damming Red River. —
The Gunboats Saved by the Nineteenth Army Corps.
Loss of the Covington. — A Break in the Dam.

UPON our arrival at Alexandria, on the 25th of
April, Maj. -Gen. Hunt was waiting with des
patches from the Lieutenant-General commanding the
armies, reaffirming instructions which were received at
Grand Ecore relating to the operations of the army else
where, and to the necessity of bringing the Shreveport
campaign to an end without delay. The only possible
means of executing the peremptory orders had already
been taken. Gen. Hunt left on the 13th of April with
despatches to Gen. Grant, giving a report of the condition
of affairs ; that the fleet could not pass the rapids ; that
there was no course for the army but to remain for its
protection ; that the enemy would concentrate all his
forces at that point for the destrtjction of the fleet, and
that it was necessary to concentrate our troops west of
the Mississippi ; and the same point by which the navy
could be relieved and the forces of the enemy destroyed.
Maj. -Gen. McClernand, with the largest part of the
forces from Matagorda Bay, which had been evacuated

134 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
by order of Gen. Grant, dated March 31st, arrived at
Alexandria on the evening of the 29th of April.
From the difficulty which the supply transports have
encountered in passingthe falls, it was known at Grand
Ecore, as early as April 15th, that the navy could not go
below, and the means of its release were fully discussed
among officers of the army. During the campaign at
Port Hudson the steamers Starlight and Red Chief
were captured by Grierson's Illinois Cavalry, under
command of Col. Prince, in Thompson's Creek. The
bed of the creek was nearly dry, and the steamers were
sunk several feet in the sand. After the capture of Port
Hudson, Col. Bailey construdled wing dams, which,
raising the water, lifted the steamers from the sand and
floated them out of the creek into the Mississippi.
This incident naturally suggested the same work at
Alexandria for the relief of the fleet. A survey was
ordered for the purpose of determining what measures
could be best undertaken. The engineers of the army had
completed surveys of the falls captured from the enemy
during our occupation of Alexandria in 1863, at the
commencement of the Port Hudson campaign. It was
found upon examining these charts, and upon survey of
the river, that the channel was narrow and crooked,
formed in solid rock, and that it would be wholly
impracticable to deepen its bed. It was therefore de
termined to commence the construction of a dam to raise
the river to such a height as to enable the vessels to float
over the falls. This project was freely discussed by
engineers and officers of the army. When the sub-

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 135
ject of building a dam was flrst spoken of to Admiral
Porter by Banks, he said that he did not believe in it,
for they had damned the river ever since they had been
there, and the water had gone down lower and lower.
Lieut.-Col. Bailey, acting engineer of the Nineteenth
Army Corps, proposed a plan of building a series of
dams across the rocks at the falls, and raising the water
high enough to let the vessels pass over. This propo
sition looked like madness, and the best engineers ridi
culed it; but Col. Bailey was so sanguine of success that
the Admiral requested Gen. Banks to have it done, and
he entered heartily into the work. Provision was short,
and forage was almost out. The dam was promised to
be finished in ten days.
Gen. Banks placed at the disposal of Col. Bailey all
the force he required, consisting of some three thousand
men, and two or three hundred wagons. All the neigh
boring steam-mills were torn down for material, two or
three regiments of Maine men were set at work felling
trees, and on the second day after his arrival in Alex
andria, the work had fairly begun. Trees were felled
with great rapidity, teams were moving in all diredtions,
bringing brick and stone, quarries ^lixe opened, flatboats
were built to bring stone down from above, and every
man seemed to be working with a -vigor that was seldom
equalled, while perhaps not one in fifty believed in the
success of the undertaking. These falls are about a mile
in length, filled with rugged rocks, over which at that
stage of water it seemed to be impossible to make a
channel. The work was commenced by running out

136 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
from the left bank of the river a tree dam, made of the
bodies of very large trees, brush, brick and stone, cross-
tied with other heavy timber, and strengthened in every
way which ingenuity could devise. This was run out
about three hundred feet into the river. Four large coal
barges were then filled with brick and sunk at the end of
it. From the right bank of the river, cribs, filled with
stone, were built out to meet the barges ; all of which
was successfully accomplished, notwithstanding there
was a current running of nine miles an hour, which
threatened to sweep everything before it. It will take
too much time to enter into the details of this truly won
derful work. Suffice it to say, that the dam had nearly
reached completion in eight days' working time, and the
water had risen sufficiently on the upper falls to allow
the Fort Hindman, Osage and Neasho, to go down and
be ready to pass the dam. In another day it would have
been high enough to enable all the other vessels to pass
the upper falls.
While engaged in construdling the dam. Gen. McCler
nand had charge of the army that was stationed in the
vicinity of Gen. Moore's plantation and Chanivil, but
showed that lack of ability and military discipline which
Gen. Grant, in his book, gives him credit for. He
allowed the rebel Gen. Polignac to pass entirely around
his camp with about ten thousand men, which took up
their position at Dunn Bayou, on the Red River, about
thirty miles below Alexandria, planting a battery in
position. Until the 4th of May, communication with
the Mississippi by the river was, unobstrudled. Lieut.

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 137
William Simpson left by the gunboat Signal with des
patches for Gen. Grant, Admiral Farragut, Gen. Sher
man and Gen. Rosecrans. The gunboat Covington,
having in convoy the transport Warner, accompanied
the Signal.
While passing Wilson's plantation, the Warner was
fired into by about one hundred infantry, losing one
man. She returned fire from her stern gun, and then
passed on. After proceeding about one mile and a half
farther, Mr. McClossy, a pilot belonging to the General
Price, struck the stern of the vessel against a bar, there
by breaking the port rudder badly, and shivering the til
ler. He was told that, hereafter, Mr. Emerson, another
pilot, would manage her. The Warner was tied up all
night about a mile from the Red House, and commenced
repairing the rudder. At about 5 o'clock, she was joined
by the United States steamer Signal. Both kept up,
through the night, an irregular fire on the right-hand
shore going down, as they had fired upon the Warner
with infantry while they were repairing.
At 4.30 o'clock in the morning, they got under way,
the Warner in the lead, Covington next, and the Sig
nal last. At Dunn's Bayou (on the right going down)
they were fired upon by two pieces of artillery and infan
try. The Covington was hit by this battery only three
times, and the Warner's rudders were disabled, but she
still continued down stream until she came to a short
point in the river, when she went into the bank. She
had no sooner struck the bank when a rebel battery and
from four to five thousand infantry opened fire on her.

138 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
The Covington and Signal immediately commenced
firing. Almost every shot either struck the boilers,
steam-pipe or machinery of the Warner, as she was
only about one hundred yards from the battery. After
they had engaged the battery about three hours, the
Warner hoisted a white flag, the others still keeping
up fire. A party from the Covington was sent out to
burn her, but the Colonel in charge sent word that there
were nearly one hundred and twenty-five killed and
wounded, and requested that she should not be burned,
which was granted. A short time after, the Signal was
disabled. The Covington immediately rounded to, and went
alongside of her, took her in tow and started up stream ;
but the rudders became disabled, and the Signal got
adrift. It was impossible to pass the Warner. Know
ing that the Signal would drift down on the Warner,
and the rebels could immediately board her, the order
was given to anchor the Covington, which was done,
she being made fast, head up stream. Her stern guns
were used on the lower battery, and a broadside on the
infantry on the other side ; her bow guns on a battery
that was ahead, which had been brought down from
Dunn's Bayou. The Covington's escape pipe was cut
while alongside of the Signal, causing a great deal of
steam to escape, making the impression that the boilers
had been struck. The men, however, soon rallied, and
kept up a brisk fire on the enemy. Most of the soldiers
and officers, among whom were Col. Sharp, of the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York Volunteers; Col.

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 139
Rainor, One Hundred Twenty-eighth Illinois (wounded
in both legs) ; Lieut. Simpson, Aide-de-Camp to Gen.
Banks, and Adting Assistant Paymaster Chester, went
over on the Signal. The Signal getting adrift, they
were not able to return.
After the Covington had been tied to the bank an hour
or so, the steam-drum was cut, and a shell struck under
the boilers letting out all the water. The ammunition
gave out, the howitzers were disabled by the bracket-
bolts drawing out, and every shot came through. With
one officer, and a good many already killed, it was de
termined to burn the Covington. The guns were spiked,
fire strewn on the deck, an officer set fire to the cutter,
which was on the guard alongside of the engines, and
she was destroyed. While they were leaving the vessel
to get upon the bank, a terrible fire of infantry was
opened on them ; some were killed. When the officers
and men were all collected together it was found that
there were nine officers and twenty-three men — a loss
of five officers and thirty-nine men. They started through
the woods for Alexandria at 10.30 o'clock. When with
in ten miles of Alexandria they were fired upon by rebel
cavalry, scattering them.
The whole adlion lasted about five hours, and the
Covington -was badly riddled from stem to stern, there
being no less than five shots in her hull, and some forty
or fifty in her upper works. Adting Master's Mate Gross
was killed by a shot that came through the shell room.
The officers and men lost all of their personal efl"edts.
The only thing that was saved was the signal-book and

140 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
the despatches. Whilst these stirring events were taking
place down the river the excitement at the dam was in
tense, as the work was approaching completeness.
Unfortunately on the morning of the 9th instant the
pressure of water became so great that it swept away
two of the stone barges, which swung in below the dam
on one side. Seeing this unfortunate accident the Lex
ington was ordered to pass the upper falls, if possible,
and immediately attempt to go through the dam. The
Lexington succeeded in getting over the upper falls just
in time, the water rapidly falling as she ¦was passing
over. She then steered diredtly for the opening in the
dam, through which the water was rushing so furiously
that it seemed as if nothing but destrudtion awaited her.
Thousands of beating hearts looked on anxious for the
result. The silence was so great as the Lexington ap
proached the dam that a pin might almost be heard to
fall. She entered the gap with a full head of steam on,
pitched down the roaring torrent, made two or three
spasmodic rolls, hung for a moment on the rocks below,
and was then swept into deep water by the current, and
rounded safely into the bank. Thirty thousand voices
rose in one deafening cheer, and universal joy seemed to
pervade the face of every man present.

CHAPTER XIX.
The Fleet Brought Safely Below the Rocks. — The
Town of Alexandria on Fire. — The Arm-y on the
Move. — A Bridge of Twenty-six Boats Across the
River.

THE Neasho followed next, all her hatches being
battened down, and every precaution being taken
against accident. She did not fare as well as the Lex
ington, her pilot having become frightened as he ap
proached the abyss, and stopped his engine, when she
should have carried a full head of steam. The result
was that for a moment her hull disappeared from sight
under the water. Every one thought she was lost. She
rose, however, swept along over the rocks with the cur
rent, and fortunately escaped with only one hole in her
bottom, which was stopped in the course of an hour.
The Hindman and Osage both came through beautifully
without touching a thing. The accident to the dam, in
stead of disheartening Col. Bailey, only induced him to
renew his exertions after he had seen the success of get
ting four vessels through.
The soldiers, seeing their labor of the last eight days
swept away in a moment, cheerfully went to work to re
pair damages, being confident now that, all the gunboats

142 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
would be finally brought over. These men had been
working for eight days and nights, up to their necks in
water in the broiling sun, cutting trees and wheeling
bricks, and nothing but good humor prevailed among
them. On the whole, it was very fortunate that the dam
was carried away, as the two barges that were swept
away from the centre swung around against some rocks
on the left, and made a fine cushion for the vessels, ahd
prevented them, as it afterwards appeared, from running
on certain destrudtion.
The force of the water and the current being too great
to construdt a continuous dam of six hundred feet across
the river in so short a time, Col. Bailey determined to
leave a gap of fifty-five feet in the dam and build a series
of wing dams on the upper falls. This was accomplished
in three days' time, and on the nth instant, the Mound
City, Carondelet and Pittsburg came over the upper
falls, a good deal of labor having been expended in haul
ing them through, the channel being very crooked and
scarcely wide enough for them. Next day the Ozark,
Louisville, Chillicothe and two tugs also succeeded in
crossing the upper falls. Immediately afterwards the
Mound City, Carondelet and Pittsburg started in suc
cession to pass the dam, all their hatches battened do-wn,
and every precaution taken to prevent accident.
The passage of these vessels was a most beautiful
sight, only to be realized when seen. They passed over
without an accident, except the unshipping of one or
two rudders. This was witnessed by all the troops, and
the vessels were heartily cheered when they passed over,

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 143
Next morning at lo o'clock, the Louisville, Chillicothe,
Ozark and two tugs passed over without any accident,
except the loss of a man, who was swept off" the decks of
one of the tugs.
This was, without doubt, the best engineering feat
ever performed. Under the best circumstances, a pri
vate company would not have completed this work under
one year, and to an ordinary mind the whole thing would
have appeared an utter impossibility. Leaving out his
abilities as an engineer, he saved a valuable fleet, worth
nearly $2,000,000. The highest honors bestowed on
Col. Bailey could never repay for the service he rendered
the country. If Gen. Banks had not come forward with
his troops. Admiral Porter would have had to blow up
his fleet.
Gen. Banks deserves much credit for the manner in
which he forwarded the enterprise, giving his whole
attention to it night and day, scarcely sleeping while the
¦work ¦was going on, attending personally to seeing that
all the requirements of Col. Bailey were complied with
on the instant. I do not believe there ever was a case
where such difficulties w^ere overcome in so short a time,
and without any preparation.
The construdtion of the dam was exclusively the work
of the army. But little aid or encouragement was ren
dered by officers of the navy, except by Lieut. A. R.
Lanthorne, commanding the Mound City, who assisted
in setting the cribs, and was always ready to answer the
call of the officers charged with the construdtion of the
work. The soldiers labored zealously night and day, in.

144 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
and out of the water, from the ist to the 13th of May,
inclusive, when the passage of the boats was completed.
The following are the names of some of the officers :
Lieut.-Col. Bailey, Adting Military Engineer, Nineteenth
Army Corps, in charge of the work ; Lieut.-Col. Pearcall,
Assistant; Col. Dwight, Adting Assistant Inspedtor-
General ; Lieut.-Col. W. B. Kinsey, One Hundred and
Sixty-first New York Volunteers ; Lieut.-Col. Hubbard,
Thirtieth Maine Volunteers ; Maj. Sawtelle, Provost
Marshal, and Lieut. Williamson, Ordnance Officer.
The names of some of the regiments employed, follow :
Thirtieth Maine, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Emerson ;
One Hundred and Sixteenth New York, commanded by
Col. George M. Love ; One Hundred and Sixty-first
New York, commanded by Capt. Prentiss ; One Hun
dred and Thirty-third New York, commanded by Col.
Currie. If the expedition was not as successful as was hoped
for, it showed the indomitable spirit of Eastern and
Western men to overcome obstacles, deemed by most
people insurmountable. It presented a new feature ;
nothing like it had ever been accomplished before.
Preparations had been made for the movement of the
army the evening after the passage of the boats below
the dam on the 12th, and after all were below on the
13th, orders were given for the march. Rumors were
freely circulated throughout the camp at Alexandria, that
upon evacuation the town would be burned. To prevent
this destrudtion of property, part of which belonged to
loyal citizens. Gen. Grover, commanding the post, was

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 145
ordered to provide for its occupation by an armed force
until the army had marched for Simmsport. The mea
sures taken ¦were sufficient to prevent a conflagration in
the manner in which it had been anticipated. But on
the morning of evacuation, while the army was in full
possession of the town, a fire broke out in a building on
the levee, which had been occupied by refugees or sol
diers, in such a manner as to make it impossible to prevent
a general conflagration. The ammunition and ordnance
transports and the depot of ammunition on the levee,
were within a few yards of the fire. The boats were
floated into the river and the ammunition moved with all
possible despatch. The troops labored with alacrity and
vigor to suppress the conflagration, but, owing to a high
wind and the combustible material of the buildings, it
was found impossible to limit its progress, and a con
siderable portion of the town was destroyed.
This day the point was passed where the enemy had
blockaded the river, and near their rifle-pits were found
the remnants of the captured mails, the ground being
covered with the envelopes of the sixteen thousand letters
that had fallen into their hands. The postage, not yet
defaced, had been carefully torn off, as if the captors had
a lurking suspicion that the portrait of Washington was
of more intrinsic value than that of either of the Confed
erate chiefs.
Although the enemy had abandoned their position on
the river, they still continued to harrass the retreating
army, keeping the cavalry constantly skirmishing, and
pn the afternoon of the 15th, the firing became so rapid

