Louisiana in the Civil War

30th Massachusetts' Tour in Louisiana, Part VI

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Henry Warren Howe was a member of the 30th Massachusetts during the war. Howe's regiment was organized in December of 1861 and served in Virginia before it was sent to Ship Island. From February 12th - April 15th, the 30th Massachusetts garrisoned Ship Island. The regiment was attached to the Department of the Gulf in August 1862 and served in Louisiana until the summer of 1864. Howe wrote a book following the war titled, Life of Henry Warren Howe, Consisting of Diary and Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865: A Condensed History of the Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiment and Its Flags, together with Genealogies of the Different Branches of the Family.

Howe's entries during June-July 1863, during the Siege of Port Hudson and immediately afterwards. This will end the postings of Howe's entries. There are some letters of Howe's we will past later.

June 17, 1863. Returned from Port Hudson. Hada tough time. Our company had one man killed and three wounded.

June 24, 1863. General Weitzel's Brigade returnedafter driving the enemy in the rear beyond Jackson.

June 25, 26, 27, 1863. Pleasant. Nothing new. Onpicket on Bayou Sara road. Returned at night. We occupy the same grounds thatthe enemy held at Clinton Plains fight.

June 28, 1863. Very warm. Temporarily in commandof Company

June 29, 1863. Making out muster rolls; also themonthly returns.

June 30, 1863. Marched to-day. The stormingparty, consisting of four officers and thirty men, were mustered separately.

July 1, 1863. Pleasant. General Banks promisedto be in the fort on the Fourth. One thousand stormers. My Captain is one ofthem. The rebel cavalry is hovering round.

July 2, 1863. March of eleven miles after 11 a.m. to cut off intruders. They got ahead of us. Letter from home. Family veryanxious.

July 3, 1863. Expect an attack will be madeto-morrow, as General Banks says the Stars and Stripes will hang over theirheads to-morrow.

July 4, 1863. Showery and very warm. No attack;got plenty of corn and that is all. Everybody is growing impatient. Very dullday. On guard at night. >

July 6, 1863. Slight fever to-day. Took quininefor the first time in my life.

July 7, 1863. A despatch from General Grant. Vicksburg surrendered onthe Fourth. We fired one hundred rounds at noon. Stated that twenty-seven thousand men were taken prisoners.

July 8,1863. The report that Port Hudson surrenderedthis morning. Hope it is true. Waiting in suspense. Hurrah!! It is confirmed.

July 9, 1863. Our brigade marched into Port Hudson to-day.The entrenchments are immense. Reason of surrender, they were out ofprovisions.

July 10, 1863. We arrived at Port Hudson atsunrise. Our division, General Weitzel's, goes to Donaldsonville. Unconditionalsurrender.

July 11, 1863. Pleasant. We made a reconnoissancefour miles out. Drove the picket in; our company acted as skirmishers.

July 12, 1863. Our division moved out to-day onboth sides of the Bayou; we went out four miles and encamped for the night;Lieutenant Brent Johnston was wounded.

July 13, 1863. On picket; we were attacked onboth sides of the Bayou, our regiment on the right; hard fighting; our loss waseight killed and twenty-five wounded. I was hit by a spent ball on the leg.

July 14, 1863. Showery. News that General Lee hadbeen whipped in Virginiawith great loss. Wrote home to-day. The dead were brought in and buried, lossfrom four to five hundred.

July 15, 1863. The regiment was consolidated intosix companies, eight officers for duty. I am in command of Company B, the colorcompany.

July 16, 1863. Boats passed coming down from St. Louis and above.

July 17, 1863. Obtained a furlough to go to Baton Rouge to bemustered; I arrived at 4 p. m., and was mustered to date from September 1, 1862.

July 18, 1863. Took a stroll about the town andvisited our sick officers. There were from five to six thousand wounded andsick in Baton Rouge.

July 19, 1863. Stopped with Lieutenant J. P.Haley, whose company is on provost duty. Lieutenant Johnston is quitecomfortable. Received and wrote a letter home. Returned at 8 p. m.

July 20, 1863. Arrived at 1 o'clock p. m. and went to the bivouac.Nothing new.

July 21, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Bullock hasgone to Baton Rouge.Two regiments are ordered to the city, New Orleans. The rebels are all gone to Texas.

July 22, 1863. Showery. On picket. Expect to bepaid soon; am making out pay rolls.

July 23, 1863. All quiet last night, was relievedat 10 a. m. by the officers of the 161st New York Regiment. Worked on payrolls.

July 24, 1863. Made out pay rolls for May andJune. Mighty hard finding anything to eat except commissary stores.

July 25, 1863. Five of our officers are in New Orleans, on leave ofabsence; a certain few have to do all the work. The boys are getting sick againthe same as last year.

July 26, 1863. It is rumored that we go to Baton Rouge; anything fora change from bivouac.

July 27, 1863. Very warm. The prisoners came downfrom Vicksburg,going to Mobile.

July 28, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Bullock andCaptain Creasy returned from New Orleans. We have received a set of colors fromGovernor Andrew.

July 29, 1863. Received letters from home.Lieutenant Davis on picket. The regiment received two months' pay.

July 30,1863. Showery. Under marching orders togo to Baton Rouge.A brigade passed, going to Tibadeaux.

July 31, 1863. Went aboard at 2 p. m. Marched tothe camp, tired enough. Our brigade is all up now. Colonel N. A. M. Dudleycommands the division and will be in command of the city. All the principalGenerals have gone North on furloughs. Lieutenant Gardner has returned, havingbeen one year on furlough; he was on detached duty; was wounded last summer,August 5th.