146 CAMPAIGNING WITPI BANKS.
that the army formed in line of battle several times,
with the expectation of an engagement. At sundown the
musketry increased, accompanied by artillery, and the
second division of the Nineteenth Army Corps went
through the little town of Marksville on the double-quick
to the assistance of the cavali'y, who were reported to
have been severely handled. The enemy drew off, how
ever, and the division bivouacked on an open plain be
yond the village.
At daybreak the next morning our advance encountered
his cavalry on the prairie east of the town. He fell back
with steady and sharp skirmishing across the prairie to a
belt of woods, which he occupied. The enemy's position
covered three roads, diverging from Mansura to the At
chafalaya. He manifested a determination here to obsti
nately resist our passage.
The engagement, which lasted several hours, was con
fined chiefly to the artillery until our troops got possession
of the edge of the woods — first upon our left by Gen.
Emory, and subsequently on our right by Gen. Smith,
when he -was driven from the field after a sharp and de
cisive fight, with considerable loss. The i6th of May
we reached Simmsport, on the Atchafalaya. Being en
tirely destitute of any ordinary bridge material for the
passage of this river, about six hundred yards wide, a
bridge was construdted of the steamers, under diredtion
of Lieut.-Col. Bailey. This work was not of the same
magnitude, but was as important to the army as the dam
at Alexandria was to the navy. It had the merit of being
an entirely novel construdtion, no bridge of such magni-

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 147
tude having been construdted of similar materials. The
bridge was completed at i o'clock on the 19th of May.
The wagon train passed in the afternoon, and the troops
the next morning, in better spirit and condition, as able
and eager to meet the enemy as at any period of the
campaign. The command of Gen. A. J. Smith, which covered
the rear of the army during the construdtion of the bridge
and the passage of the army, had a severe engagement
¦with the enemy under Polignac on the afternoon of the
19th at Yellow Bayou, which lasted several hours. Our
loss was about one hundred and fifty killed and wounded ;
that of the enemy much greater, besides many prisoners
taken by our troops. Now let us see what the rebs
thought of the expedition.
" Gen. Taylor followed the enemy very vigorously, cap
turing and destroying three gunboats and eight transports.
He insisted that with Walker's, Parsons' and Churchill's
Divisions, he could overwhelm Banks, who was now at
Alexandria assisting Porter, who was trying to get his,
gunboats over the falls. The infantry in Arkansas was
immediately put in motion, to him as it seemed the
enemy might be compelled to abandon or destroy his
fleet. Unfortunately for us he built a dam across Red
River, by the aid of which, together with a slight rise,
he succeeded in getting all his boats off before our troops
arrived in force. Gen. Taylor had thrown his forces all
around the place, and had entirely cut off communication
with the river below. There was some severe skirmish
ing between the enemy and our cavalry, but the latter

148 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
were always compelled to retire when the enemy came
out in heavy force. It was in the river, near Fort
De Russy, that our cavalry captured the gunboats. The
Eastport, one of the finest ironclads in the Western
waters, was sunk by the enemy about fifty miles above
Alexandria, where she had gotten fast aground. While
they were at Alexandria our boats went constantly down
as far as Cotile, carrying subsistence and forage.
The Y'ank showed less enterprise than usual, on ac
count of the dissatisfadlion which we understood to exist
between the different Generals. Once or twice while
they were at Alexandria, the position of our forces was
such, that by a sure and comparatively safe movement of
ten thousand men he might have ensured beyond perad-
venture capture of Polignac's Division. They must have
been in the main aware of the position and strength of
our forces. Along with the hope of accomplishing his
main purpose, he seems to have given up all desire to
acquit himself with any credit. The Yankees left Alex
andria about the 14th of May, after burning about two-
thirds of the town. The gunboats took off some of their
armor to lighten them, and ten or twelve heavy guns
were burst on the river bank. Gen. Taylor fought them
at Moreausville three or four hours, and then drew off" his
force, which was between them and Simmsport. Fol
lowing up this retreat, he received a severe repulse at
Yellow Bayou, six miles from Simmsport,"

CHAPTER XX.
A Review of the Catnpaign. — Cause and Effects. —
Insubordination of Officers. — Jealousy and Conffict-
ing Authority . — General Banks Credited with
Great Bravery and Honesty. — The Army and Gun
boats Separate. — Farewell to Mississippi. — The
Nineteenth Corps at Washington.

THE forces designated for this campaign numbered
forty-two hundred men. Less than half that num
ber were adtually available for service against the enemy
during its progress. The distance which separated Gen.
Steele's command from the line of our operations (nearly
two hundred miles) rendered his movements of little
moment to us or to the enemy, and reduced the strength
of the fighting column to the extent of his force, which
was expedted to be from ten to fifteen thousand men.
The depot at Alexandria, made necessary by the im
practicable navigation, withdrew from our forces three
thousand under Gen. Grover. The return of the Marine
Brigade to the defence of the Mississippi, upon the de
mand of Maj. -Gen. McPherson, and which could not
pass Alexandria without its steamers, nor move by land
for want of land transportation, made a further reduction
of three thousand men.

loO CAMPAIGNING WrfH bAnKS.
The protection of the fleet of transports against the
enemy on both sides of the river made it necessary for
Gen. A. J. Smith to detach Gen. T. Kilby Smith's
Division of twenty-five hundred men from the main body
for that duty. The army train required a guard of five
hundred men. These several detachments, which it was
impossible to avoid, and the distance of Gen. Steele's
command reduced the number of troops that we were
able at any point to bring into adtion from forty-two to
about twenty thousand men.
The losses sustained in the very severe battles of the
7th, Sth and 9th of April, amounted to about thirty- nine
hundred and sixty-nine men, and necessarily reduced our
adtive forces to that extent. The enemy, superior to us
in numbers in the outset, by falling back was able to
recover from his great losses by means of re-enforce
ments, which were within his reach as he approached
his base of operations, while we were growing weaker
as we departed from ours. We had fought the batde at
Pleasant Hill with about fifteen thousand against twenty-
two thousand men, and won a vidtory which for these
reasons we were unable to follow up.
It was never understood that an expedition that in
volved a land march of nearly four hundred miles into
the enemy's country, and which terminated at a point
one might not be able to hold, either on account of the
strength of the enemy or the difficulties of obtaining sup
plies, was to be limited to thirty days. The condition of
our forces, and the distance and difficulties attending a
farther advance into the enemy's country after the battles

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 151
of the 8th aud 9th, against an enemy superior in numbers
to our own, rendered it probable that we could not
occupy Shreveport within the time specified, and certain
that without a rise in the river, troops necessary to
hold it against the enemy would be compelled to evacu
ate it for want of supplies, and impossible that the expe
dition should return in any event to New Orleans in time
to co-operate in the general movement of the arm}' con
templated for the spring campajgn. Under the general
prize law, the naval authorities, upon their arrival at
Alexandria, commenced the capture of cotton on both
sides of the river, extending their operations from six to
ten miles into the interior. Wagon trains were organized,
cotton gins were put in operation, and the business fol
lowed up with great vigor. While the fleet lay at Alex
andria some difficulty occurred with the marines, who
insisted upon their right to pass the lines of the army,
which was terminated by the advance of the army and
navy to Grand Ecore.
The army did not enter into competition with the navy
in the capture of this property. In order to remove all
the produdts of the country which might under any
circumstances be used to aid the rebellion against the gov
ernment. Gen. Grover, in command of the port of Alex
andria, and the Qiiartermaster of the Port, upon the
departure of the army from Alexandria, were diredted to
colledt such property as should remain there after its
departure, and transmit it to the Quartermaster at New
Orleans, who was instrudted to turn it over to the officers
of the Treasury, to be disposed of according to the orders

152 CAMPAIGNING With BankS.
of the government and the laws of Congress. Notice
was also given to the Supervising Agent of the Treasury
at New Orleans that no trade would be allowed with
that portion of the State until it should be completely
and permanently occupied by the army. No person was
allowed to accompany the army upon this expedition as
reporter, or for any other purpose without distindt and
written declaration that no trade by private parties or for
personal purposeswould.be permitted under any circum
stances, and that no property on private account would
be transported on public or private vessels to New Or
leans ; but that all property sent to New Orleans would
be consigned to the Chief Quartermaster, and by him
turned over to the Treasury Agent, and held subject to
such claims and orders as should be approved by the
Government at Washington.
Previous to our departure from New Orleans, the Chief
Quartermaster, Col. S. B. Holabird, had been instrudted
that no privileges would be given to any party whatever,
under any circumstances, to trade in or dispose of, or to
transport private property ; that all property that came
down from that country, so far as the army was con
cerned, would be turned over to him, and by him to the
proper Treasury officers. The same information was
given to the Treasury Agent. No permission was given
to any person to accompany the army, except upon these
express conditions, and then only to persons whose pub
lic position seemed to be a full guarantee against abuse
of the privilege ; and when requests could not properly
be refused, thej' were given to reporters of the public

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 153
press, and to prominent officers of States whose troops
were in the field.
Upon representation made by officers of the Treasury
Department at Alexandria, that there would be difficulty
in receiving such property, except under the Treasury
regulations of the 26th of January, 1864; these regu
lations were officially promulgated for that purpose at
Alexandria and at New Orleans. These orders were
strictly enforced by all officers connected with or repre
senting the army. There was no permission whatever
given to any person to trade or dispose of or transport
private property ; no privilege of this kind was recog
nized under any circumstances. Every dollar's worth of
property that came into the hands of the army during
this campaign was either appropriated to its use in kind
by the proper officers of the Commissary and Quarter
master's Departments, receipts being given therefor, or
transmitted to the Chief Qiiartermaster at New Orleans,
and by him turned over to the Treasury Agents to be
disposed of according to the laws of Congress and the
orders of the Government. When cotton or other prop
erty interfered with the transportation of any material of
the army, or of refugees, negroes, or troops upon the
evacuation of the country, it was thrown from the boats
and abandoned upon the river levee to the enemy.
The statement is as comprehensive on this subject as
language can make it, and covered all possible methods,
diredt or indiredl, by which officers or citizens, public
or private parties, or any person whatever, could evade
or violate these orders on the rivers or at New Orleans, or

154 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
appropriate by any means public or private property to
private uses or personal advantages, to deprive the gov
ernment or individuals of any property which by any
interpretation of military orders as public laws could be
considered as belonging justly aud properly to them.
Gen. Grover, commanding the post ; Col. S. B. Hola
bird, Chief Quartermaster at New Orleans ; and Hon.
B. F. Flanders, Supervising Special Agent Treasury
Department, accounted to the government for public or
private property that came into their hands during that
campaign. The first difficulty encountered in this campaign was
in the navigation of the rivers. Sixteen days' delay
caused by the inability of the fleet to pass the rapids at
Alexandria, and three days' delay at Grand Ecore in
waiting the rise of the rivers, enabled the enemy to con
centrate his forces, and rendered futile that movement by
the army which the success of the expedition demanded.
Eight days of the delay at Alexandria would have been
attributable to the tardy organization of Franklin's com
mand, but the fleet was unable to pass the falls until
eight days after his arrival at Alexandria. This delay
was doubtless owing to the impracticable navigation of
the rivers ; but it is not improper to say that the forecast
and diligence which are enforced upon all men in the
daily affairs of life would have forbidden an attempt to
force a fleet of so much importance to the free navigation
of the Mississippi to a point from which it could never
hope to escape, except upon the theory that the river
ought to or might rise.

CAMPAIGNING With BanKS. 155
The co-operation of the navy was an indispensable
condition and basis of the expedition. Maj. -Gen. Hal-
leck informed Gen. Banks, January nth, that he had
been assured by the Navy Department that Admiral Por
ter would be prepared to co-operate with the army in its
movements, and the Admiral himself informed Gen.
Banks, February 26th, that he was prepared to ascend
Red River with a large fleet of gunboats, and to co
operate with the army at any time when the water was
high enough. The fleet was as necessary to the cam
paign as the army. It would have been better to have
taken eight or ten light-draught gunboats, than to have
forced twenty ironclads four hundred and ninety miles
up a river proverbially as treacherous as the rebels who
defended it, and which had given notice of its character
by steadily falling, when, as the Admiral reported, all
other rivers were booming.
The column of Gen. A. J. Smith was a partially inde
pendent command. Gen. Sherman, in his despatch of
the loth of April, received the i6th, informed Gen.
Banks that the thirty days for which he had loaned him
Gen. Smith's command would expire on the loth of
April, the day after the battle of Pleasant Hill. Gen.
Smith's instructions, which he showed, required him to
confer constantly with Admiral Porter, the approved
friend of the Army of the Tennessee. His orders were
dated Headquarters Red River Expedition, steamer
Clara Bell. He never declined co-operation with Gen.
Banks, nor did he receive orders from him. He made
no official report of his forces or their operations. He

156 CAMPAIGNING With banks.
was in no wise responsible for the results of the expedi
tion, and may, perhaps, be said to have gained as much
by its failure as he would by its success. When his thirty
days were up, he claimed the right at Grand Ecore to
return to Vicksburg, irrespedlive of the condition of the
army or the fleet, and did not consider himself at all re
sponsible for the inevitable consequences of his with
drawal to the army or the navy, nor for that detention
which their preservation demanded. That responsiblity
Gen. Banks was called upon to assume in written orders.
No doubt his official course was entirely consistent with
his orders.
Gen. Mower of the Sixteenth and Gen. T. Kilby
Smith of the Seventeenth Army Corps made earnest ef
forts to infuse into the different corps that unity of spirit
which is as essential to vidtory as the valor of the soldiers
in actual battle. The results of the position of the cav
alry train, and the loose order of march by the leading
column of troops under Maj. -Gen. Franklin on the Sth
of April, before the battle of Sabine Cross- Roads, have
been stated. A commanding officer is, of course, re
sponsible for all that occurs to his command, whatever
may have been the cause.
In reviewing this wonderful campaign, the reader will
see that there was a great conflict of authority, a kind of
go-as-you-please. The four different army corps were
always at a discord, a great deal of jealousy existing
amongst the officers and men. When the Nineteenth
Corps were not quarreling, the Thirteenth were. The
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps, composed of Western

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 157
troops, were claiming superiority to the Eastern troops ;
the regular organized cavalry were continually finding
fault with mounted infantry ; and the navy, from the ad
miral to the cabin boy, was always on a rampage. The
array of talent in command of the army, Gen. Banks at
the head, with Gen. Franklin, sent out from the Army of
the Potomac to get rid of him, and Gen. McClernand,
who was always doing as he pleased, made a beautiful
banquet team, but no love feast, as each and all of the
commanders considered themselves superior to all other
officers in their immediate vicinity. I should do jus
tice to Gen. Banks by saying that with the rank and
file, no word of complaint was ever uttered. He did
his duty the best he could with the material that was
furnished him, in the shape of insubordinate officers.
He came out of the army with a record for bravery and
honesty which none wiU deny.
At the jundlion of the Atchafalaya and the Red
Rivers, the main army and gunboats separated. The
sun was setting as the long procession of river-boats,
gunboats and monitors swept around the bend of the
river, and a feeling of loneliness fell on the army as it
turned inland, and took the course for the Mississippi.
At midnight the army went into camp, and the following
day reached the banks of the Mississippi at Morganza
Bend. On the morning of the 30th, the Third Brigade of the
Second Division, Nineteenth Corps, and a portion of
the Thirteenth Corps, with cavalry and artillery, left the
camp, and took the road to the Atchafalaya. The col-

158 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
umn marched until lo o'clock, a.m., then halted during
the heat of the day. Started again at 8, p.m. Suddenly
from a thickly-wooded hill on the left, across a bayou, a
volley of musketry broke upon the stillness of the night,
taking effedt on the Twenty-second Iowa, in advance of
the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts. Ambushed ! was the
thought of all, as the ranks closed up and formed in line
of battle in good order. A battery sent a shell into the
woods from whence the volley came ; a second volley
was fired from the rebs. The echo had not died away
when a sheet of flame flashed along the line of the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth, and One Hundred and Seven
ty-fifth, followed by a crashing report. One officer in
the Twenty-second Iowa was killed, and several men in
the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth and One Hundred and
Seventy-fifth New York wounded by the fire of the guer
illas ; and it was reported that a number of the enemy
had been killed by the heavy volley of the latter regiments.
The next day, June ist, the expedition again marched
towards the Atchafalaya and remained in reserve a short
distance from that river, while the Seventh Massachu
setts Battery shelled a sawmill on the opposite side,
which the rebs were running, destroying the machinery.
Another night was spent in the vicinity, and on the
morning of the 2d the command marched back to camp,
glad that the " sawmill" expedition was over.
From this time until the ist of July, 'about all the
volunteer labor performed by the men consisted in writ
ing the two words, " very hot." On the 3d of July the
brigade was increased, by the addition of the Orie IJiin-

CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS. 159
died and Seventy-fifth New Y''ork, embarked on board
of the City of Memphis, and the next day, July 4th, the
entire Nineteenth Corps landed at Algiers, and went into
camp, where they remained until the 20th of J'uly, when
the Nineteenth Corps embarked on transports, and bid
ding good-bye to the Mississippi, was once more on the
blue waters.
On the eighth day, after crossing the bar off the Mis
sissippi, the fleet reached Fortress Monroe. Entering
the Potomac, the men realized that they were no longer
on Louisiana waters ; the hills stretching up from the
river, the hay and the grain fields just reaped, and the
scattering farm-houses being in striking contrast to the
low banks of the Mississippi, with its plantations, its
negro cabins, its orange trees, and its alligators. We
landed at Washington. The arrival was most timely, as
Washington was in danger. And as the sunburnt faces,
battered flags and faded uniform of the veterans of the
Nineteenth Corps marched down Pennsylvania Avenue,
a feeling of confidence was restored, and the citizens felt
safe, knowing that the veterans of two years' service was
with them.
We marched through to Georgetown Heights. All
summer the troops in Louisiana had been obliged to
drink warm, dirty water from rivers, bayous, and mud-
holes ; and when upon arriving at Georgetown Heights,
the cool, delicious springs were found bubbling out of
the rocks, the satisfadtion was unbounded, and many
men lingered around them as if attradled by some fairy
spell. The stay in Georgetown was a short one. On

160 CAMPAIGNING WITH BANKS.
Sunday afternoon, July 31st, we broke camp and again
marched through Washington to the Baltimore Depot,
boarded the cars about eight o'clock, and reached Mo
nocacy Junction a little before noon the next day, going
into camp in a reaped grain field in the vicinity of the
battlefield of Monocacy, where the first division of the
Nineteenth Corps was then in camp.