7th Louisiana at Camp Moore, 1861

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Found this article in the New Orleans Daily True Delta on June 2, 1861. Its a letter from Crescent Rifles, Co. B became Company E, 7^th LouisianaInfantry.

Louisiana Rum

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Joshua M. Addeman of the 14th Rhode Island [Colored] Heavy Artillery Battalion left us this comment on "Louisiana Rum:"

"At the same time, we were trying to make a permanent improvement in the way above indicated, we were troubled by difficulties, which were incident to army life at all times. Liquor, of course, would make trouble for us, and I think I never knew of any stimulant more demoralizing, in its way, than Louisiana rum. This fiery fluid would arouse all the furies in a man when it had him under its control."

30th Massachusetts' Tour in Louisiana, Part V

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Henry Warren Howe was a member of the 30th Massachusetts during the war. Howe's regiment was organized in December of 1861 and served in Virginia before it was sent to Ship Island. From February 12th - April 15th, the 30th Massachusetts garrisoned Ship Island. The regiment was attached to the Department of the Gulf in August 1862 and served in Louisiana until the summer of 1864. Howe wrote a book following the war titled, Life of Henry Warren Howe, Consisting of Diary and Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865: A Condensed History of the Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiment and Its Flags, together with Genealogies of the Different Branches of the Family.

Howe's April-May 1863 entries:

April 1, 1863. Pleasant. Inspection at 12.30 by the A. A. Inspector of theDivision. No drill in the afternoon. General Emery's division has gone down theriver. General Auger's is the only one left, consisting of two brigades, the 3dbrigade, General Weitzel's, being down the river. Received a letter dated March1.

April 2, 1863. Nothing new. Drills in the morning and in the afternoon.

April 3, 1863. Pleasant. Company drill in the morning, battalion drill in theafternoon. Lieutenant-Colonel has gone to New Orleans. Received some stores for our mess. Last weekit cost us $6.27 each.

April 4, 1863. I am on guard.

April 5, 1863. Sunday. Our pickets have beendrawn in. The details are quite large. Detailed to-day: four Captains, sixLieutenants, and two hundred men. The enemy are hovering about us and aregrowing quite bold. Some of our men have deserted. The vedettes were fired uponlast night. I was relieved at 1 o'clock p. m. Visited the barracks in the afternoon. Theentrenchments are very strong and built to resist any attack. Have beenrelieved from the command of Company H, as the officers have reported for duty.

April 6, 1863. Pleasant. Drills as usual. Thetrees, underbrush, etc., are being cleared away on the old battle grounds wherewe had the fight last Summer.

April 7, 1863. Tuesday. Pleasant. Drills. We are a well drilled regiment; oughtto be by this time. Made out my company's quarterly return.

April 8, 1863. Pleasant. Quiet. No battalion drillto-day. Orders to fix up our tents so it will be cooler. I have a floor inmine, and raised it to allow air space underneath.

April 9, 1863. Quiet about camp. Men are at workon tents.

April 10, 1863. Pleasant. I am detailed as Acting-Quartermaster, becauseQuartermaster Tenny has been sent out on an expedition. Drew ten days' rationsfor the regiment.

April 11, 1863. Pleasant. Saturday. I am quite sick with the summer complaint.

April 12, 1863. Pleasant in the morning, showersin the afternoon. I am feeling better to-day. The sentence of the Court Martialwas read at inspection this morning; four of our regiment were sentenced, someto Ship Island, to serve out the balance oftheir term of enlistment without pay.

April 13, 1863. Am better. This is the first timeI have been off duty since last August.

April 14,1863. Showery last night. I am feeling better. Went to the mess todinner. Wrote to mother.

April 15, 1863. Pleasant. Brigade drill in the afternoon. I reported for dutyto-day. One year ago our regiment left Ship Islandfor New Orleans.

April 16, 1863. Pleasant. We practised at targetfiring this morning. Brigade drill in the afternoon. Captain Fiske is stillserving on Court Martial.

April 17, 1863. I am on picket with LieutenantLoring, his company being detailed on the Bayou Sara Road, which leads to Port Hudson. Allquiet. I passed a lady and four children through the lines to Port Hudson. Wasrelieved at 7.30 the next morning.

April 18, 1863. Saturday. My company is detailedfor picket. Lieutenant Porefi, Company C, is on with me. I am captain of theguard, which numbers forty men. We are on the Port Hudson road.Quiet all day. The officer of the day visited us at noon; said a cavalry raid was expected; seemedquite excited. I didn't scare worth a cent; in fact, hoped it would come off.However, I arranged my men so as to be ready, but instead a heavy shower camearound, and the lightning struck a tree near us. The shock was felt by us allas though -we had been connected with a galvanic battery.

April 19, 1863. Sunday. Relieved at 9 a. m.Inspection at 4 o'clock p.m. It turns out that our forces had quite a fight at Brashear City.

April 20, 1863. Pleasant, but warm. Target practice in the morning, battaliondrill in the afternoon. Fiske has gone to New Orleans to see his brother, who was wounded at Brashear City.

April 21,1863. Target practice this morning. Battalion drill this afternoon,after which I dressed in white pants and linen coat. Quite comfortable.

April 22, 1863. Pleasant. Am on picket with Lieutenant Brown, Company I. On the Clinton road. Some prettygirls came in from the country, but were obliged to take the oath. Occasionallyone returns and will not take it. Then she is sent outside the lines.

April 23,1863. Believed at 9 a. m. Captain Ferrisof our regiment was officer of the day. His wife went the rounds with him onhorseback.

April 24, 1863. Friday. Our brigade are throwingup entrenchments in front of our camp.

April 25, 1863. Detailed for guard. Am not feeling well.

April 26, 1863. Pleasant. Nothing new. Am excused from duty. Letters from home;father received $50 from the express company for the loss of my trunk on thesteamer which was sunk when coming out to New Orleans.

April 27, 1863. Am still off duty, but feelsomewhat better. The men signed the pay rolls to-day. General Banks and histroops are up the Red River, having marchedover the country from Brashear City, driving the enemybefore them, with quite a loss on both sides.

April 28, 1863. Am still off duty. One year ago we were on board the ship North America at Forts Jackson and Philip.

April 29, 1863. Pleasant. Am feeling better to-day. The regiment is being paidto-day. I cannot receive any pay because I have not been mustered as an officernor discharged as a Quartermaster's Sergeant. I have acted as Lieutenant since August 31, 1862, and yethave never received pay as such. I hope the matter will be settled soon.

April 30, 1863. Pleasant. Muster and inspectionto-day. I feel about the same. My cold has settled on my tonsils and they arebadly swollen.

May 1, 1863. Pleasant. Friday. Still sick.
May 2, 1863. Amfeverish to-day and bilious.

May 3, 1863. Very hot, but convalescent. Havenot had Surgeon. May 4, 1863.Pleasant. I am quartered in a house near our camp. Lieutenant Johnston is inthe same room, ill with a fever.

May 5, 1863. Showery. Feel better to-day. Mynegro was cleaning my pistol when it went oft and hit another negro in the legwho was fooling with him. In the melee a soldier stole the pistol.

May 6, 1863. Pleasant. Found my pistol andpreferred charges against the thief, one of Company B's men.

May 7, 1863. Pleasant. A regiment of cavalryarrived on the 2d, having come through from General Grant's army, Tennessee. It was agreat raid, and they destroyed a large amount of property. They looked veryrough and hardy.

May 8, 1863. Pleasant. I feel right smartto-day. Went to the mess room to dinner. Mail arrived; no letter for me.

May 9, 1863. Pleasant. Am feeling tip-top. Allquiet about camp.

May 10, 1863. Dry and dusty. Inspection andreview. May 11, 1863.We are under marching orders with two days' rations.

May 12, 1863. Our brigade marched at 4 o'clock on the Clinton road; the Illinois cavalry are in advance. Marchedtwelve miles, driving the enemy's pickets back; then crossed over to the BayouSara road and bivouacked for the night; a hard march and hot; made seventeenmiles. My Captain was taken sick at night with congestive chills; he was verysick. Lieutenant Fay and I watched with him all night. Firing was heard at Port Hudson bytbe gunboats. We were nine miles from the Fort. I think we are to threatenwhile the cavalry make a raid on Clinton.I came near giving out on the march. It is reported that a brigade of the enemyare four miles from us.

May 13, 1863. Cloudy. Started at sunrise, thecavalry ahead. My Captain has gone to Baton Rouge. He is a little better. I thought he would die.

May 14, 1863. Resumed march at sunrise; wentthree miles, halted, while the cavalry went in advance and destroyed twohundred feet of railroad on the Clintonroad. Some skirmishing Very dusty, hot. Returned to camp where we started fromin the morning. We intend to destroy a bridge on the Clinton road. The cavalry drove fifty head ofcattle in. Bombarding was heard at night. The Fiftieth still remain on the Clinton road. Chapin'sBrigade is expected to the front to join us. Rain last night.

May 15, 1863. We still remain at Alexander's Plantation. Something hasbitten me on one of my eyes, and it is badly swollen. Captain returned to-day.Good news from Joe Hooker's army. Fredericksburgcaptured, with many prisoners.

May 16, 1863. Saturday. Sixteen Confederateprisoners were brought in. Long roll at 4 p. m. Rain in the night.

May 17, 1863. Sunday. Inspection. Our musketswere discharged to-day. Eight officers quarter under two tent flies, lying onrails with blankets over them. The cavalry are busy.

May 18, 1863. Pleasant. Long roll at 1 a. m.,occasioned by contrabands coming in.

May 19, 1863. Tuesday. Took a bath and changedmy underclothing. I feel better.

May 20, 1863. The swelling has gone from myface. A scouting party went out to-day. Went to the rifle pits near Port Hudson. Twobrigades and artillery are now here.

May 21, 1863. Orders to march at 5 a. m. Nowhite troops in Baton Rougeexcept the Provost Guard. Two years ago to-day I enlisted for three years andsailed from Bostonfor Fortress Monroe, Va., in a Lowellcompany called the Richardson Light Infantry, Captain P. A. Davis. How shortthe time seems; I am now quite a veteran soldier. Marched four miles, when fourcompanies of our regiment were ordered to the front for skirmish duty, mycompany being one of the four. Proceeded about half a mile when we discoveredrebel cavalry, fired at them and they returned the fire; deployed and tried toflank them, when they opened with field pieces on us, consequently we learnedtheir position. Our main force advanced and our artillery opened on them. Afterawhile they retired and we advanced to their works, called Plain Store. Theroads cross here, running to Port Hudson, Clintonand Jackson. In the afternoon the enemy advanced from Port Hudson andthe Bayou Sara road and opened fire. Chapin's brigade was then placed inadvance. I never wish to see hotter firing. They charged on a battery we weresupporting, on the Port Hudson road,but were put to flight by the 116th New York and the 49th Massachusetts; the 48th Massachusetts broke and ran. On the BayouSara road the artillery silenced them. During the day our regiment wasskirmishing and supporting batteries; my company was the first to arrive on thePlains after the enemy evacuated. They had six pieces of artillery and fourhundred infantry supporting them, Arkansastroops principally. Reinforcements have arrived from New Orleans. At night our regiment wasordered to support a battery at the cross roads. I think our division lost onehundred men in killed and wounded. Lieutenant Fred Norcross and two privateswere wounded in our regiment. Hot fighting.