CAIPAIGNnG WITH SHERIDAN.

CHAPTER XXI.
Under Sheridan. — Preliminary Maiuxuvres. — The
Shenandoah I'alley Campaign.

ON the evening of August ist. Gen. Sheridan was re
lieved from the command of the cavalry corps of
the Army of the Potomac to take command of the Army
of the Shenandoah, and on his arriving at Washington on
the 4th, he received diredtions from Maj. -Gen. Yi. W.
Halleck, Chief of the Staff", to proceed without delay to
Monocacy Junction on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,
and report in person to the Lieutenant-General, who
gave him the instrudtions which he had previously given
to Maj. -Gen. Hunter, commanding the Department of
West Virginia.
The Army of the Shenandoah at this time consisted
of the Sixth Corps, very much reduced in numbers, one
division of the Nineteenth Corps, two small infantry
divisions under command of Gen. Crook, afterwards
designated as the Army of West Virginia, a small
II

162 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
division of cavalry under Gen. Averill, which was at
that time in pursuit of Gen. McCausland, near Moor-
field, McCausland having made a raid into Pennsyl
vania and burned the town of Chambersburg. There
was also one small division of cavalry then arriving at
Washington. The infantry portion of these troops had
been lying in bivouac in the vicinity of Monocacy Junc
tion and Frederick City, but had been ordered to march
and to concentrate at Halltown, four miles in front of
Harper's Ferry. Gen. Sheridan hastened to Harper's
Ferry to make preparations for an immediate advance
against the enemy, who then occupied Martinsburg,
Williamsport and Shepardstown, sending occasional
raiding parties as far as Hagerstown.
The concentration of the forces at Halltown alarmed
the enemy, and caused him to concentrate at or near
Martinsburg, drawing in all his parties from the north
side of the Potomac. The indications were that he had
intended another raid into Maryland, prompted perhaps,
by the slight success they had gained over Gen. Crook's
command at Kernstown a short time before. The city
of Martinsburg, at which the enemy concentrated, is on
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at the northern terminus
of the Valley pike, a broad macadamized road running
up the valley through Winchester, and terminating at
Staunton. The Shenandoah Valley is a continuation of the Cum
berland Valley, south of the Potomac, and is bounded on
the east by the Blue Ridge, and on the west by the
eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains, the general

CAJIPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 163
diredtion of this chain being southwest. The valley at
Martinsburg is about sixty miles broad, at Winchester
forty to forty-five, and at Strasburg twenty to twenty-
five miles, where an isolated chain, called Massanutten
Mountains, rises up, running parallel to the Blue Ridge,
and terminates at Harrisburg. Here the valley again
opens out fifty or sixty miles broad. This isolated chain
divides the valley, for its continuance into the valleys,
the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray Val
ley, the one west of it the Strasburg or main valley.
The Blue Ridge has many passes through it called gaps ;
the principal ones, and those which have good wagon
roads, are Snicker's, Ashby's, Manassas, Chester, Swift
Run, Brown's, Rock Fish, and three or four others.
Many have macadamized roads through them, and in
deed are not gaps, but small valleys through the main
chain. The general bearing of all these roads is towards
Gordonsville, and are excellent for troops to move up on
from that point into the valley ; in fact, the Blue Ridge
can be crossed almost anywhere by infantry or cavalry.
The valley itself was rich in grain, cattle, sheep, hogs
and fruit, and was in such a prosperous condition that
the rebel army could march down and up the valley
billeting on the inhabitants. Such, in brief, is the out
line and was the condition of the Shenandoah Valley
when Sheridan entered it, August 4th, 1864.
Great exertions were made to get the troops in readi
ness for an advance, and on the morning of August
loth. Gen. Torbert's Division of Cavalry having joined
Sheridan fi'om Wsshington, a forward i-povement was

164 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
commenced. The enemy, while we were making our
preparations, took position at Bunker Hill and vicinity,
twelve miles south of Martinsburg, frequently pushing his
scouting parties through Smithfield and up to Charles-
town. Torbert was ordered to move on the Berryville
pike, through Berryville, and go into position near
White Post. The Sixth Corps moved by the way of the
Charlestown and Summit Point road to Clifton ; the
Nineteenth Corps moved on the Berryville pike to the
left of the position of the Sixth Corps at Clifton ; Gen.
Crook's command by way of Kabletown to the vicinity
of Berryville, coming into position on the left of the
Nineteenth Corps, and Col. Lowell with regiments of
cavalry was ordered to Summit Point, so that on the
night of August loth, the army occupied a position
stretching from Clifton to Berryville, with cavalry at
White Post and Summit Point. The enemy moved
from the vicinity of Bunker Hill, stretching his line from
where the Winchester and Potomac Railroad crosses the
Opequan Creek to where the Berryville and Winchester
pike crosses the same stream, occupying the west bank.
On the morning of August nth, the Sixth Corps was
ordered to move from Clifton across the country to where
the Berryville pike crosses Opequan Creek, carry the
crossing, and hold it; the Nineteenth Corps was diredted
to move through Berryville, on the White Post road for
one mile, file to the right by heads of regiments at de
ploying distance, and carry and hold the crossing of the
Opequan Creek at a ford' about three-fourths of a mile
froiTi the left of the Sixth Corps; Crook's command wag

t:AMPAlGNlNG WITH SHERIDAN. 165
ordered to move out on the White Post road, one mile
and a half beyond Berryville, file to the right and secure
the crossing of Opequan Creek at a ford about one mile
to the left of the Nineteenth Corps. Torbert was diredt
ed to move with Merrill's Division of Cavalry up the
Millwood pike towards Winchester, attack any force he
might find, and if possible, ascertain the movements of
the rebel army. Lowell was ordered to close in from
Summit Point on the right of the Sixth Corps.
Sheridan's intention in securing these fords was to
march on Winchester, at which point it was thought the
enemy would make a stand. But in this he was mis
taken, as the result of Torbert's reconnoissance proved.
Merritt found the enemy's cavalry covering the Millwood
pike west of the Opequan, and, attacking it, drove it in
the diredtion of Kernstown, and discovered the enemy
retreating up the valley pike. As soon as this informa
tion was obtained, Torbert was ordered to move quickly
by the way of the toll-gate on the Front Royal pike to
Newtown, to strike the enemy's ffank and harass him in
his retreat, and Lowell to follow up through Winchester.
Crook was turned to the left, and ordered to Stony Point
or Nineveh, while Emory and Wright were marched to
the left and went into camp between the Millwood and
Front Royal pikes, Crook encamping at Stony Point.
Torbert met some of the enemy's cavalry at the toll-gate
on the Front Royal pike, drove it in the diredtion of
Newtown, and behind Gordon's Division of Infantry,
which had been thrown out from Newtown to cover the
flank of the main column in its retreat, and which had

16b CAMPAIGNING WITH SI-lfeRIOANi

put itself behind rail barricades. A portion of Merritt's
Cavalry attacked this infantry and drove in its skirmish
line, and although unable to dislodge the division, held
all the ground gained. The rebel divisions during the
night moved off. Next day Crook moved from Stony
Point to Cedar Creek. Emory followed ; the cavalry
moved to the same point by the way of Newtown and
the valley pike, and the Sixth Corps followed the cav
alry. On the night of the 12th, Crook was in position at
Cedar Creek, on the left of the valley pike. Nineteenth
Corps on the right of the pike, the Sixth Corps on the
right of the Nineteenth Corps, and the cavalry on the
right and left flanks. A heavy skirmish line was thrown
to the heights on south side of Cedar Creek, which had
brisk skirmishing during the evening with the enemy's
pickets, his (the enemy's) main force occupying the
heights above and north of Strasburg. On the morning
of the 13th, the cavalry was ordered on a reconnoissance
towards Strasburg, on the middle road, which road is
two and a half miles to the west of the main pike. Re
ports of a column of the enemy moving up from Culpep
per Court House, and approaching Front Royal through
Chester Gap, having been received, caused much anxiety,
as any considerable force advanced through Front Royal,
and down the Front Royal and Winchester pike toward
Winchester, could be thrown in the rear, or, in case of
driving the enemy to Fisher Hill and taking position in
his front, this same force could be moved along the base
of Massanutten Mountain on the road to Strasburg, with

CAMi»Al6NtNG WrfH sheridAn. 16?
the same result. As the effective line of battle strength
at this time was about eighteen thousand infantry, and
thirty-five hundred cavalry, we remained quiet during
the day — except the adtivity on the skirmish line — to
await further developments. In the evening the enemy
retired with his main force to Fisher's Hill.

(Chapter xxii.
Three Federal Corps i?i the Shenandoah. — Playing
Checkers Up and Down the Valley with Early. — -
Destroying Property. — Brilliant Engagement of
Cavalry and Infantry.

AS the rumors that a force was advancing from the
diredtion of Culpepper kept increasing, on the
morning of the 14th a brigade of cavalry was sent to
Front Royal to ascertain definitely, if possible, the truth
of such reports, and at the same time the Sixth Corps
was ordered to the south side of Cedar Creek, and occu
pied the heights above Strasburg. Considerable picket
firing ensued. During the day a despatch was received
from Washington, which at once explained the move
ment from Culpepper, and on the morning of the 15th
two brigades of Merritt's Division of Cavalry were sent
to the crossing of the Shenandoah River, near Front
Royal, and the Sixth Corps was withdrawn to the north
side of Cedar Creek, holding at Strasburg a strong skirm
ish line. The despatch was as follows : —
Two divisions of infantry have gone to Early, with some
cavalry, and twenty pieces of artillery. Be cautious, and acft
only on the defence. Early's force, with this increase, cannot

fcAkpAlGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 169
exceed forty thousand men. Shall send the second division of
the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's Calvary Division.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant- General.
On the receipt of this despatch Sheridan looked the
ground over for the best line of defence, which would
protedt the valley and prevent any movement of the enemy.
into Maryland, and decided to take position at Halltown,
in front of Harper's Ferry, which was the only defensive
line in the valley. The Nineteenth Corps was ordered to
move to Winchester on the night of the 15th, followed by
tlie Sixth Corps and Crook's command. The following
order was given Gen. Torbert : —
General, — In compliance with instrucSlions of the Lieu
tenant-General commanding, you will make the necessary ar
rangements, and give the necessary orders for the destrudtion
of the wheat and hay south of a line from Millwood and Win
chester, and Petticoat Gap. You will seize all mules, horses
and cattle that may be useful to our army. Loyal citizens can
bring in their claims against the government for this necessary
destru<5lion. No houses will be burned, and officers in charge
of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people that
the object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding parties
of the rebel army. Very respeiftfully,
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major- Geyieral Commanding.
On the afternoon of the i6th the army had reached
Newtown. Heavy cannonading was heard towards
Front Royal. Merritt's Division of Cavalry had been

l70 CAMPAIGNING WITH SH6RIDAN.
attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah by Kershaw's
Division of Longstreet's Corps, and two brigades of rebel-
cavalry, and had handsomely repulsed the attack, cap
turing two battle flags and three hundred prisoners.
During the night of the i6th, and early on the morning
of the 17th, the Nineteenth Corps moved from Winches
ter to Berryville, and on the same morning Crook and
Wright reached Winchester, and resumed the march
towards Clifton's right, who had the rear guard, getting
only as far as the Berryville crossing of Opequan, where
he was ordered to remain. Crook was sent to the vicinity
of Berryville. Lowell reached Winchester with his two
regiments of cavalry on the afternoon of the 17th, where
he was joined by Gen. Wilson's Division of Cavalry.
Merritt, after his handsome engagement near Front
Royal, was ordered back to the vicinity of White Post,
and the second division of the Nineteenth Corps, under
command of Gen. Grover, which arrived at Fortress
Monroe, and was ordered up the James River to Ber
muda Hundred to support an expedition under Gen.
Hancock, who was to make a demonstration while the
mine was exploded in front of Petersburg. After this,
the division was ordered to Washington, and went into
camp at Tenallytown. August 14th vi;e took up a line
of march for the Shenandoah Valley. Crossing the Po
tomac at Chain Bridge, through Leesburg, we entered
the valley by way of Snicker's Gap, reuniting with the
First Division, and the Nineteenth Corps was once more
complete. The enemy having a signal station on Three-Top

CAMPAIGNING With SHjJRIDAN. I7l
Mountain, almost overhanging Strasburg, from which
every movement made by troops could be seen, was noti
fied early on the morning of thc 17th as to this condition
of affairs, and without delay followed after us, getting
into Winchester about sundown, and driving out Gen.
Torbert, who was left there with Wilson and Lowell,
and the Jersey Brigade of the Sixth Corps. Wilson and
Lowell fell back to Summit Point, and the Jersey Brigade
joined its corps at the crossing of the Opequan. Ker
shaw's Division and two brigades of Fitz Hugh Lee's
Cavalry Division, ^^¦hich was the force at Front Royal,
joined Earlv at Winchester on the evening of the 17th.
On the iSth the Sixth Corps moved by the ^\'a)• of
Clifton to Flowing Spring, two miles and a half west
of Charlestown, on the Smithfield pike ; the Nineteenth
Corps went about two miles and a half south of Charles
town, on the Berryville pike. Merritt came back to
Berryville. Wilson remained at Summit Point, covering
the crossing of Opequan Creek as far north as the bridge
at Smithfield. Merritt covered the crossing of the Berry
ville pike ; Cook remaining near Clifton, and the next
day moved to the left of the Nineteenth Corps. This
position was maintained until the 21st, when the eneniy
moved a heavy force across the Opequan at the bridge
at Smithfield, driving in the cavalry pickets, which fell
back to Summit Point and advanced rapidly on the po
sition of the Sixth Corps, near Flowing Springs, when a
very sharp and obstinate skirmish took place with the
heavy picket line of that corps, resulting very much in
its favor.

172 CAMPAIGNING WitH SHERIDAN.
The enemy appeared to have thought that we had
taken position near Summit Point, and that by moving
around rapidly through Smithfield he would get into our
rear. In this, however, he was mistaken. During the
day Merritt (who had been attacked and held his ground)
was recalled from Berryville. Wilson had also been at
tacked by infantry, and had also held his ground until
ordered in. During the night of the 21st the army moved
back to Halltown with inconvenience, the cavalry, ex
cept Lowell's command, which formed on the left, mov
ing early on the morning of the 22d, and going into
position on the right of the line.
On the morning of the 22d the enemy moved up to
Charlestown and pushed well up to our position at Hall
town, skirmishing with the cavalry videttes. On the
24th a reconnoissance was made, capturing a number of
prisoners, our own loss being about thirty men. On the
25th there was sharp picket firing during the day on jDart
of the infantry line. The cavalry was ordered to attack
the enemy's cavalry at Kearneysville. This attack was
handsomely made, but instead of finding the enemy's
cavalry his infantry was encountered, and for' a time
doubled up and thrown into the utmost confusion. It
was marching towards Shepardstown. This engagement
was somewhat of a mutual surprise, our cavalry expedting
to meet the enemy's cavalry, and his infantry expedting
no opposition whatever. Gen. Torbert, who was in com
mand, finding a large force of the rebel infantry in his
front, came back to our left, and the enemy believing his
movements had been discovered, and that the force left

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 173
by him in front of Halltown would be attacked, returned
in great haste, but before doing so isolated Custer's
Brigade, which had to cross to the north side of the
Potomac at Shepardstown, and join the army by way of
Harper's Ferry. It was believed Early meditated a cross
ing of his cavalry into Maryland at Williamsport, and
Wilson's Division was sent around by Harper's Ferry to
watch its movements. Averill in the meantime had taken
part at Williamsport, on the north side of the Potomac,
and held the crossing against a force of rebel cavalry
which made the attempt to cross. On the night of the
26th the enemy silently left our front, moving over
Opequan Creek at the Smithfield and Summit Point
crossings', and concentrating his force at Brucetown and
Bunker Hill, leaving their cavalry at Leetown and Smith-
field. On the 28th the infantry moved in front of Charles
town, and Merritt was diredted to attack the enemy's
cavalry at Leetown, which he did, defeating it, and pur
suing it through Smithfield. Wilson recrossed the Po
tomac at Shepardstown, and joined the infantry in front
of Charlestown. On the 29th Averill crossed at Wil
liamsport and advanced to Martinsburg.
The same day the division of the enemy's infantry and
a small force of cavalry attacked Merritt at the Smithfield
bridge, and after a hard fight drove him through Smith-
field and back towards Charlestown, the cavalry fight
ing ¦with great obstinacy until re-enforced with Rickett's
Division of the Sixth Corps, when in turn the enemy was
driven back through Smithfield and over the Opequan,

1 74 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
the cavalry again taking part at the Smithfield bridge.
On the 30th Torbert was diredted to move Merritt and
Wilson to Berryville, leaving Lowell to guard the Smith-
field bridge and occupy the town. On the 31st Averill
was driven back from Martinsburg to Falling Waters.
On the 3d of September, Averill, who had returned
to Martinsburg, advanced on Bunker Hill, attacked
McCausland's Cavalry, defeated it, capturing wagons
and pri.boncrs, and destroying a good deal of property.
The infantry moved into position, stretching from Clif
ton to Berryville, Wright moving by Summit Point,
Crook and Emory by the Berryville pike. Torbert had
been ordered to White Post early in the day, and the
enemy, supposing they could cut him off, pushed across
the Opequan towards Berryville, with Kershaw's Di
vision in advance ; but this division, not expecting infan
try, blundered on to Crook's lines about dark, and was
vigorously attacked and driven, with heavy loss, back
towards the Opequan. This engagement, which was
after nightfall, was very spirited, and our own and the
enemy's casualties severe. On the 13th, one of those
handsome dashes was made by Gen. Mcintosh of Wil
son's Division, capturing the Eighth South Carolina
Regiment at Abram's Creek ; on the same day Getty's
Division of the Sixth Corps made a reconnoissance to
the Opequan, developing a heavy force of the enemy at
Edward's Crossing. ,
The position we had taken at Clifton was six miles
from Opequan Creek, on the west bank of which the
enemy was in position. This distance of six pRiles

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 175
Sheridan was determined to hold by scouting parties,
and by holding it this wa)-, without jDUshing up the main
force, we expected to be able to move on the enemy at
the proper time without his obtaining the information
which he would immediately get from his pickets if we
were in close proximity. On the night of the 15th reli
able information was received that Kershaw's Division
was moving through Winchester, and in the direction of
Front Royal. Sheridan had determined to fight at New
town, placing his army between Winchester and Stras
burg. Gen. Grant arrived at Charlestown and indorsed
the movement with the order to go on, but this plan was
changed owing to circumstances beyond Sheridan's con
trol, and the battle of Opequan was fought instead of
Newtown.

CHAPTER XXIII.
Lively Work in the Famous Shenandoah Valley. —
Battle of Opequan Creek. — .Delay in Getting into
Action. — Bravery of Yankee Soldiers. — Opening
of a Bloody Struggle.

ON that memorable day, September 19th, 1864, the
order to march was received at i a.m. Coffee
newly made and drunk, and everything ready for mov
ing at precisely 2 a.m. The Nineteenth Corps filed out
of camp by divisions, and took the road to Berryville.
Reaching that place we turned off to the right and struck
the Winchester pike, and marched, as usual, upon each
side of the road, leaving the f)ike for the trains of ambu
lances and artillery. Distant cannonading began to be
heard at daylight, which came from the Opequan Creek,
where our cavalry advance was driving in the rebel out
posts. The Sixth Corps had also marched across country^
from the right of line to left, to the Berryville pike, and
was to support Wilson's cavalry, which was to lead the
advance and clear the gorges. This they did in their
usual daring manner, dashing across the creek and cap
turing the rebel's videttes, their earthwork and two guns.
Thus the road was cleared for the Sixth Corps. Orders

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 177
had been given to leave the wagon trains at the rear,
but the Sixth Corps seemed to have its full supply, for
it delayed the crossing of the Nineteenth Corps over
three hours. The Nineteenth Corps stood in line, wait
ing and listening to the heavy cavalry firing of Wilson's
Brigade, as they were pushing Lomax, the rebel cavalry,
back. Gen. Emory was " swearing mad." Staff" officer
after staff officer was sent to Gen. Wright, asking him to
clear his wagon train from the gorge. Finally the
order was given to advance. After this long delay the
Nineteenth Corps marched into the gorge by the flank,
pushing up this narrow road, which was filled with
headquarters wagons, ammunition trains and ambu
lances dodging in and out among the different trains,
with heavy musketry firing in the advance, telling us that
we were needed at the front. The reader can hardly
imagine the difficulty and arduous work that an army
has going into a battle, dodging around wagons and
mules ; but thank God, we at last got clear of the Sixth
Corps wagon trains. Filing out of the gorge on the
right, Grover's famous Second Division was placed in
the front line, with the First Division in reserve on the
left. In front of the Sixth Corps was Ramseur's Di
vision of Infantry, supported by Nelson's Battery and
Lomax's Cavalry. But the long delay of the Sixth Corps
in getting into position gave the rebels time to bring up
Gordon's and Rhodes' Divisions, and instead of making
the brilliant flank movement of getting between the rebs
and their line of retreat up the valley, Sheridan was
obliged to change his plans and fight the whole of the

178 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
rebels at once, instead of in sections as he had intended
to do in the morning.
At 1 1 -30 in the forenoon the armies of Sheridan and
Early confronted each other between Winchester and
Opequan Creek in the following order : The rebel line
extended across the turnpike, covering Winchester, with
Breckenridge's Corps in the centre, Rhodes' Division
of Early's Corps on the left, Ramseur's Division of
Early's Corps on the right, Johnson's Cavalry on the
extreme right, with Fitz-Hugh Lee and Lomax's and
McCausland's Cavalry on the extreme left, opposing
our own. The Union army of the Sixth Corps (two
divisions) was on the left crossing the turnpike, and the
Nineteenth Corps was on the right of the Sixth Corps.
The Army of Western Virginia was on the Opequan in
reserve. Gen. Wilson's Cavalry on the left, and Generals
Merritt and Averill's Cavalry on the right. Russell's
Division of the Sixth Corps was in the reserve.
The cannonading, which had continued so fiercely
through the forenoon, till the dispositions were fairly
established, partially ceased. Their sharpshooters and
skirmishers were white specks on the cornfield, and
clustered in groups about barns and houses, while nearer
still our own skirmish lines were posted along the edges
of the woods, behind rail fences across fields, waiting
the signal. Still nearer and around the splendid march
ing columns our own infantry were debouched from the
pike and woods upon the fields and plains ; some wait
ing in hollows behind the crest, some forming in position
for an advance,

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 179
The flags of the regiments had a proud look ; an elas
tic tread was in every rank. The Sixth Corps was all
up and mostly ready. The Nineleenth Corps, ascending
the heights to the right, opposite the pike, was slowly
wheeling into line. The levels and hollows between the
main army and the skirmish line were crossed and re-
crossed by galloping staff" officers and orderlies, carrying
and receiving orders. Generals Sheridan and Wright
and Emory rode swiftly with their staff's along the lines,
looking well to every point of advantage upon the
ground, examining with their glasses the position of the
foe, and completing all dispositions for an attack. For a
moment, over this scene of beauty and expedlation, there
was perfedt calm. For only a moment the artillery and
musketry were still. The smoke wreaths of our bat
teries standing silent, faded away in airy mist. The
pickets and sharpshooters along the line of battle took
breath. In that moment, save the advantage obtained
by Gen. Wilson in the morning (which was neutralized,
and more than neutralized, by the delay which afforded
the enemy time to concentrate his army in the forenoon),
everything w^as yet to begin and to be gained. No one
who glanced at the lines of men, full of confidence and
strength, disposed for miles along the country within
view, but could feel his heart throb with serious dAubt.
The signal long expedted was given at last. Emory
of the Nineteenth Corps gave the order to attack at pre
cisely 11.40. The Second (Gen. Getty's) and the 'Third
(Gen. Rochelle's) Divisions of the Sixth Corps joined
in the advance, the First (Gen. Russell's) Division being

180 CAMPAIGNING WITH SPIERIDAN.
held in reserve. The Nineteenth Corps, including both
divisions under Generals Grover and Dwight, advanced.
The lines at the signal were posted for the most part in
the edges of the woods, through which the troops ad
vanced, giving their fire to the enemy.
For a few seconds the gleaming lines of our bayonets
vibrated before they entered the timber, and were lost to
view in the shadow and smoke. The enemy, receiving
a severe and continual volley along his entire front, gave
back at first a volley as severe, but were forced to retire
slowly before the attack. The roar of the battle, as the
two lines fiiirly met, became thunderous. The artillery
opened simultaneously on either side. The hollow clang
of musketry in the forest was like the fierce clangor
at Port Hudson. The precision and quickness of the
enemy's cannonade was almost alarming. The guns,
posted at first in well-selected, overlooking positions,
never knew a moment's rest. Their fire remained un-
slackened for an hour, during which we had driven the
enemy at some points back nearly half a mile.
The determination to win the battle, whicii seemed to
inspire every man among our army, urged certain parts
of the line along somewhat too hastily in advance.
Ricketts' Division, of the Sixth Corps, in advanc
ing had obliqued to the left towards the pike. Col.
Sharp's Brigade, composed of the Thirty-eighth Massa
chusetts Regiment, Col. Richardson commanding; and
the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York, Lieut.-Col.
Nefiy ; the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York,
One Hundred and Seventy-fifth and One Hundred and

CAMPAIGNING WitH SHERIDAN. 181
Seventy-sixth New York, forming the extreme left of
Grover's Division, connecting with Riclsetts' Division of
the Sixth Corps.
Ramseur's and Rhodes' Rebel Division, the Sixth
Corps were driving back. Just at this critical moment
the rebels, seeing the gap between the Nineteenth and
Sixth, caused by Ricketts' oblique movement. Battles'
Brigade of Rhodes' Division, which had formed in the
rear of Evans, charged through the woods, striking the
right of the Sixth and the left of the Nineteenth. The
Third Brigade stood the torrent of shot and shell for a
few moments, then following the Sixth Corps they fell
back. Every fourth man in the Third Brigade was
either killed or wounded at this time.
Birges' Brigade, which was on the right of Sharp's,
had kept the rebel line on a jump since the word " For
ward ! " had been given. The Fourteenth New Hamp
shire, which was a large regiment, and which had not
been engaged till this fight, showed by its list of killed
and wounded, the prominent part which it had borne in
this engagement. The men deserve a great deal more
credit than they ever received. If the disaster had not
happened to Ricketts' Division and to Sharp's Brigade,
Birges' Brigade would have swept everything before it.
But when the left gave way they had to follow the in
evitable and go wilh it.
The One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York lost one
hundred and thirty-five men within a few moments.
Col. Sharp, commanding the brigade, and all the regi
mental commanders, except one, were disabled. Part of

182 CAMPAIGNING WITH sheI^IOaN.
Grover's and Ricketts' command reached the base from
which they had started in a state of confusion. The
Sixth and Nineteenth Corps men were crowded together
on the Berryville pike, near the gorge. Some I'egi-
ments disappeared for a time as organizations. Generals
Emory and Grover, Gen. Wright and Gen. Ricketts,
with their staffs, and Sheridan, formed one of those excit
ing and interesting groups, which only a desperate occa
sion like this calls forth. Ordering in the first division
of the Nineteenth Corps, and Russell's Division of the
Sixth, Gen. Grover ordered Capt. Bradbury of the First
Maine Battery to push the battery into position. Under
a heavy musketry, the battery galloped into position and
commenced cannonading, which tore huge gaps in the
rebel advance. The One Hundred and Thirty-first New
York formed a line, allowed the charging enemy to pass
by them, and poured a volley into their backs. As they
staggered under this volley, the Thirty-seventh Massa
chusetts opened in front with their repeating rifles,
checking the advance at this point. Neffy of the Third
Brigade charged the rebel lines. Molineaux's Brigade
was on his left. The Twelfth Connedticut and Eighth
Vermont were hurried through the woods, supported by
the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York. Closing in
on the right were the One Hundred and Fourteenth and
One Hundred and Sixtieth New York, and Forty-seventh
Pennsylvania. These regiments had been shifted and
changed from their positions, and filled gaps caused by
the losses in the first advance. In the Sixth Corps the
same adtivity was displayed, officers and men feeling

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 183
that the responsibility rested on their shoulders. Rus
sell's Division took the position that Ricketts' had held,
and Dwight's Division took the place of Grover's. The
word "Forward!'' was given as Russell's Division
charged. Such a sight rarely occurs more than once in any
battle as was presented on the open space between the
two pieces of woodland into which the cheering enemy
poured in their eagerness. Their whole line, reckless
of bullets, reckless even of the shells of our batteries,
constantly advanced. Capt. Stevens' Battery, posted im
mediately on their flank, poured its fire unflinchingly
into their columns to the last. A staff" officer, riding up,
warned it to the rear to save it from capture. Col.
Tompkins, in coirftnand of the artillery of the Sixth
Corps, sat upon his horse with a loaded revolver.

CHAPTER XXIV.
Death of General Russell. — Sheridan' s Escape. —
A Grand Charge by the Sixth Corps. — Bravery
of the Cavalry. — Magnificent Spectacle Presented
by the Moving Wall of Men.

THE men of the battery ordered not to move, stood
to their guns loading and firing with the regularity
and precision of a field-day, kept it at work in the face
of the foe, who advanced at least within two hundred
yards of the muzzles of the guns. Gen. Wright, in com
mand of the Sixth Corps, adled with prompt decision.
Although it was indeed early in the day to be forced to
employ the reserve of an army, he decided to employ his
reserves at once. The first division of the Sixth Corps,
under Gen. Russell, immediately in the rear, was ordered
in at the double-quick. Col. Edwards' Brigade advanc
ing sent its bullets crashing into the enemy's lines, aston
ishing and checking them. Gen. Russell, commanding
the division, cheered on the troops of his command, gal
loping along the lines and endeavoring to re-form the
columns which were broken. The lines were con
strudled with admirable quickness, and the enemy were
charged in turn.
As the revived troops moved slowly forward, giving

CAMPAIGNING Wrth SHERlbAN. 185
out their volleys. Gen. Russell was struck in the side
with a bullet. Straighteriing himself up, without utter
ing a word of pain, he called out to the command to
" Move on ! " and moved on with them into the fray. In
half a moment more a piece of bursted shell from one of
the enemy's batteries entered his breast, passing down
through his vitals and out at the other side. He fell
from his horse without a word. His men moved by
him. His officers, moving by, also saw with hearts full
of sadness an agony which they never will forget, but
which they could not then attempt even to alleviate.
The enemy, not yet wholly daunted, regained and
preserved a somewhat stubborn front. At this moment
the brigade of Gen. Upton, also attached to the First
Division, moved upon the right of Col. Edwards and
charged. The charge of this brigade was the finest
spectacle in the infantry battle of the day. Gen. Upton
himself rode at the advance of his lines, and drawing
his sword sat his horse like a centaur, calling his men to
follow. The brigade went in with a cheer that prophe
sied the event to come. Solid and straight and strong
its two lines moved onward out of the woods and into
the field. The rebel advance was an advance no longer.
The route was turned. Back over the fences, into and
beyond the ravines, and into the woods still beyond,
their lines, flying and broken, were pushed on. The
troops of the SixtJi and Nineteenth Corps, re-forming and
charging, soon won back the lost ground and a portion
of the field beyond.
The battle now slackened for a time and the main

186 CAMPAIGNING With SHERIDAN.
lines of our army were re-formed, preparatory to a
second attack. The Nineteenth Corps formed the cen
tre, the Sixth Corps on the left, and the Army of Western
Virginia on the extreme right, being ordered to advance
simultaneously and drive the enemy out of their position-
During all this time the cavalry of Gen. Wilson, Gen.
Merritt and Gen. Averill, on the left and right, had not
been inadlive. Gen. Wilson had joined in the charge
made at 11.30, driving the enemy's cavalry in his front.
Gen. Mcintosh, commanding one of his brigades, had
been wounded in the leg. Generals Merritt and Averill,
who had been pushing the rebel cavalry from the Ope
quan, had formed a jundlion on the Winchester and
M.artinsburg pike, and were driving them ill rapid and
successive charges down towards the scene of the main
battle. Fitz-Hugh Lee's Cavalry had been overwhelmed
by Custer in the early afternoon. The rest of the rebel
cavalry made so little opposition that for eight miles our
troops moved at a trot-gallop, coralling and driving them
like sheep. At 2.30 p.m., therefore, when the Second
Infantry advance was ordered. Gen. Torbert, with his
two divisions, was in a position to co-operate in time
with the main army. The, fire of our artillery, which,
owing to the scarcity of good positions, had previously
not been so destrudtive, was now increased. More bat
teries were employed by tbe Sixth Corps and Nineteenth
Corps. These batteries were put in position in the rear
of the lines. A rapid cannonade was opened just before
the advance. The enemy replied to it with their usual
vigor.