May 22, 1863. Cloudy; some rain. Nodemonstration by the enemy to-day. I visited the grounds where the enemycharged on the 48th Massachusetts.Some dead were lying about. A flag of truce for two hours. The enemy say theylost in killed, wounded and missing about four hundred. General Sherman'sbrigade has arrived from New Orleans.Banks has crossed the river from above.

May 23, 1863. Pleasant. Good news! Banks isthree miles above us with Grover's division. Clinton railroad bridge is ours. GeneralGrant has whipped Johnstonat Jackson, Miss., and captured sixtyone pieces ofartillery. Rain.

May 24, 1863. Pleasant. Orders to-day to march.Two days' rations. The troops proceeded up the Bayou Sara road. Two brigadeswent the Port Hudson roadtwo miles, then went right and left of the road. Our brigade camped a mile anda half from the enemy's rifle pits, which can be seen plainly. An artilleryfire on both sides opened and continued until sunset. Shells flew thick andfast. Grover's division on the right, Auger's in the centre and Sherman's on the left, atSpringfield'sLanding. General Banks passed us on the way up. Two of our companies supporteda section of the New Yorkbattery, thirty-pound Parrots, at night. No firing at night.

May 25, 1863. Pleasant. The troops still hold theirposition. The enemy opened on our section in the afternoon and we replied. Anattempt has been made by the enemy to cut their way through our right, but theywere driven back. Our brigade marched over and formed a line of battle. Therewere four lines. Remained all night and returned in the morning; distance threemiles. A shell burst right over my bunk in the afternoon; a piece went under mybed.

May 26, 1863. Quiet in the morning. GeneralDudley called us together and said the place was to be bombarded for five hoursto-morrow, then stormed by the infantry. Volunteers were called for from eachregiment in the division, numbering from 25 to 35. One Captain and Lieutenantto each squad to advance as a storming party. Fascines were being made to carryto fill the trenches. No trouble about volunteers. All our officers volunteeredexcept one, consequently lots were drawn and Lieutenant Tom Johnston andLieutenant N. K. Read drew the numbers. Although we are going into a terribleconflict, the boys feel gay and happy. We came to fight for our country, andwhy should we falter? The Stars and Stripes must be planted on theirentrenchments. I think we have about sixteen thousand men, all told, the enemyabout seven thousand.

May 27,1863, to June 14,1863. Advanced towards thefortifications from all points. Our brigade took the centre; drove the enemyinside their works. I was never so exhausted in my life. It was very hot. Therewere narrow escapes from day to day. We arrived to within from four to sixhundred yards of their works and held our position behind trees, stumps, etc.,firing at them whenever they showed their heads above the works. Private Mullenand myself stood behind one tree and a bullet struck him. I thought he wasfatally wounded. Two grand assaults were made on them; both failed. For threeweeks our regiment acted as sharpshooters in front of the entrenchments, after which we wereordered to Plain Store, where we remained until they surrendered. Our ColorSergeant, Francis Shattuck, was shot in the ankle. One of my Corporals, MartinSmith, 2d, takes the colors.

Fenner's Louisiana Battery

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Lieutenant Colonel Charles D. Dreux's 1st Louisiana Battalion was originally part of the 1st Louisiana Regulars. In May of 1861, Dreux's five company battalion was ordered to Virginia. The battalion served on the James River Peninsular in Virginia until May 1862. On May 1, 1862, the battalion was disbanded (its term of service expired). When this battalion disbanded Captain Charles E. Fenner of Company A "Louisiana Guards" organized a large portion of the men into a battery.

Fenner's Battery held elections on May 4th at Jackson, Mississippi and were accepted in service on May 16, 1862. Here's an account by Mrs. Fannie A. Beers of Fenner's Battery.

Fannie A. Beers, Memories: A Record of Personal Experiences and Adventure During Four Years of War (1889), 227-243

FENNER'S LOUISIANA BATTERY.
Dear friends, when you read the caption of this page in my book of "Memories," do not accuse me in your hearts of favoritism. Of all soldiers who wore the gray, only one was nearer than others to my heart. I took no special pride in one organization above others, save in the command to which my husband belonged. Surely this is quite natural.

Who does not remember the epidemic of blue cockades which broke out in New Orleans during the winter of 1860 and 1861, and raged violently throughout the whole city? The little blue cockade, with its pelican button in the centre and its two small streamers, was the distinguishing mark of the "Secessionist."
By none was it more universally and proudly worn than by the youth and young men, who, in April, 1861, discarded it with their citizen's dress and began "the wearing of the gray," which they have helped to make a garb of honor and a glory forever.

When the Dreaux Battalion embarked for Pensacola, it was with a definite purpose in view, and a certain conviction that they would at once meet and vanquish the enemy. Their prowess was to teach the Yankee a lesson and to settle matters inside of sixty days. They fully expected to fight, and were eager to begin. Day after day, night after night, they momentarily expected an assault upon Fort Pickens. But they did not expect to be set at the hard duty of digging and wheeling sand hour after hour, and throwing up intrenchments under a burning sun.

Then the irksomeness of being under military discipline, which at first was frequently infringed. For instance, a party of Orleans Cadets overstayed their leave of absence an hour or two; "upon our return we found ourselves locked up in the guard-house for four hours and a half."