Campaigning With sheridan. 187
We advanced again about 2.30 p.m. It was niade
steadily from the first. The enemy must have known
that to withstand this attack was their last hope during
the day, but, although they met it with a front so stub
born, and for a moment so unyielding, few would have
ventured to wager upon their retreat. Their lines were
very soon shaken by the determined and fearful volleys
of our soldiers.
The stern, and magnificent advance of every brigade
employed in this movement made a spedtacle, the gran
deur of which has certainly not been equalled on any
battlefield of this war. The left flank of the enemv,
shattered by Gen. Crook, gave way, and began wheeling
around toward the southwest beyond the Martinsburg
turnpike. At this moment Gen. Torbert, to whom the
sound of our guns was a signal, moved on his advance to
help the attack. Gen. Devens' advance on the left of
Gen. Lowell, in support, was confronted just before the
advance by the enemy's infantry, pouring out from a
mass of woods, in retreat before Gen. Crook. Gen.
Devens had under his immediate command but two regi
ments, the Ninth and First New York. The moment
was critical ; to hesitate was perhaps to lose both.
Gen. Merritt, in command of the division, shouted
out : " Charge them with what you have ! " And Devens
drawing his sabre headed his regiment, and went through
the flying crowds, cutting them down, still further de
moralizing them, and capturing three hundred prisoners
and three battle flags. The rest of the cavalry charging
in turn, in conjundlion with Gen. Crook, kept pushing

188 Campaigning with sheridan.
the enemy's left and flank. Equally as successful an ad
vance had been made on our left by the Sixth Corps.
Thc right flank of the enemj' was also pushed back.
The rebel line soon formed a triangle, the apex towards
us; the base gradually narrowing as both flanks were
pushed towards each other by our attack.
As the rebel centre began to waver, under the terrible
fire of Grover's Second Division of the Nineteenth Corps,
Sheridan, riding in front of the line, a shell came screech
ing through the air, and, burying itself in the ground
under the horse, exploded, covering the rider with
smoke and dust. We thought be must be either killed
or wounded ; but galloping through the temporary cloud
he remarked, in his peculiar characteristic manner :
" D — n close, but we '11 lick h-11 out of them yet."
You can bet we gave him cheer on cheer. Riding up
to Gen. Grover, he said:
"Now is the time to go in," and in we went, for we
had them on the jump.
The battle was still a fierce one on both sides. Al
though the day was evidently lost to the rebels, they
fought on at some points with a desperate resolution.
The roar of musketry, thunders of cannonade, shouts of
commanders, cheering of our men, echoed now for miles
over the fields, through the woods, and in the rivers.
More batteries moved up to the front, the cannonade
grew and grew in volume, until every second gave birth
to the report of a gun. Battery after battery of the enemy
was silenced, but from whatever guns they could com
mand, they gave back fire for fire. Evidently believifig

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 189
from the fierceness of our charges that reserves were
coming up, they hurled a hissing storm of shot and shell
far into our rear, ploughing the roads and cornfields, and
making the abodes of stragglers scenes of terror. On
and on went the battle, every moment more distant.
Back from the front, along every roadway, out of the
forests, across the meadows, came ambulances and
stretchers, bearing the cost of a triumph that was now
secured. The dead were horrible dead. It seemed as
if the majority had received their death from shells.
Most of the bodies were dismembered, and at least half
were mangled beyond recognition. Now, if ever, was
seen the good work of that class of Samaritans, perforce
the medical officers and ambulance bearers of an army.
Underneath flying shells, within range even of bullets,
these men moved watchfully, bending down now and
then to lift the sufferer and bear him to the ambulance in
waiting. So rapid and thorough was this work, that it
was rare to find a wounded man uncared for one hour
after the battle in which he was wounded had passed
over him.
Still on, underneath the glowing sun, revived by fresh
breezes, revived still more by the consciousness of vidtory,
the Army of the Shenandoah thundered after its prey.
The word is "Forward !" along the miles of the contest.
" Forward! " You could hear it from the lips of com
manders everywhere, from General and Colonels and
Captains, with a superabundance of oaths and curses,
and unnecessary entreaties added. The woods rang with
it. Cheers succeeded it, and the lines advanced anew.

190 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
Yonder, in an orchard at the left, the troops of Getty's
Divi'sion of the Sixth Corps were making havoc among
their enemies. They crossed a ravine and took a crest,
and the batteries of McCarty and others, in their rear on
this side of the ravine, sent over their heads a worse than
equinoctial tempest of shells. On the right, far to the
right, the Army of Western Virginia, still pressing the
foe with resistless ardor, and revenging Winchester,
Grover's Division in the centre, with Birges' and Moli
neaux's Brigades in advance, the rest of the Nineteenth
Corps in easy supporting distance, and all the batteries
firing over our heads.
We are obeying Sheridan's order' to go in, and are
making an angle out of the triangle described before.
The cavalry of Torbert, on the extreme right, is sweep
ing around, preparatory to a last and overwhelming
charge soon to be made. The artillery, closing up on
our rear, thunders still more heavily. Back from the
mountains, back from the nearing spires of Winchester,
the echoes of the battle tremble.
The last plateau diredtly overlooking the plain before
Winchester was gained by the whole army. The enemy
encompassed by a semi-circle fought still, retreating
upon the farthest verge of the plateau, their artillery,
driven to the plain below, being completely silenced.
Along the plateau the forward march of our battalions
was as unconcerned as upon parade. Down lower and
lower yet the heads of the rebels sank, and were lost be
hind its verge. What a cheer then went up from the
Army of the Shenandoah ! A cheer that like the sweep

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 191

of a billow ranged through the army, making its heart
infinitely glad. Forward, still forward, at a double
quick, cheering and firing still ! Winchester came in
full view, its roofs and steeples glowing red in the set
ting sun. Our artillery, borne across the plateau to its
farthest verge, did a work so terrible, that to witness it
was sickening. The whole rebel army swept down the
slope and on to the plain below completely demoralized.
At every discharge of our guns its ranks bent helplessly
forward, like the grasses of a field before a storm. Rebel
horsemen, galloping everywhere upon the plain, swung
useless sabres and shouted useless cries for the men to
rally. There was no rallying in them. And as the right
flank of Gen. Crook swept around into view the enemy
flew hopelessly before them everywhere.

CHAPTER XXV.
Grand Cavalry Charge. — Through Winchester. —
Good Record of Massachusetts Soldiers. — Bravery
of Color- Sergeant Lunt. — Advance of the Troops
to Fisher's Hill the Next Morning.

THE cavalry of Gen. Torbert, pressed forward to
the right, galloped in resistless columns around the
left flank of the rebel army. Oh, what vengeance !
Galloping in close ranks with sabres gleaming red, with
cries that sounded above the roar of musketry and ar
tillery, to complete the work of the great day. Their
horses, each arching a proud neck, and with nostrils
wide and glowing, have a look like the Roman chariot
horses of old in the midst of vidtory. Faster, yet faster,
with a speed greater than the weary feet of the enemy
they encompass, they galloped up and in among the
flying foe. The sabre, that arm of which so many myth
ical deeds have been recorded, did adlual work.
Generals Torbert and Merritt with their staffs, joining
in the splendid glee of the moment, were in the very
front of the first line, charging and dealing death with
their men. Generals Custer and Lowell, whose bri
gades were making the charge, were also in the front
doing good service. The Sixth and Foqrth N^W York,

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 193
Devens' Brigade, joined in the good work. The enemy,
surrounded on the left by this brilliant movement, could
make but a momentary opposition. Scores forsaking
their comrades flew to the houses near by and concealed
themselves therein. Nun\bers were cut down and cap
tured. The rest made their escape, joined their flying
comrades across the Winchester pike, making toward
the town. Four hundred prisoners, four battle flags and
one piece of artillery were the prizes, aside from the
dead and wounded of the enemy, of this brilliant charge.
The sun, alas ! set on the horizon's verge. Across
that plain before Winchester its beams shone upon a
scene rivalling in picturesque sublimity all historic fields
of most heroic wars. Vast and level, and beautiful for
miles, the field itself unpeopled would be full of romantic
interest; peopled as itwas by thousands of rebels, shat
tered, demoralized, flying by thousands, still-pursuing
troops moving in well-ordered battalions, resounding
with a torrent of musketry and the boom of cannon, the
smoke of the battle alone would have told \vho were the
vidtors. Along the ragged front of the rebel hosts it rose
in patches ; along the solid front of the Union army it
rose in straight thin clouds.
Far ofl" on the heights surrounding Winchester the
enemy's artillery, again hurriedly posted, thundered a
faint answer to our own. The missiles from these guns,
badly aimed, ploughed along the plain, endangering the
rebel wounded, who were left in the retreat, quite as
much as our own men.
One mors charge ere the sun goes dovvn. One more
13

194 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
charge, with vidtory in its meaning, vidtory as its result.
The day is won ; the rebel army is beaten and over
whelmed at every point.
Flying through Winchester, scarcely attempting a
stand, except to protedt the remaining pieces of their
artillery, they are pursued by our men. In half an hour
Winchester and the heights beyond are in our possession.
The twilight gathers ; darkness falls. The only signs of
the enemy, met in the morning and fought during the
day, are the echoes of their artillery wagons retreating
along the pike toward Newtown.
We captured twenty-two hundred prisoners, five
thousand stand of arms, five pieces of artillery and eleven
battle-flags. Nearly three thousand rebel wounded were
left in Winchester and on the field. Gen. Rhodes was
killed. Generals Gordon, Goodwin, Lomax, York and
others, were wounded and prisoners. Our losses were
fearful, showing the terrible fire which the different corps
were subjedted to. The loss of the Nineteenth Corps
was nineteen hundred and fifty-six killed, wounded and
missing ; the Sixth Corps was sixteen hundred and
eighty-five ; the Eighth Corps, eight hundred and fifty-
three ; the cavalry, four hundred and forty-one ; total,
forty-nine hundred and thirty-five.
Specimen losses, illustrating the fierceness of the battle
at certain points, are shown by the fadl that, in Gen.
Grover's Division alone, every Colonel commanding a
regiment was either killed or wounded.
Massachusetts was represented in this battle by the Sec
ond Massachusetts Cavalry, loss, eight killed, wounded

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 195
and missing ; Third Cavalry, dismounted — their loss
was one hundred and four ; Twenty-sixth Massachusetts,
thirty-two ; the Thirtieth Massachusetts, twelve ; the
Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, Eighth Corps, one hundred
and ten out of two hundred and ninety-seven ; the Thirty-
seventh Massachusetts, Sixth Corps, ninety-one out of
two hundred and sixty-six. This regiment charged in
gallant style and captured the colors of Stonewall Jack
son's old regiment.
Just here I will say a word in praise of Color-Sergeant
A. M. Lunt of Cambridge, for the gallant and brave
manner in ^vhich he saved the flag of the Thirty-eighth
Massachusetts, Nineteenth Corps. As the lines almost
grappled with each other, the bullets falling like hail
stones about him, the shriek of bursting shells, the wild
rebel yell, " Drop that flag ! " was answered by the Union
cheers and volleys of musketry. The stafl" was splintered,
the top was shot away, a number of holes were shot
through it, but our brave Color-Sergeant brought our
colors out safe. A large part of our loss, of fifty-seven
out of two hundred and twenty-six occurred at this time.
In the moment of triumph succeeding the flight of the
enemy through Winchester, there was much enthusiasm
throughout the army. Gen. Sheridan, justly elated at
his conquest, rode along a portion of the lines and was
vociferously cheered. Generals Wright, Crook and
Emory met with like reception. The soldiers threw up
their hats and hugged each other in their joy.
The camp-fires springing up as the army bivouacked
for the night upon the plain, each had its group of shout-

196 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
ing, laughing, talking men, congratulating each other
over the events of the day. At distances upon the plain,
an hour or so after nightfall, the band of the army played
the weary troops to sleep. The moon rose to their
music, shedding its white radiance down upon the slum
bers of the camps — upon the sleepless torture of not a
few wounded, who still lay uncared for on the field.
Under the moon, in the silence of that night, the work
of the medical department, and of the detail of the army
went on.
In the orchard where Gen. Getty made his charge in
the afternoon, the fields and roads where Crook first met
the enemy, the rebel dead and wounded were piled in
swaths. Their groans, let it be said, were few. They
bore their sufferings with that still patience which is the
attribute of a true soldier, and which they, God knows,
have learned by discipline to the letter.
" The last red Summer's sun had shpne upon the battle's fray,
From yonder forest charged the blue, down yonder slope the
gray:
The hush of death was on the scene, and sunset on the dead,
In tnat oppressive stillness a pall of glory spread."
The enemy carried many of their wounded from the
field. In many places pools of blood were discovered
where bodies had undoubtedly lain. Nearly every house
along the pathway of battle contained one, and some
times half a dozen, wounded men.
Hospital duties were performed in Winchester itself by
half the families, as well as by the rebel surgeons and

cAmpAignIncJ Wifii sHeridaN. 197
our own. Lights gleamed from every window, and
shadows of moving nurses flickered against the curtains;
faint cries of pain sometimes issued from the doors.
In the streets of the town and before it, after the
enemy's retreat, were picked up a piece of artillery, two
caissons, one or two army wagons, and half a dozen
ambulances. The traces of the army wagons and gun
carriages were cut, showing that the men had forsaken
them in haste. Aside from these, and prisoners, flags
and artillery captured in the battle. Gen. Early succeeded
in removing everything connedled with his army. His
trains were sent to the rear at the beginning of the battle.
At daylight on the morning of September 20th, the
army moved rapidly up the valley pike in pursuit of the
enemy, who had continued his retreat during the night
to Fisher's Hill, south of Strasburg. Fisher's Hill is the
bluff" immediately south of, and lines a little stream called
Tumble Run, and is a position which was almost im-
pi'egnable to a diredl assault, and as the valley is but
about three and a half miles wide at this point, the
enemy considered himself secure on reaching it, and be
gan to eredt breastworks across the valley from Fisher's
Hill to North Mountain. So secure, in fadl, did he con
sider himself, that the ammunition boxes were taken
from the caissons and placed for convenience behind the
breastworks. On the evening of September 20th, the
Sixth and Nineteenth Corps went into position on the
heights of Strasburg, the Eighth Corps north of Cedar
Creek, the cavalry to the right and rear of the Sixth
Corps, the Nineteenth on the extreme left, extending

198 campaigning With sheribAn.
towards Tree-Top Mountains. Sheridan determined to
resort to his old trick of ffanking, and the Eighth Corps
was assigned to that duty. The movement to reach
Little North Mountain had to be done with great secrecy,
as the enemy had a signal station on Tree-Top Mountain,
from which he could see every movement made by our
troops. So, during the night of the 20th, the Eighth
Corps were concealed in the timber north of Cedar
Creek, where they remained during the day.

CHAPTER XXVi.
Story of the Midnight Charge on Fisher's Hill. —
Retreat Down the Valley. — Wholesale Destrudtion
of Property. — General Ross' Cavalry Chased for
Twenty-ffve Miles.

(^HERIDAN did not attempt to cover the long front
X!±) presented by the enemy, but massed the Sixth and
Nineteenth Corps opposite the right centre of his line.
After Crook had gotten into the position last named,
Sheridan took out Ricketts' Division of the Sixth Corps
and placed it opposite the enemy's left centre, and
diredted Averill, with his cavalry, to go up on Ricketts'
front and right and drive in the enemy's skirmish line, if
possible. This was done, and the enemy's signal officer
on Tree-Top Mountain, mistaking Ricketts' Division for
Sheridan's turning column, so notified the enemy, and he
made his arrangements accordingly ; while Crook, with
out being observed, moved on the side of Little North
Mountain and struck the enemy's left and rear so sud
denly and unexpedtedly, that he (the enemy), supposing
he must have come across the mountains, broke.
On the same day, Wright apd Emory moved up in
front of the rebel lines, getting into proper position after
a severe engagement between a portion of Ricketts' and

200 campaigning With shEridAN.
Getty's Division of the Sixth Corps, and a strong force
of the enemy. Torbert, with Wilson's and Merritt's
Cavalry, was ordered down the Luray Valley in pursuit
of the enemy's, cavalry, and, after defeating or driving it,
to cross over Luray pike to Newmarket, and intercept
the enemy's infantry, should it be driven from its posi
tion at Fisher's Hill.
On the night of the 2ist Crook was moved to, and
concentrated in, the timber near Strasburg, and at day
light on the 22d marched to, and massed in, the timber
near Little North Mountain.
Crook came swinging down behind the line, Ricketts
swinging in and joining Crook, the Nineteenth Corps,
charging across the ravine over the old stone bridge,
pushing our way up the road, which wound around the
hill, exposed to a fire from Gordon's Division, which
had earthworks on the iiill across the ravine. Rushing
up the steep hill in the dark, with nothing to illuminate
the Egyptian darkness but the flash of the musketry and
artillery, we reached the top, and, as the road opened
on the flat table-land, the Third Massachusetts Cavalry
and the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts were deployed as
skirmishers. Pushing ahead, we encountered Warrington's Division ;
one volley and they went flying after the rest of Early's
army. This battle was a surprise to all. Sheridan ordered
the troops to advance at 4 o'clock the next mornino-, the
23d. At about 6 P.M., on the 22d, when the Sixth and
Nineteenth Corps commanders reported, their troops
were well up, and all ready to advance. Sheridan says.

fcAMt»AlGNlNG WITH ShfeRIDAM. 201
" That's very good." Geii. Crook of the Eighth Corps
also reported that his men were well on the left flank of
the rebel position, eager for the fight. Then the spirit
of Sheridan showed itself, for he fought in order and out
of oi-der ; he did n't have any fear of rules and regu
lations ; he never waited for the rebs to get ready. When
he was ready he would fight. When Cook reported he
was ready, Sheridan smiled. Bringing his hands to
gether with a slap, he exclaimed to his staff officers:
" Everything is all ready, gentlemen, and by  we will
jump them to-night. Order everything forward immedi
ately, and we will have a twist on them before daylight."
And in we went with a will, and instead of charging at
4 in the morning, were in Woodstock, eight miles be
yond the hill, with plenty of prisoners and sixteen can
nons, which they .did not have time to remove. Unfortu
nately, the cavalry which had been sent down the Luray
Valky to crossover to Newmarket was unsuccessful, and
only reached so far as Milford, a point at which the
Luray Valley contracts to a gorge, and which was taken
possession of by the enemy's cavalry in some force. Had
Gen. Torbert driven this cavalry, or tiu'ned the defile
and reached Newmarket, no doubt we would have cap
tured the entire rebel army. It was certain that its rout
from Fisher's Hill was such tlwt there was scarcely a
company organization held together. Newmarket being
at a converging point in the valley, they came together
again, and to some extent re-organized. On the morning
of the 23d, Gen. Devens, with his small brigade of cav
alry, moved to a point diredtly north of Mt. Jackson,

202 campaigning with sheIiiDani
driving the enemy in his front, and there awaited the
arrival of Gen. Averill's Division, which for some unac
countable reason went into camp immediately after the
battle. Gen. Averill reached Devens' command at 3
P.M., and in the evening returned with all the advance
cavalry of which he was in command, to a creek one-half
mile north of Hawkensburg, and there remained until
the arrival of the head of the infantry column, which had
halted between Edinburg and Woodstock for wagons, in
order to issue the necessary rations. Early on the morn
ing of the 24th, the entire army reached Mt. Jackson, a
small town on the north bank of the north fork of the
Shenandoah. The enemy had, in the meantime, reor
ganized, and taken position on the bluffs south of the
river, but had commenced this same morning his retreat
towards Harrisonburg ; still he held a long and strong line
with the troops that were to cover his rear in a temporary
line of rifle-pits on the bluff commanding the plateau.
To dislodge him from his strong position, Devens' brigade
of cavalry was diredted to cross the Shenandoah, work
around the base of the Massanutten Range, and drive in
the cavalry which covered the enemy's right flank ; and
Powell, who had succeeded Averill, was ordered to move
ground his left flank by the way of Timberville, whilst
the infantry was rushe<i across the river by the bridge.
The enemy did not wait till the full execution of these
movements, but withdrew in haste, the cavalry under
Davis coming up with him at Newmarket, and made a
bold attempt to hold him until our infantry could be
pushed up, but was unable to do so, as the, open, smooth

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 203
country, allowed the enemy to retreat with great rapid
ity in line of battle, and the three or four hundred cav
alry under Davis was unable to break their line. Our
infantry was pushed by heads of columns very hard to
overtake and bring on an engagement, but could not suc
ceed, and encamped about six miles south of Newmarket
for the night.
Powell, meantime, had pushed on through Timber
ville, and gained the valley pike, near Lacy's Springs,
capturing some prisoners and wagons. This movement
of Powell's probably forced the enemy to abandon the
road by the way of Harrisonburg, and move over the
Keezeltown road to Port Republic, to which point the
retreat was continued through the night of the 34th, and
from thence to Brown's Gap in the Blue Ridge. On the
25th, the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps reached Harrison
burg. Crook was ordered to remain at the junction of
the Keezeltown road with the Valley pike until the
movements of the enemy were definitely ascertained.
On this day Torbert reached Harrisonburg, having en
countered the enemy's cavalry at Surrey, defeating it,
and joining us at Newmarket, and Powell had proceeded
to Mount Crawford.
On the 26th, Merritt's Division of Cavalry was ordered
to Port Republic and Torbert to Staunton and Waynes
boro, to destroy the bridge at the latter place, and in
retiring to burn all forage, drive off all cattle, destroy all
mills and everything that would cripple the rebel army
or Confederacy. Torbert had with him Wilson's Division
of Cavalry, and Lowell's Brigade of Regulars. On the

204 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERlbAN.
27th, while Torbert was making his advance on Waynes
boro, Merritt was ordered to make a demonstration on
Brown's Gap to cover the movement. This brought out
the enemy (who had been re-enforced by Kershaw's
Division, which came through Swift-run Gap) against
the small force of cavalry employed in this demonstra
tion, which he followed up to Port Republic, and which
it crossed in some force. Merritt's instructions were to
resist an attack ; ;but, if pressed, to fall back to Cross
Keyes, in which event it was intended to attack with the
main force, which was at Harrisonburg;^ and could be
rapidly moved to Cross Keyes. The enemy, however,
advanced with his main force only to Port Republic,
after which he fell back. That day Torbert took posses
sion of Waynesboro, and partially destroyed the railroad
bridge, but about dark, on the 28th, was attacked by
infantry and cavalry, returned to Staunton and Frouther's
to Bridgewater by the way of Springhill, executing the
order for the destrudtion of subsistence, forage, etc.
On the morning of the 38th, Merritt was ordered to
Port Republic to open communication with Gen. Tor
bert, but on the same night was diredted to leave small
forces at Port Republic and Swift-run Gap, and proceed
with the balance of his command (his own and Custer's
Division) to Piedmont, swing around from that point to
near Staunton, burning forage, mills, and such other
property as might be serviceable to the rebel army or
Confederacy, and on his return to go into camp on the
left of the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, which were
ordered to proceed on the 29th to Mount Crawford, in

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 205
support of this and Torbert's movements. September
29th, Torbert reached Bridgewater, and Merritt Mount
Crawford. On the ist of Odlober, Merritt re-occupied
Port Republic, and the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps was
moved back to Harrisonburg, remaining in camp until
the morning of the 6th, when we commenced moving
back, stretching the cavalry across the valley from Blue
Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, with
diredtions to burn all forage, and drive off all stock, etc.,
as they moved to the rear, fully coinciding in the views
and instrudtions of the Lieutenant-General that the val
ley should be made a barren waste. The most positive
orders were given, however, not to burn dwellings. In
this movement the enemy's cavalry followed at a respedl-
ful distance until in the vicinity of Woodstock, when
they attacked Custer's Division and pursued it as far as
Louisbrook, a short distance south of Fisher's Hill. We
had been annoyed by Rosser's Cavalry, and Sheridan
halted the army and ordered Torbert to go and wipe out
Rosser's Cavalry, and he would let the army rest and see
him do it. On the morning of October 9th, Brig.-Gen.
Merritt, commanding this division, was on the back road
at Tumble Run. These two roads, as a general thing,
are parallel, and from two and one-half to three miles
apart. Brig.-Gen. Custer, being about six miles from
Brook Creek, was ordered to move at daylight back on
the back road, and attack as soon as met. Brig.-Gen.
Merritt. being near Brook Creek and the enemy, was
diredted to move, about 7 a.m., one brigade in the pike,
and two brigades between the roads, and connedled with

206 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
Brig.-Gen. Custer and the brigade on the pike. The
enemy's force was as follows : On the back road, under
Gen. Rosser, three brigades, from three thousand to
thirty-five hundred men ; on the pike, under Generals
Lomax and Bradley Johnson, one thousand tb fifteen
hundred men.
Gen. Custer's guns were heard early in the morning,
on Brook Creek, and Brig.-Gen. Merritt moved to the
attack, and to make a connedlion with Gen. Custer;
Col. Lowell, commanding reserve brigade. First Di
vision, moved on the pike and attacked Lomax and
Johnson ; the first brigade. First Division, moved on the
right to connedt with Gen. Custer, and to attack the
enemy on the right flank ; the second brigade. First
Division, moved in the centre. After a spirited engage
ment for about two hours,, the enemy, seeing that they
were being flanked and severely pressed in front, gave
way in great confusion, which was immediately taken
advantage of by both division commanders. The enemy
endeavored Xo rally several times, but were unable to
stand the desperate charges made by Torbert's men, and
they were driven in a perfedl rout for twenty miles ; the
First Division (Brig.-Gen. Merritt) on the pike pursuing
them beyond Mt. Jackson ; the Third Division (Gen.
Custer) in the back road, pursuing them beyond Colum
bia Furnaces.
The First Division (Gen. Merritt) captured five pieces
of artillery (all they had on the road, except one), their
advance ambulances and wagon trains, and sixty pris
oners.

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 207

The Third Division (Gen. Custer) captured six pieces
of artillery (all they had on the back road), all of their
headquarter wagons, ordnance, ambulances and wagon
trains. There could have hardly been a more complete vidtory
and rout. The cavalry totally covered themselves with
glory, and added to their long list of vidtories the most
brilliant one of them all.

CHAPTER XXVII.
Battle of Cedar Creek. — Gen. Wright in Command.
Midnight March from Fisher Hill. — Surprised by
the Rebels. — A Wonderful Flank Movement Suc
cessfully Accomplished.

ON the morning of the loth, the Nineteenth Corps
and the Eighth Corps continued their march from
Strasburg Pike to Cedar Creek, going into camp on both
sides of the pike. The Sixth Corps inarched from Stras
burg on the Front Royal road toward Manassas Gap.
This was the first day's march of this corps to return to
Gen. Grant at Petersburg. It was the intention that it
should proceed through Manassas Gap to Piedmont east
of the Blue Ridge, to which point the Manassas Gap
Railroad had been completed, and from thence to Alex
andria by rail ; but on Sheridan's recommendation that
it would be much better to march it, as it was in fine
condition, through Ashby Gap, and thence to Washing
ton, the former route was abandoned, and on the 12th,
the corps moved toward Ashby Gap.
Everything remained quiet, but reconnoissance toward
Fisk's Hill was the order of the day. On the 12th,
Thoburn's Division of the Eighth Corps had moved in
that diredtion without discovering any signs of Early.

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 209

The men were eating their dinner, the officers were
sitting at the table drinking hot coff"ee, when that peculiar
whizzing sound came through the air, and a large shell
dropped near the tent. Another and another followed in
quick. succession. The long roll was sounded, and the
line was formed with Wells' Brigade on the left and
Harris' on the right.
Early had pushed through Fisher's Hill to Hupp's
Hill and opened fire on the dinner party. The two bri
gades quickly descended the slope and started for the
guns, but Early was in force, and throwing out Conners'
Brigade of Kershaw's Division, drove Harris back, but
Wells' Brigade did not know this until Conners had
gained his right flank, and he had to retreat lively. Our
loss was between two and three hundred, the Thirty-
fourth Massachusetts losing over one hundred. The gal
lant and brave Col. Wells of this regiment was killed at
this time. This sudden and unexpedled movement of
Early's was of the utmost importance to us, for if Early
meant more fighting with a large force, Sheridan did not
want to weaken his force by letting the Sixth Corps go.
An aide was instantly despatched to Gen. Wright with
orders to return immediately. The corps was just ford
ing the Shenandoah River opposite Ashby Gap. They
were at once faced about, and arrived at Cedar Creek at
noon on the 14th, taking position on the right and rear
of the Nineteenth Corps, ready to move to any position
where they might be needed.
The Union position was an echelon of three lines,
posted on three separate crests of moderate height. The
14

210 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
left and most advanced crest was held by the Army of
Western Virginia ; the central one, not a mile in the rear
of the first, by the Tenth Corps; the right and rearmost
by the Sixth Corps. Crook commanded the first step of
the echelon, Emory the second, Wright the third. Be
hind Crook's left, and at right angles to it, guarding
against turning movements from that quarter, lay a force
about equivalent to a brigade, known as Kitching's Pro
visional Division. The fronts, and to some extent the
fianks of the Army of Western Virginia and'of the Nine
teenth Corps, were strengthened by breastworks of logs
and earth with batteries in position. Between these two
commands ran the Strasburg and Winchester pike, the
great highway of this part of the valley. The entire
echelon occupied by the infantry and artillery, was at
least three miles in length, in addition to which the roll
ing country on the right of the Sixth Corps was occupied
by Torbert's superb Cavalry. In front the position was
impregnable except by a surprise, and to turn it was an
enterprise so dangerous that it was hardly dreaded.
Gen. Sheridan determined to visit Washington, and
on the evening of the 15th, he started, taking the whole
of the cavalry with him. On his arrival at Front Royal,
Gen. Wright of the Sixth Corps, who was left in
command of the army, sent the following despatch to
Sheridan, which was taken from the rebel signal flag on
Tree-Top Mountain :
" Be read3' to move as soon as my re-enforcements reach you,
and crush Sheridan's army.
(Signed) Longstre^T;"

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 211
If Early should be strongly re-enforced it might cause Us
considerable trouble on our right flank, I shall make every
preparation to guard all the important points.
(Signed) WRIGHT.
On the receipt of this despatch, Sheridan sent back all
of the cavalry, and ordered Gen. Wright to close in. Col.
Powell's Cavalry to cover the left flank of our army. But
Wright negledled to close in Powell, and Early's army
moved at midnight. Silence was essential to success.
Canteens and dippers were left behind for fear their
rattling would betray them to the pickets. Forty pieces
of artillery were massed at Fisher's Hill, ready to move
at the first sound of battle, for an earlier advance might
give the alarm by the rumbling of heavy wheels at mid
night over the macadamized road. Early accompanied
Kershaw's centre column.
The column came in sight of the Union camp-fires at
about 4 o'clock. The moon shining brightly, the white
tents of the Union army were in full view of Early's men,
¦who were shivering in the chill night air. The Confed
erate Chieftain gathered his commanders and staff about
him, and pointing to the Union camp, explained to them
thoroughly the movement of each brigade and division.
This was to be the last council, not to meet again until
Sheridan's army was annihilated and destroyed.
The Union camps on the hills and the creek were
slumbering. Jackson's old Corps and a brigade of cav
alry was stealing along the base of the mountain, to gain
the rear of the Union camp. At 5 o'clock, Kershaw
ipoyed forward ; the report of inusketry on the Confeder^

212 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
ate left, told that Ross' Cavalry were on the back road
to attack Custer, and this was the signal for the attack.
Kershaw quickly moved down the creek, and the moon
vanished from sight, caused by a thick fog, and under its
cover the Confederates pushed on.
There was a moment indeed, when the audacious col
umn trod on the brink of destrudtion. About 2 o'clock
in the morning, the pickets of the Fifth New York Heavy
Artillery, serving as infantry in Kitching's Division,
heard a rustling of underbrush and a muffled trampling.
Two pickets were relieved and sent into camp with the
information. Gen. Crook ordered his command to be
on the alert, and most of the front line went into trenches.
But there was not a private in the army, and hardly an
officer, who believed that the often-beaten and badly-
beaten Early would venture an attack. No reconnois
sance was sent out to see if the alarms were well founded ;
the gaps in the front line caused by the detachment of
regiments on picket were not filled up from the reserve ;
and when the assault took place, it found many muskets
unloaded. Under cover of the firing, Kershaw's column swept
through Crook's pickets without responding to their
scattering musketry, and took most of their provisions.
The men in the trenches, unable to see what was going
on, and receiving no timely notice from the outposts,
fired too late, or, caught with unloaded rifles, did not fire
at all.
There was a bloody struggle over the breastworks, but
it did not last five minutes. Through the unmaiined