Here is an account of one of the monotonous days, transcribed from a letter of one of the Orleans Cadets, a boy who had been used at home to take his coffee before rising, a late, comfortable breakfast, and to walk down-town at his leisure on the shady side of the street, clad in the cool, white linen suit then so universally worn: "Wo get up at five o'clock to attend roll-call; at 6.30 get our coffee and our breakfast, which consists of crackers and salt pork; at 7.30, back to our tents and pack our knapsack, rub our guns, and get ready for parade at nine o'clock.

"We are now drilling at light infantry tactics (Hardee's), which occupies until eleven. We then wash our clothes, bring wood for the cook, also water and various other things; dine at two, and again drill at four until dark ; get our supper at seven; lie around until roll-call at nine; afterward go to bed to dream of home.
"General Bragg has just sent us word that we are to be exempt from hard labor at present."

It is not to be supposed that the men were confined to the rations here mentioned. All had money and could buy additional food; most of the messes had negro servants, who were excellent cooks, and boxes of goodies arrived continually from home. But, as I said before, the strict discipline, combined with deprivation of the glorious fighting in which they had expected to participate, was terribly irksome.

It was a most welcome order which transferred them to Virginia, and to the shady and delightful camping ground which I have described in a former article (Introductory). An order to join the forces about to engage in the battle of Manassas was countermanded on account of a movement of the enemy which resulted in the "affair" at "Bethel Church." They remained upon the Peninsula under General McGruder, who was successfully holding McClellan in check by appearing at every point assailed by the Federals.

"The forces under General McGruder were the only obstacle in McClellan's road to Richmond.

"Under these circumstances, McGruder, with superb rashness, threw out his whole force as skirmishers, along a line of nine or ten miles.

"The Dreaux Battalion bore a conspicuous part in all the operations of this campaign." Later, the battalion went into winter quarters.

Because I wish to contrast the condition of these men during the first part of their service and when, later, they encountered inconceivable hardships and deprivations, I will here give entire a letter from one of the battalion, kindly placed at my disposal, describing the " house-warming" which was given when they moved into winter quarters on the Peninsula:

"Camp Rightor, November 29, 1861. "I received yours of the 14th a few days since, and the 20th yesterday, both of which I will answer in one. The half-barrel of sugar was received long since, as you will see by looking over my letter to you about three weeks ago. The sugar came through in good order, also the white sugar, medicine, and coffee; the latter we use sparingly, mixing it with wheat,—one-third coffee and two-thirds wheat. The wheat does not seem to change the flavor in the least. Sweet potatoes are also used in camp in place of coffee,—you dry it, then parch and grind it; we have not tried that method yet on account of the scarcity of potatoes. All our cabins are finished at last; the tents are used no more to sleep in. Our house-warming has taken place. We made about ten gallons of egg-nog for the occasion; we used about six dozen eggs. Walton's mess was over, and a good many from the rifles; various members from both companies of the guards. Also the major, doctor, adjutant, and Lieutenant Dunn, Grevot Guards. They say it was the best nog they ever drank; the house was crowded. The nog gave out, and we had to produce the jug. If we had had our sick messmate from Williamsburg, we would have had noise (Noyes) all night, but as it was it only lasted until one o'clock. Everybody in camp seemed to be trying to make more noise than his neighbor. Beard told us next day that it was a very well conducted affair, that everything passed off so quietly with so much nog as that. He evidently went to bed early after ho left us. 1 saw Posey yesterday, he was looking badly, seeming to have been troubled with the chills for some time. Since it has become so cold we have had to take the cook in the house, which makes eleven. This boy out snores creation, beating anything you ever heard ; he woke me up last night, and I thought it was the dog Cadet barking outside at the door.

"If you get this before ma sends off the expected-to-besent package, and if there is some room, you might put in one blanket. Since we sleep two in a bunk, we spread our blankets across the hunk. Brunet has three, and I have three, which makes it equal to six apiece. Send the blanket; it shall do its share of warming, I assure you. I suppose what ma sends will be my share of Christmas in New Orleans. Our turkeys look droopy, and there is no telling when they will peg out. We keep the gobbler's spirits up by making him fight. The camp is full of turkeys, and we make ours fight every day. I have plenty of clothes and socks: I Have over half a dozen of woollen socks.

"The Gopher Mess send their best regards.
"Yours affectionately,
"Co. A, Orleans Cadets, "Louisiana Battalion, Williamsburg, Virginia."

The formation of Fenner's Louisiana Battery was attended by tremendous difficulties and discouragements, patiently met, nobly overcome, by the gallant officer who found himself at last at the head of a company composed of men who, whether considered in the aggregate, or as individuals, had not their superiors in the Confederate armies,—intelligently brave, enthusiastic, patriotic, gentlemen by birth, breeding, and education, whom chivalrous devotion to duty forbade to murmur at any hardship which fell to their lot. As officers or private soldiers, looking to the future of the Confederacy as to something assured; never despairing, ready to follow wherever and whenever a " hope" was led, no matter how "forlorn."

The record of this little band of devoted patriots has never been thoroughly known or understood as it deserves to be. Only once has its history appeared in print,—upon the occasion of a reunion of the command held in New Orleans, May 12, 1884. With great pride I transfer to these pages part of an article which then appeared in the Times-Democrat of that date:

"As the term of service (twelve months) of the corps began to approach its end, Captain Charles B. Fenner, commanding the company of Louisiana Guards, conceived the idea of raising a battery of artillery. He had no difficulty in getting the men, a sufficient number volunteering at once from the battalion, but he encountered other most disheartening obstacles. The War Department-had not the means of equipping the artillery companies already in service, and authorized to be raised, and he could only obtain the authority to raise this battery on condition of furnishing his own armament of guns. He succeeded, however, in making arrangements with his friends in New Orleans to furnish the guns, and the battery bad been made and was ready for him in New Orleans, when the city fell, and it was captured.