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 213
gaps in the lines poured the rebels in a roaring torrent,
and then came a brief massacre, followed by lasting panic
and disorganization. Less than a quarter of an hour of
that infernal musketry and yelling, which we heard so
plainly and understood so imperfedlly, changed the gal
lant Army of West Virginia — that army which had
charged with such magnificent success at Winchester
and Strasburg — into a mass of fugitives, hurrying back
upon the position of the Nineteenth Corps.
There were regiments, indeed, which fought with a
steadiness worthy of their ancient reputation, but no
considerable nor continuing line of resistance was estab
lished anywhere after the first break, and the rebel ad
vance was only checked to re-form. No daybreak rush
of moccasined savages was ever more silently, rapidly
and dexterously executed than this charge of Kershaw.
The Second Battalion of the Fifth New York Heavy
Artillery was taken on the picket line almost entire ; and
the resistance of the whole command was so njomentary
that, while it lost seven hundred, it had hardly one hun
dred killed and wounded.
Now came the turn of the Nineteenth Corps to fight
alone. The Army of West Virginia had temporarily
disappeared as an organization, and the Sixth Corps was
menaced by cavalry and light artillery, covering no one
knew what force of infiintry.
The Third Brigade, Second Division, were the most
advanced troops of the Nineteenth Corps. The First
Maine Batteiy was on the knoll at the right of the bri
gade. We had cooked our breakfast, and were standing

'hi CAMPAIGNING WITH SHfeRtbAM.
around the camp-fire waiting for the order to fall in, as
we were ordered to go on a reconnoissance with the rest
' of the division, when suddenly the reports of musketry
were heard on the right in the diredtion of the Sixth
Corps pickets, then came the volleys and the rebel yell
in the diredtion of the Eighth Corps on the left. We
immediately took position in the earthworks in front' of
our camp.
A four-gun battery opened fire from the diredtion of
the brick house on our right, their shell and solid shot
raking our camp. The First Maine replied to them,
guided only by the report and flash, for the fog was so
heavy and thick, nothing could be distinguished twenty
yards away. Gen. Dan McCauley of Indiana, command
ing the brigade at this time, ordered a detail to go over
the earthworks, down the hill to the creek. It fell to
m)' lot to be one of the detail, and over the earthworks,
and through the abattis, and creeping close to the edge
of the creeks, the panorama of the rebel army was in full
view. A line of infantry coming down the hill slowly
in our front. Artillery and wagons on the pike near the
bridge. Fording the creeks below the bridge was the
rebel army, moving in the diredtion of the Eighth Corps.
With a glance I took In the whole situation', and having
no desire to visit rebel prisons, I did n't linger long, but
hurried back to report. There had been no musketry
firing up to this time in our front. Telling Gen.
McCauley the position, and then reporting to the First
Maine Battery, which still kept up the artillery duel on
the right, telling him that the rebel army was at the

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 215
bridge, turning his guns in that diredtion, we could hear
the shell crashing through the covered way. Reaching
my regiment, the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, the fog
had lifted so as to disclose the rebel line in our front.

CHAPTER XXVIlt.
Battle of Cedar Creek. — The Morning ConffiSl. —
Cavalry Ordered to Left Flank. — I ermont Troops
Check the Rebels. — The Army Marching to a New
Line in Good Order.

WE immediately opened fire on the rebels, and
they replying, made things lively. Soon came
"Zip! zip!" from our rear. Gen. Dan McCauley
ordered his aide, Lieut. H. E. Macomber, to go to the
rear and tell the First Division to stop firing in our
diredtion, as we were still holding our earthworks. He
went quick, but he came back quicker, and reported
that the rebel army was crossing the pike in our rear,
and the shots came from them. He did not tell them to
stop firing, for he did n't think they would care a d — n.
The firing coming heavier In our front and rear, we
could n't hold out long. The First Maine Battery started
to save their guns, and they had to go down a steep hill
In their rear, as the Johnnies objedted to their going the
regular way. Some of their guns became overturned.
They had tried hard to save them, but it was no go.
Gen. McCauley being wounded at this time, the order
to retreat was given, and we slowly fell back, Macomber

CAMPAiGNiNG SviTH sheridAn. 217
performing a gallant adl in taking the wounded General
on his horse and carrying him safely to the rear.
Gordon's column, solidly massed, came swiftly up the
slope, disdaining to reply to our pickets, and driving
them with the mere weight of its advance. Here, as
everywhere throughout the battle, the eneiny knew our
ground perfedlly, and in consequence moved over It
without wasting their time in reconnoitering, or their
troops in skirmishing. It was this amazing rapidity of
manoiuvre — this audacity which could not be foreseen
nor guarded against — that beat us. Gordon's position
was now on a broad, bare hill, of which the southr-
western declivity sloped gently toward the camp of the
Nineteenth Corps, and commanded it. From the mo
ment that he held it we were sure to go, for ten tliousand
men there could easily drive out twenty thousand here,
taken as we were in the reverse. The rebel force on this
side, including the division of Ramseur and Pegrani, was
as strong as Emory's, and it was supported by another
column almost as numerous, coming up through the
woods on our left, and along the pike in our front. The
Nineteenth Corps was not only attacked in the rear, but
was outnumbered. It might hold ou for an hour, and so
it did hold on for a hopeless, sanguinary hour, but that
was all that mortals could do.
The Twelfth Connedticut fired three volleys at close
quarters before it was forced into the retreat. About the
same tlmfe. Gen. Emory ordered two brigades across the
pike with instrudtions to face toward the crest on which
Gen. Gordon was beginning to show himself, The

218 fcAMPAitJNING WITH SHERIDAN.
remaining three brigades of the corps continued at the
breastworks. A roar of musketry from the woods told
us that McMillan's Second Brigade, First Division, had
opened its struggle, but did not tell us how hopelessly
it was outmatched, flanked on the left by Ramseur, and
charged in front and on the right by Kershaw.
Gen. Molineaux ordered the second brigade. Second
Division, into the rifle pits, and detached the Twenty-
second Iowa and the Third Massachusetts Cavalry to
support the battery which commanded the pike in front
of the bridge. By this time a battery of the enemy,
diredtly in front on the other side of the creek, opened a
fire of shell upon us, and the mist breaking from the
valley, discovered a line, apparently prepared to attack
us. It was not long before a fire of shell, enfilading our
line from the left, with another diredtly in our rear, and
a sharp musketry fire from the same- diredtion (the posi
tion occupied by the Eighth Corps) showed us that the
enemy had outflanked us. We sheltered ourselves as
much as possible in the rifle-pits and awaited orders. In
the meantime, the troops on our left and the batteries
passed us, together with the two regiments of this brigade
which had been sent In support of the batteries, all ap
parently striving toward the pike (these two regiments
mentioned rejoined us subsequently), and finding that we
were completely outflanked, that the retreat was general,
and that the men were rapidly falling from a fire they
could not return, and that a line of battle was being
formed in the rear by the vSixth Corps, we moved out by
the flavik in good order, detaching the Eleventh Indiana,

CAMPAlGklNG WlTt-t siiERibAN. 21§

by order of Gen. Emory, to hold the hollow and stone
wall near the headquarteis of the Second Division.
Two advanced brigades were pushed back by the fire
which came up the pike. Gordon's Division was now
deployed at the crest, stretching far behind, holding a
mound in rear of grounds where both Sheridan and
Emory had pitched their headquarters. It could clearly
be seen that the battle on our present line was lost be
yond redemption — was, indeed, already roaring and
smoking half a mile to the rear. The Sixth Corps w.as
pushing toward the -woods behind the headquarters, and
endeavoring to regain possession of the pike, but with
doubtful prospects of success. Gordon, extending con
stantly by the right, and supported by the full force of
Ramseur and Pegram, seemed to be outflanking them
as he had previously outflanked us. Except the two
brigades of Birge and Davis, all our Nineteenth Corps,
unable to rally on an uncovered slope, was retreating
across the front and toward the right of the Sixth Corps.
The struggle to retain possession of our camp was over.
Birges' and Davis' Brigades filed in good order down a
stony slope overgrown with thickets, forded Cedar Creek
and mounted the irregular height on the right of the
Sixth Corps. Here they formed line of battle along a
low crest, over which Kershaw's bullets were singing.
In front of us, firing from the undulating plateau which
we had just quitted, we could see the rebel infantry. For
a few minutes, the battle was sharp here, and then it
slowly swept rearward again. It was Early's continually
extending right which turned us.

220 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
Gen. Birge was In the rear of his brigade, and look
ing toward the pike ordered a retreat. The Sixth Corps
was retiring, and we were In danger of being enfiladed.
A thousand yards further to the rear the line again
halted, fronted and opened fire, while strenuous efforts
were made to re-organize the mass of stragglers who were
sauntering across the fields toward Winchester. Chase's
Battery, and what remained of Tafts', went Into position,
and for an hour the battle raged with fury, our men
standing to their work with the persevering courage of
veterans, and then once more went slowly to the rear,
the movement commencing Inevitably on the left, where
the Sixth Corps was anew outflanked by that indefati
gable Gordon. Fifteen hundred yards further back we
again turned at bay. The men hastily gathered rails and
and threw up rude field-works under a long-range fire of
the enemy's artillery. The Nineteenth and Sixth Corps
were united. We had succeeded, at last, in dragging
our left flank out of the grasp of Gordon. We were in
condition to fight a defensive battle.
Ramseur and Pegram, who were on the right con
fronting the Union left, but not flanking it, for at last we
were clear of their flanking columns, finding that they
could not push the Union lines any farther, sent word
to Gen. Early that they must have some assistance,
and accordingly Gen. Warrington, who had just crossed
Cedar Creek, was ordered to their support, and they
once more advanced, but the second division of the Sixth
Corps, under command of Gen. Lewis Grant, with the
Vermont Brigade in the centre, a part of the first division,

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 221
Nineteenth Corps, on the right, watched the advance of
Ramseur, Pegram and Warrington. Grant ordered his
men to wait until they came to close quarters. Then
the orders, "Fire!" "Charge!" and right gallantly
went the old second division of the Sixth Corps ; back for
quite a distance went the three divisions of rebs.. This
was the first check that they had had since morning.
Early immediately placed fifteen pieces of artillery in
position on a hill covering the retreat of his division,
and commanding Grant's position. Gen. Wright, at
this time, sent an order to fall back, and the old war
horse, with his brave and sturdy Vermonters, reluctantly-
obeyed. Gen. Wright, commanding the army, ordered the
whole cavalry force to move from the right to the left
of the army ; but Gen. Torbert, on his own responsi
bility, left three regiments to picket the right, and to this
fact thousands of our men were indebted for their safety,
for this brave man held, this position against great odds
for five hours.
The First and Third Divisions, Generals Merritt and
Custer, were ordered to the left of the army. Merritt's
Division was put in position across the pike just north
of Middletown. Custer was formed on the left of the
First Division. The first brigade. Second Division, Col.
Moore commanding, was formed on the left of the Third
Division. The Horse Batteries, B and L, Second Artil
lery, U.S.A., Lieut. Taylor commanding, was left on the
right, fighting on the infantry line, where It did admir
able service, and was the last artillery to leave the front.

222 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
Too much prai.se cannot be given to the officers and
men of this battery, for their coolness and gallantry on
this occasion. When the infantry was forced back, and
the battery was obliged to retire, it joined its brigade on
the right of the pike, where it immediately went into
adlion. As soon as the cavalry was In position on the
left of the army, they attacked the enemy. Col. Lowell,
commanding reserve brigade, First Division, dismounted
a part of his little band, and they advanced to a strong
position behind a stone wall, from which the enemy's
infantry failed to drive them after I'epeated attempts.
The cavalry fought infantry and artillery only on the left
of the army.
About 12 o'clock, M., the cavalry was moved to the
left about three hundred yards, thus bringing it on the
left of the pike. Thus matters stood with the cavalry
until about 3 p.m., holding on to their ground with more
than their usual dogged persistence, displaying gallantry
which has never 'oeen surpassed, while the infantry was
re-forming several miles on their right and rear.
During this time the second brigade. Second Division,
Col. Powell commanding, fell back slowly (by order) on
the Front Royal and Winchester pike to Stony Point,
and then to a point near Newtown, followed by the rebel
Gen. Lomax's Division of Cavalry, where they remained
during the greater part of the day. Col. Powell thus
prevented the enemy's cavalry from getting on the pike
to attack our trains in the rear.
On the left the battle was going well for us ; in fact,
jt could not be otherwise with the cool and inyjncible

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 223

Merritt on the ground, supported by such soldiers as
Devens and Lowell.
At this time the first brigade. Second Division, was
temporarily under the orders of Gen. Merritt, who was
constantly annoying and attacking the enemy whenever
an opportunity presented itself; although his men were
completely within range of the enemy's sharpshooters,
his shot and shell, and many a horse and rider was made
to bite the dust. They held their ground like men of
steel ; officers and men seemed to know and feel that the
safety of the army, in no small degree, depended upon
their holding their position, and they can never receive
too much credit for the manner in which they did their
duty. The rebels felt this check, and Early became very
anxious, for demoralized troops that could meet and
drive back his three divisions, was a warning which
he must heed.
We supposed we should make a stand in this position.
But we had been driven off the pike ; and as It was
necessary to recover it before we could consider our
communication secure. Gen. Wright again ordered the
whole army to retreat. No longer disturbed by the fire
of the enemy, the line filed into columns of march by
regiments. The columns were three miles from the point where
the fight had commenced, and we had lost one battle ;
we had lost camps, line of earthworks, twenty-four guns
and twelve hundred prisoners ; we had not been routed,
but we had been badly beaten. The battle of the morn
ing and of the afternoon were tyvo different combat§.

CHAPTER XXIX.
The Battle of Cedar Creek. — Sheridan's Ride. —
Battle oj the Afternoon. — A Brilliant Word-Pic
ture. — Defeat of Early. — Victory for the Union
Troops.