"Upon the discharge of the battalion, however, he changed his rendezvous to Jackson, Mississippi, and proceeded there to try and accomplish his object. Many of those who intended to join him looked upon his enterprise as so hopeless that they abandoned it and joined other commands. A sufficient number, however, rallied around him at Jackson, Mississippi, and, on the 4th of May, 1862, his company was organized by the election of officers, and on the 16th was mustered into service. Meantime, the chance of getting an armament was hopeless indeed. At last, however, Captain Fenner found, lying abandoned by the railroad, the ruins of a battery, which had been destroyed on the eve of evacuating New Orleans, under the apprehension that it would have to be left, but was subsequently brought off. The guns were spiked and rammed with wads and balls, the spokes and felloes of the wheels were cut, the trails hacked to pieces, and all the ordinary means of disabling a battery had been resorted to. The task of reconstructing this ruined battery was undertaken, and, after much difficulty, successfully accomplished.

"Then came the trouble of obtaining horses, harness, and other equipments, which had to be wrested from reluctant and ill-supplied quartermasters and ordnance officers. At last, however, all difficulties were overcome. A few weeks of active drilling, and Fenner's Battery was ready for the field. On August 20, 1862, it received marching-orders for Port Hudson. Arrived there just after the evacuation of Baton Rouge by the Federal forces. Ordered on to Baton Rouge. Remained there a few days, when the battery returned to Port Hudson with the exception of one section, which was left with one regiment of infantry to occupy the city. Held it till retaken by the Federals in December, when our small force successfully evacuated it under the fire of the enemy's gunboats, and before the advance of their infantry, which had landed. The battery remained at Port Hudson, participating in all the operations of the forces there till May 1, 1863, when it was ordered to Williams's Bridge to intercept Grierson's raid, arriving there a few hours after the raid had passed.

"May 7. Ordered to Jackson, Mississippi, with Marcy's Brigade.

"Participated in the Big Black campaign of General Johnston.

"In position at Jackson, and engaged in the fighting around that place from 10th to 16th of July, losing several men killed and wounded.

"After the evacuation of Jackson, retreated with Johnston's army to Forrest and Morton. Thence to Enterprise, and from there to Mobile, and remained there till November 21, 1863, when ordered to the Army of Tennessee.

"Reached Dalton November 27, just after the defeat at Missionary Ridge.

"Spent the winter in building winter-quarters successively at Dalton and Kingston, which were evacuated before occupied.

"On the 1st of May, 1864, General Sherman advanced from Chattanooga toward Dalton, and the great Georgia campaign commenced. From that time till the 1st of September following, the Army of Tennessee was almost constantly engaged with the enemy.

"May 8 to 12. Battery in position at Mill Creek Gap, near Dalton, and engaged with the enemy. They fell back to Resaca. Engaged on the 14th of May in supporting charge by Stewart's Division upon tho enemy.

"On tho 15th, battle of Oostenaula. The battery was divided, one section on each side of a battery in a fortified work. The charge of the enemy was most desperate, and they captured and held the fortification, but were repulsed from the front of each section of Fenner's Batter}', which held their positions till night, and then evacuated. Retreat of the army was continued to Calhoun, Adairsville, Cassville, Centerville; engaged more or less at each of those points.

"On the 25th of May occurred the battle of Now Hope Church, one of the finest fights of the war. It was an assault of the whole of Hooker's Corps on Stewart's Division. The attack was almost a complete surprise. Fenner's Battery went into position at a gallop, had several horses killed while unlimbering, and fired canister at the first discharge. The engagement was continuous for two hours, during the whole of which time, owing to the thickness of the woods, the enemy's skirmishers were enabled to maintain their position within from fifty to one hundred yards, but their repeated charges were well repulsed. The enemy's loss was terrific, admitted to be over two thousand, far exceeding the number of our men engaged. Fenner's Battery lost twenty-three men killed and wounded, and nearly all of its horses, and was specially complimented in orders for gallantry and efficiency.

"From this point, in continual conflict with the enemy, the army gradually fell back till it reached Atlanta, around which continuous fighting was kept up, until its evacuation on the 2d of September.

"1st September. Battle of Jonesboro', in which the battery was engaged.

"This may be considered the end of the Georgia campaign.

"After brief rest at Lovejoy's Station, the army commenced its long march to Tennessee by Centre, Jacksonville, Gadsden, and Florence.

"Left Florence November 20; arrived at Columbia, Tennessee, and struck the enemy there November 26. Enemy evacuate on the 28th.

"November 30. Battle of Franklin.

"December 2. Reached Nashville.

"December 6. Fenner's Battery was ordered to join General Forrest's command at Murfreesboro'; participated in the battle of Murfreesboro' on the 8th, and was still with Forrest when the battles of Nashville were fought, on the 15th and 16th, and the great retreat commenced.

"In this fight, which is called the second of Murfreesboro', it will be remembered that Bates's Infantry Division was stampeded early in the action, causing the loss of several guns of the Fifth Company, Washington Artillery. On this occasion (one of the few instances, if not the only one during the war) six pieces of field artillery, being four Napoleons of Fenner's Battery and two rifled pieces of Missouri Battery, placed in position by General Forrest,—their horses having been sent to the rear across Stone River,—held the lino for three-quarters of an hour against the enemy's entire force until the infantry and wagons had safely crossed the river on the only bridge half a mile in the rear.