JN the meantime, Sheridan had returned from Wash
ington, staying one night at Winchester. On the
morning of the 19th, the Lieutenant in charge of the
pickets reported to him that there was heavy artillery
firing in the diredtion of Cedar Creek. Thinking that it
was only a reconnoitre which did not amount to much,
he ordered his breakfast, and soon after started for the
front, riding out on the pike. When he came to Mill
Creek, he for the first time recognized that something
had happened, for some stragglers and wagons were
coming toward Winchester. Asking an officer in charge
of the train what was the cause of this movement, he
soon learned of the disaster of the morning. Immediately
grasping the situation with that quick perception with
which he was gifted, he ordered the train packed, and a
line of guards to stop stragglers, and telling the men to
face the other way, he rushed up the pike. Meeting
more men, he told them to face about and follow, and he
¦yvould lick the whole d — n rebel army. When he got

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 225
there, the men knew him, and with a cheer they turned
and marched toward the front. Every man felt the in
spiration of this leader.
While this singular transformation was going on in
the rear, the army was not idle. Gen. Wright had or
dered the line once more to fall back. We had just taken
up our new position, when away back in our rear we
could hear a faint cheer. Louder and louder, nearer and
nearer it came, the troops in line wondering what it
could mean, and still the cheering was coming nearer
and nearer. It reached the line of battle on the pike,
passing from regiment to regiment, division to division.
Flags were waving, men were throwing their hats high
in the air, shouting for joy, for we now had a leader.
We had seen him at Opequan and at Fisher Hill, and
knew now that there was to be no more retreat.
Sheridan first ordered the army to the last position It
had just left. It was only a short distance In advance.
The whole army felt the eledlric effedt of the movement.
It was the first advance of the day. No more retreating.
We were advancing and Sheridan had ordered It.
Col. Moore, commanding First Brigade, Second Di
vision, was ordered to join his division at Newtown, and
Col. Powell, commanding the division was diredted to
shove out a strong force to hold the Front Royal and
Winchester pike. About this time, in a charge, the
gallant but lamented Lowell received a severe wound in
the arm and side, but still kept his saddle.
Gen. Torbert, was ordered to send one division of
cavalry on the right of the army, and Gen. Custer's
IS

226 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
Division was immediately sent to that position, where it
arrived just in the nick of time, for the enemy had just
succeeded in crossing — infantry and cavalry — over
Cedar Creek, on the right of the army. But the gallant
Custer was equal to the emergency. He immediately
charged the cavalry, and drove them about a mile in the
most beautiful manner behind their infantry support,
from which they did not show themselves in force again
during the day.
Then for two hours Sheridan rode along the front,
studying the ground and encouraging the men. " Boys,
if I had been here this never sho.uld have happened," he
said in his animated, earnest way. " I tell you it never
should have happened. And now we are going back to
our camps. We are going to get a twist on them. We
are going to lick them out of their boots."
The Sixth Corps held the pike and its vicinity. On
the right the Nineteenth Corps was formed in double
line, under cover of a dense wood, the First Division on
the right, the Second on the left. The line threw up a
rude breastwork of stones, rails and trees, covered by
the advanced line and by a strong force of skirmishers
stationed in front, but still within the forest.
For two hours all was silence, preparation, reorgani
zation and suspense. Then came a message from Sher
idan to Emory that the enemy in column were advancing
against the Nineteenth Corps, and shortly afterwards
the column appeared among the light and shadows of
the woods, making for the centre of our second division.
There vvas an avyful rattle of musketry, which the forest

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 227
re-echoed with a deep roar, and when the firing stopped
and the smoke cleared away, no enemy was visible.
Emory immediately sent word to Sheridan that the attack
had been repulsed.
"That's good ! that's good!" Sheridan answered,
gaily. "Thank God for that! Now, then, tell Gen.
Emory if they attack him again, to go after them and to
follow them up, and to sock it to them ; give them  .
We '11 get the tightest twist on them yet that ever you
saw. W^e '11 have all those camps and cannon back
again." All this with the nervous animation charadteristic of
the man, the eager and confident smile, and the energetic
gesture of the right hand down into the palm of the left
at every repetition of the idea of attack.
At 3.30 came the orders to advance the entire line,
the Nineteenth Corps to move in connedlion with the
Sixth, the right of the Nineteenth to swing towards the
left, so as to drive the enemy upon the pike.
The enemy's left was his strongest point, Kershaw's
Division and Gordon's, which had moved from Early's
right, and Rosser's Cavalry, which had crossed Cedar
Creek on the back road, being supported by successive
wooded crests, while his right ran out to the pike across
undulating, open fields, which presented no natural line
of resistance.
Sheridan's plan was to push them off the crest by a
turning movement of our right, and then, when they
were doubled up on the pike, sling his cavalry at thein
across the Middletown meadows,

228 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
With a solemn tranquility of demeanor our infantry
rose from the position where it had been lying, and ad
vanced through the forest into the open ground beyond.
There was a silence of suspense ; then came a screaming,
cracking, humming rush of shell ; then a prolonged roar
of inusketry, mingled with the long-drawn yell of our
charg^e ; then the artillery ceased, the musketry died into
sputtering bursts, and over all the yell rose triumphant.
Everything on the first line, the stone walls, the advanced
crest, the tangled wood, the half-finished breastworks,
had been carried. The first body of rebel troops to
break and fly was Gordon's Division, the same which
so perseveringly flanked on our left in the morning, now
flanked by our own first division of the Nineteenth Corps.
After this there was a lull in the assault, though not in
the battle. The rebel artillery re-opened spitefully from
a new position, and our musketry responded from the
crest and ¦wood which we had gained.
Sheridan dashed along the front reorganizing the line
for a second charge, cheering the men with his confident
smile and emphatic assurance of success, and giving his
orders in person to brigade, division and corps com
manders. He took special pains with the diredtion of
the Nineteenth Corps, wheeling it in such manner as to
face square towards the pike, and form nearly a right
angle to the enemy's front. The same movement was
developed here as at Fisher Hill — a left half-wheel. So
close did Sheridan make the wheel that we came under
the fire of the Sixth Corps for a short time. The cavalry
did their part in a truly lively manner,

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 229

It was in this general advance that Col. Lowell of
the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, while charging at
the head of his brigade, received a second wound which
proved to be mortal. Thus the service lost one of the
most gallant and accomplished of soldiers. He was a
gallant cavalry officer, and his memory will never die
in the command.
In the general advance. Gen. Custer, commanding
Third Division, left three regiments to attend to the
cavalry in his front, and started with the balance of his
division to take part in the advance against the enemy's
infantry. Thus the cavalry advanced on, both flanks
side by side with the infantry, charging the enemy's line
with an impetuosity which they could not stand.
Now came a second charge upon a second line of stone
walls, crests and thickets, executed with as much enthu
siasm and rapidity as if the army had just come into
adlion. Remember that we had eaten nothing since the
previous evening ; that we had lost our canteens and
¦were tormented with thirst ; that we had been fighting
and manceuvering, frequently at double-quick, for nearly
twelve hours, and that we were sadly diminished in
number^ by the slaughter and confusion of the morning.
Remember that this last battle was retrieved without a
re-enforcement. Only veterans, and veterans of the best
quality — disciplined, intelligent and brave — could put
forth such a supreme effort.
The battle was over. Cavalry on the flanks and in
fantry centre, the second line was carried with the same
rush and with even greater ease than the first.

230 CAMPAIGNING With sheridaN.
Again Early's army was " whirling up the valley " in
more helpless confusion this time than after Winchester
or Strasburg, no exertions of the rebel officers being suf
ficient to establish another line of resistance, or to check
even momentarily the flow and spread of the panic.
But the fighting soon swept far ahead of the tired in
fantry, which followed in perfedl peace over the ground
that during the morning it had stained with the blood of
its retreat. Dead and wounded men, dead and wounded
horses, dismounted guns, broken-down caissons, muskets
with their stocks shivered and their barrels bent double
by shot, splinters of shells, battered bullets. The number
of slaughtered horses was truly extraordinary, showing
how largely the cavalry had been used, and how obsti
nately the artillery had been fought.
It was nearly dark when our corps reached its camps.
No new arrangement of the line was attempted. In the
twilight of evening the regiments filed Into the same
position that they had quitted in the twilight of dawn ;
and the tired soldiers lay down to rest among dead com
rades and dead enemies. They had lost everything.
Their shelter tents, knapsacks, canteens and haversacks
had been plundered by the rebels, and they slept that
night as they fought that day, without food. But there
was no rest for the enemy or for our cavalry. All the
way from our camps to Strasburg, a distance of foup
miles, the pike was strewn with the debris of a beaten
army, and the scene in Strasburg itself was such a flood
of confused flight as no other defeat of the war can
parallel. Guns, caissons, ammunition wagons, baggage

CAMPAIGNING With shEridan. 231
wagons and ambulances by the hundred, with dead or
entangled and struggling horses, were jammed In the
streets of the little town, impeding alike fugitives and
pursuers.

CHAPTER XXX.
Gathering in the Spoils. — Thanks of Congress. —
The Second Division Ordered to go to Savannah,
Ga. — Great Destruction of Property in the Shen
andoah.

THE vidtory was pushed, as Sheridan pushed all his
vidtories, to the utmost possible limit of success.
The cavalry halted that night at Fisher Hill, with Gen.
Dwight's First Division, Nineteenth Corps, at Hupp's
Hill, but started again at dawn, and continued the chase
to Woodstock, sixteen miles from Middletown.
The amount of material captured in this vidtory was
extraordinary. Forty-nine pieces of artillery, of which
twenty-four had been lost by us and re-taken, while the
others were Early's own. In addition, the rebels lost fifty
wagons ; sixty-five ambulances, some of them marked
"Stonewall Brigade;" sixteen hundred small arms, sev
eral battle flags, fifteen hundred prisoners, and two tho'U-
sand killed and wounded. Our loss was. Sixth Corps,
killed, wounded and missing, twenty-two hundred and
twenty-five ; Nineteenth Corps, twenty-four hundred ;
Eighth Corps, eight hundred and fifty ; cavalry, two
hundred and twenty-four. Total, five thousand eight
hundred and ninety-nine.

campaigning with SHERIDAN. 233

Of all the retrieved battles in history, this one seems
the most remarkable. It is more wonderful than Shiloh,
in this respedl, that the abandoned arena was re-gained
by the very men who lost it, without other aid than their
own unwearied courage, guided by a master spirit. The
only re-enforcement which the Army of the Shenandoah
received, or needed, to recover its lost field of battle,
camps, entrenchments and cannon, was one man — P. H.
Sheridan. The rebel army rested in its entrenchments on Fisher
Hill, but long before dawn, retreated to Newmarket.
Rosser remained some hours as rear-guard at Fisher's
Hill, but in his turn soon retreated, sharply pursued by
our cavalry beyond Woodstock. He then established his
line on Stony Creek, from Columbia Furnace to Eden-
burg, about half-way between Woodstock and Mt. Jack
son. Lomax drew back through the Luray Valley, and
took post in the narrow gorge at Milford, which he suc
cessfully held against Powell, covering Early's right flank
beyond the Massanutten.
November 9th, Sheridan withdrew his army to Kerns
town, where it could find better quarters in the waning
season, and a shorter line of supply, informed by his
scouts of this movement, and thinking it might mean the
detachment of troops to Petersburg, the next morning
Early massed his whole army from Newmarket, and
crossing Cedar Creek, advanced down the pike to Mid
dletown. Sheridan soon had his army in readiness for
battle, and diredted Torbert, about noon of the 12th, to
move out the cavalry corps, Merritt's and Custer's Di-

234 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
vision, to the right on the back and middle roads, against
Rosser, and Powell to the left, on the Front Royal pike,
against Lomax. Rosser was speedily driven across Ce
dar Creek by our cavalry, while Pennington, in advance,
was so hotly pressed that Lomax was moved over to his
assistance. Thereupon, Powell, falling upon McCaus
land's Brigade at Stony Point, routed it, driving it com
pletely across the Shenandoah, and through Front Royal
up the Luray Valley, capturing Its two guns and several
caissons and ammunition wagons, besides twenty officers,
two hundred and twenty- five men and two battle flags.
Dudley's Brigade of the Nineteenth Corps, and a skirm
ish line of the Sixth Corps moved out in support of the
cavalry, advancing three miles from the intrenchments,
and the whole army was ordered to be on the alert for
the 13th.
Early had withdrawn under cover of the night, his
rear guard of infantry being slightly harassed by Mer
ritt. He returned to his camp at Newmarket the 14th.
Sheridan sent word to Grant on the following day, that
Early's army had increased "in numbers, and his inspec
tion reports indicated a large infantry force, but that he
had withdrawn from Middletown.
At the beginning of December, Lee called for the
return of his Second Corps to Petersburg, for campaign
ing in the valley was ended ; whereas, it was still possible
at Richmond. Grant called for the Sixth Corps, and
both bodies started a division at a time. Not long
afterward. Early broke up his camp at Newmarket,
leaving cavalry pickets and a signal party on Tree-Top

CAMt>AIGNlNG WlTI-I SHERiDAN. 235

Mountain, and moved his remaining infantry, Wharton's
Division with the artillery and cavalry, back to Staunton
for winter quarters. December 9th, two brigades of
the last division of the Sixth Corps left Kernstown, and
Warner's quitted Monocacy the 12th, so tliat by the
middle of the month the whole corps was again with the
Army of the Potomac, adding new laurels to their grand
record. Crook's coinmand next departed, one division
to City Point, and the other afterwards to West Virginia,
to check the enemy's operations there. At the close of
the year Sheridan had left of infantry only the Nineteenth
Corps. The following spicy order was issued by Sheri
dan : — - HEADqUARTERS MiDDLK MILITARY DIVISION.
The citizens of Winchester, and all other citizens within the
lines of this army, are hereby notified that there is a legitimate
channel, via the flag of truce, for communication with people in
rebellion against the government ; that all communication must
go by this channel, and that it is best not to violate this order.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General Commanding.
The following is the amount of property destroyed by
Sheridan's army in the valley : One hundred and one
pieces of artillery, eighty-three artillery carriages and
limbers, thirty-five caissons, five thousand and sixty-
seven small arms, two anvils, twenty-three thousand
rounds of artillery ammunition, one hundred and twenty-
eight double sets of artillery harness, seven medical

236 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
wagons, one hundred and thirty-seven ambulances, one
hundred and thirty-one wagons, ten hundred and six sets
of harness, forty-nine battle fiags, ten hundred and forty
sets of horse equipments, four thousand two hundred and
forty horses, one million and sixty-one thousand rounds
of small-arm ammunition, five hundred and fifty-three
mules, fourteen thousand one hundred and sixty-three
small arms, three saltpetre works, eight saw jnills, three
box cars, one powder mill, six distilleries, one locomotive,
seven furnaces, one hundred and twenty flour mills, one
railroad depot, one woollen mill, twenty-three hundred
barns, four tanneries, eight hundred and seventy-four
barrels of flour, twenty-two thousand bushels of oats,
four hundred and sixty thousand and seventy-two bushels
of wheat, fifty-one thousand three hundred and eighty
tons of hay, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand and
seventy-six bushels of corn, five hundred tons of fodder,
sixteen thousand four hundred and thirty-eight beef cat
tle, two hundred and fifty calves, four hundred and fifty
tons of straw, sixteen thousand one hundred and forty-
one swine, twelve thousand pounds of bacon, seventeen
thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven sheep, ten thou
sand pounds of tobacco, three factories, two thousand
and five hundred bushels of potatoes, nine hundred and
forty-seven miles of rails, one thousand six hundred and
sixty-five pounds of cotton yarn.
The campaign of the valley was closed, and the Nine
teenth Corps was to separate, after two and a half years.
The First Division was placed in the department at
Washington. These are the joint resolutions, tendering

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 237

the thanks of Congress to Maj. -Gen. Philip H. Sheridan
and the officers and men under his command : —
Be it resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled. That the
thanks of Congress are hereby tendered to Major-General Philip
H. Sheridan, and to the officers and men under his command,
for the gallantry, military skill and courage displayed in the bril
liant series of vidtories achieved by them in the Valley of the
Shenandoah, and especially for their services at Cedar Creek, on
the 9th day of 0(5tober, 1864, which retrieved the fortunes of the
day, and thus averted a great disaster.
And be it further resolved. That the President of the United
States be, and hereby is, requested to communicate this reso
lution to Major-General Sheridan, and through him to the
officers and soldiers under his command.
Approved February gth, 1865.
Ordered by the Secretary of War.
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
The Second Division, under command of Gen. Grover,
was ordered to Savannah, Ga. Marching orders were
received January 5th, and before daylight the next morn
ing the division was groping its way through the silent
streets to the outskirts of the town, where it awaited the
arrival of the train at Stephenson's Station, five miles
from Winchester. We were obliged to wait several
hours in a cold rainstorm while the train was being
made up. Then we were packed close in cattle cars.
We rode to Baltimore, reaching that city on the morn
ing of the yth. Upon arriving at Baltimore the division

238 CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN.
was quartered at Camp Carroll, near the old camp from
which we had departed over two years before.
The second division. Nineteenth Corps, left Camp
Carroll January 13th. Marching through the streets of
Baltimore, we took transports at the wharves. Stores
were taken on board at Fortress Monroe, and at 3 p.m.
on the 15th, the fleet took its departure for the South,
arriving at the mouth of the Savannah river on the 19th.
No large ships had been up the main channel through
the obstruction since the occupation of Savannah by
Gen. Sherman, and the undertaking was a delicate one.
The men crowded the rigging and deck, barely giving
the pilot a chance to see his course ; but had it been
generally known that there were seventeen torpedoes
still in the harbor, between the anchorage and the city,
curiosity might not have been so adtive.
The passage of the obstrudlion was successfully made,
and the city reached before dark. The warehouses, the
wharves, and the few citizens seen, all had a decayed,
broken-down look, and the fog hanging over the river
added to the gloominess of the scene. On the Mississippi
and in the Shenandoah Valley, the men had seen the
destrudtion produced by adlual conflidt ; where the shot
and shell had whirled through the air, and plunged into
storehouse and dwelling. Here they saw the effedls of
war on the prosperity of a thriving commercial city,
which had seen no battle horrors, but which had been
shut up within Itself to live on its own resources.
At this time Savannah presented a scene of desolation
sad to behold, even in an enemy's country. Pool§ pf

CAMPAIGNING WITH SHERIDAN. 239
green, stagnant water, stood in the principal streets, the
beautiful squares had been stripped of their railings and
fences to build the shanties of Sherman's troops, who
were encamped all through the city. The houses, as
well as the stores, were closed and apparently tenantless.
The broad avenues were deserted, except by passing
soldiers. The night of January 27th the arsenal was set on fire,
causing great destrudtion of property, and March 4th the
brigade, under command of Col. Day, was placed on
transports and sailed for Cape Fear River, running up as
far as Wilmington. Returning, we passed Fort Fisher,
arriving at Morehead City on the Sth. We found cars
waiting, and rode to Newbern. April 9th found us at
Goldsboro, under coinmand of Gen. Birge. Then came
the news of Lee's surrender, and we could see the dawn
of peace.

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