"As soon as the news reached Forrest, his command started across from Murfreesboro' to join the main column at Columbia. There was no turnpike, the roads were in awful condition, the horses reduced and broken down, and a continuous rain pouring down. Two of the guns reached Columbia in safety; the other two would have been brought through but for the swelling of a creek by the rain, which it was impossible to cross,—the only guns the battery ever lost. The men remained by them alone till Columbia was evacuated by our forces and the enemy within a mile of them, when they destroyed their pieces, swam Duck River, and started after the army. The terrors of the retreat from Tennessee in midwinter, the men shoeless, without blankets, and almost without clothes, need not be recounted here.

"January 10. The battery reached Columbus, Mississippi.

"January 31. Ordered to Mobile. Remained there as heavy artillery till 11th of April, when it was evacuated; go up the river to Demopolis; from there to Cuba Station, Meridian, where, on the 10th of May, arms are laid down and the battery with the rest of General Taylor's army."
A member of the battery, who was an exceptional soldier, and who still cherishes and venerates everything that reminds him of the glorious past, has kindly placed in my hands some letters which I am permitted to copy and here subjoin, feeling sure that they will prove quite as interesting as the numerous documents of the kind published in the "lives" of those high in authority, although they contain only the experience of a young private soldier, conveyed in dutiful letters to his mother. Some of these will suggest the changes which befell the soldiers who gave the house-warming in Virginia, and the difference between the first and last years of the war.

"Near New Hope Church, Georgia, "
May 26, 1864.
"Mr Dear,—Knowing that you will be anxious to hear from me and the company after the late fight, I avail myself of the first opportunity to write. Stewart's Division of Hood's Corps arrived in the vicinity of the Church yesterday morning. Soon after skirmishes commenced, moving a mile off, and gradually approached us. By 3 P.m. it commenced to near us, and 5 P.m. found us galloping into position. Clayton's Brigade supported us behind log works, which served as an excellent shelter for us from the minies. The Yankees approached under cover of the woods to within two or three hundred yards, where they made their lines. As soon as we could see where they were we commenced firing into them, and kept it up until the ammunition of the limber was expended. They made several charges, but were repulsed by the infantry and artillerj' each time. Our loss was heavy (artilleiy), the infantry not being as much exposed as we were; their casualties were slight. At our howitzer Willie Brunet was killed after firing some fifteen rounds. He was killed in the act of giving the command to fire, the ball piercing him above the left eye. Early had four wounded,—viz., Vaudry, painfully in the breast; J. T. Pecot, painfully in the back; Eaton, in the wrist; Corporal J , ball
in the side. At Carly's piece none were killed, but McGrath and Joe Murphy were shot through the arm,— the latter it is thought will lose his arm,—and young Ford. At Woester's piece, R. A. Bridges was killed, Joe Bridges was shot in the leg; McCarty, in the foot; Dunbar, in the thigh; Lieutenant Cluverius, wounded in the side; Joe Reeves, through the leg; St. Germain, foot. The loss in horses was heavy. Woester had all eight horses of his piece killed, and his riding-horse. Lieutenant Cluverius lost his horse 'Rebel,' who was shot in the head, and died. Our detachment had three wounded; the horses saved themselves by running away. In all, we lost twenty-three, and perhaps more. Stanford was on our left, they lost about fifteen killed and wounded; Oliver, sixteen. John Cooper has a welt on his shin from a spent ball; John was driving and lost both horses. I was number six at the limber until Willie was killed, when I acted as gunner. McGregor ranks me, and hereafter I expect to be caisson-corporal. General Clayton paid us the very highest compliment upon the manner in which the guns were managed; 'too flattering to be repeated,' as Captain Fenner remarked. 'Owing to the loss in horses, men, and ammunition expended,' we were relieved and sent to the rear to replenish. A couple of days may right us, when we will again be in the front. Stewart did the fighting yesterday; I don't believe any other division was engaged. A part of Polk's (if not all) arrived about midnight. Since Polk's Corps joined us, I have found several acquaintances, among whom are John Butler, lieutenant of engineers; the two Spencer boys, in Cowan's Battery; and Ed. Hoops, in Tenth Mississippi. They were all apparently well when I saw them last, and inquired particularly of you.

Respectfully Yours,

I enclose a letter that we received from General Clayton on a copy of the letter to the captain, with an oxtract from the general's report of the battle of New Hope Church:

"Headquarters, Clayton's Brigade, "
June 7, 1864.
"Captain,—I take pleasure in making for you the following extract from my report of the battle of New Hope Church. 'With renewed expression of the profoundest acknowledgments for the signal service you did the country, and particularly my brigade, of which every officer and man speak in the highest terms, "Believe me, dear captain,
"Yours always,
"A. D. Clayton,
"Brigadier-General."
(" Extract.")
"For its conduct in the engagement too much praise cannot be awarded to Fenner's Louisiana Battery, which occupied a position along my line. Although the enemy came within fifty or sixty yards of the guns, every officer and man stood bravely to his post."

The following letter describing a Christmas dinner in 1864 presents so true a picture of the situation, and at the same time so well illustrates the soldierly spirit of the battery, that I publish it in full:
"Rienza, Mississippi, January 4, 1866.

"My Dear Mother,—An opportunity of writing now offers,—the first since our leaving Florence, before going on our Tennessee campaign, which has finally terminated so disastrously for us. Had orders been obeyed and carried out at Spring Hill, there never would" have been a fight at Nashville. By some misunderstanding, the Yankee army was allowed to cross at the above-named place without being attacked. We followed on their tracks to Franklin, picking up stragglers and prisoners all along the way, to the amount of several hundred.

"We left Columbia at daylight, marched twenty-three miles, and fought the battle of Franklin before dark. Our battery did not take part in the battle: we were in position, but, owing to the close proximity of the two armies, could not fire,—we were under fire, but no one was hurt. Stewart's and Cheatam's Corps with one division from our corps, fought the battle. I passed over the field next morning and saw enough for never wanting to see another such field. The men were actually lying in some portions of the trenches three deep. Ours being the attacking party suffered severely,—almost an equal loss to the Yankees. Our loss was about forty-five hundred, and theirs five thousand, including prisoners. Next day we started for Nashville, eighteen miles distant. Our battery remained there till the 5th, when we were ordered to Murfreesboro' to aid General Forrest in reducing that place. On the 6th we arrived there, took position, and built works. Next day, on account of a flank movement by the enemy, we had to move our position back a mile. Soon the enemy appeared in our front, and skirmishing commenced. The infantry fell back, leaving the artillery to do the fighting without one musket to protect us. We stayed as long as we could, when we finally had to follow the footsteps of the infantrymen. The fight—there was none—nothing but a big scare and run. General Forrest sent General Bateman with his division to Nashville, but kept our battery with him. We lost one man at Murfreesboro', I. T. Preston, brother of the Prestons of Carrollton. We stayed in camp for seven days when General Forrest determined to attack again and took one section of the battery with him,—the other section, the one I belong to, was sent to protect his wagon-train. Two days afterwards the army commenced its retreat from Nashville (the particulars of which no doubt you have already learned). Our march was over a muddy and rugged road for fifty miles to Columbia. It was the severest march I ever undertook: we pushed and worked at the wheels all the time. The horses finally broke down, and we had to take oxen and yoke them in and drive them. Can you imagine me up to my knees in mud, barefooted and muddy, with a long pole, driving oxen. It was a very picturesque scene, and no doubt the 'Yankee Illustrators' would pay a good price for such a picture. I was about on a par with two-thirds of the others, and we made as merry as possible under the circumstances. We had no rations, and lived entirely on the people: they treated us splendidly, gave us more than we could eat, and left us duly indebted to them for their many kindnesses. I for one will never forget the hospitality received in Tennessee. We recrossed the Tennessee on the 26th of December. Christmas day was quite an event to us. We were then out of Tennessee, in a poor country, and could get very little to eat. All day myself and mess were without food; late in the evening we saw a butcher-pen and made for it; all we could get was oxtails and a little tallow procured by a good deal of industry from certain portions of the beef. One of the boys procured a lot of bran and unbolted flour and at twelve o'clock at night we sat down at our Christmas dinner (oxtail soup and biscuit), and if I ever enjoyed a meal I enjoyed that one. The army is retiring to Okolona and the artillery to Columbus, Mississippi. The barefooted men were left here to go by rail. When we get away I cannot say. We had to leave two of our pieces stuck in the mud, the other side of Columbus; the third piece was thrown in the river; the fourth piece, the one I am interested in, was saved and represents the battery."

And here is the last, written from Demopolis, Alabama, April 15, 1865:
"Dear Mother,—You have heard ere this of the evacuation of Mobile, which happened on the day of the eleventh. After the fall of Spanish Fort and Blakely, all hope of holding Mobile was given up. The works around the city were made to be manned by eight thousand, but, after the capture of the garrison at Blakely, our forces were too much reduced to hold the place. When evacuated, the place was not threatened, but might have been completely invested in a week's time. All the heavy guns were destroyed: we destroyed seven twenty-four pounders. The total loss of guns must have amounted to three hundred. We left Mobile by boat, and each man with a musket. It is a heavy fall for us who have been in artillery for three years, and now find ourselves as infantrymen, much to our displeasure. As much as I dislike it, I shall keep my musket until something better turns up. ..."

The history of the battery, from first to last, is that of thorough soldiers, brave in battle, uncomplaining, cheerful, even jolly, under the most trying circumstances, bearing with equanimity the lesser ills of a soldier's life, with unshaken fortitude and undiminished devotion to " The Cause," indescribable hardships and discouragements.

30th Massachusetts' Tour in Louisiana, Part IV

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March 1, 1863. Sunday. Pleasant. Review, and a march afterward. Am detailed onbrigade guard; my men are from the 161st and 174th New York Regiments; hardboys. The Captain of the Guard has our men, they being on the right. All quiet.

March 2, 1863. Pleasant. Relieved at 9 a. m. Made out my reports and sent tothe Captain of the Guard. We received orders to turn in all company baggage;expect to be ordered up before Port Hudson soon.Troops are arriving from New Orleans.General Auger is here.

March 3, 1863. Pleasant. I am regimental officer of the day, the duty being tolook after the regiments' camps. Our brigade was reviewed by General Auger; itmade a good appearance.

March 4, 1863. Pleasant. Battalion drill, practised with blank cartridges. Ourcompany has sent in pay rolls. I shall be much pleased to see the paymaster.

March 5, 1863. Pleasant. No drill in the morning. A match drill took placebetween our right flank company, Captain M. A. Ferris, and a company of marinesfrom the Mississippi;our company won, consequently the stock of the old 30th took another rise. Inever saw bettercompany movements or execution of the manual. The regulars are"nowhere." We have seen only fourteen months' service.

March 6 and 7, 1863. Rainy. No drill. Nothing new.

March 8, 1863. Sunday.Pleasant. Review by General Dudley and a march down town.

March 9, 1863. Pleasant. We shall be off on our expedition in a day or two,probably to Port Hudson. Wrotehome to-night.

March 10,1863. Cloudy. Have been expecting to move every day. Understand thatthree brigades have already gone.

March 11, 1863. Pleasant. Our division was reviewed by General Banks.

March 12, 1863. Pleasant. The second division and the third, Generals Emery andGrover, were reviewed by General Banks.

March 13, 1863. Emery's division left for Port Hudson to-day.The fleet have also sailed.

March 14, 1863. Orders to march this morning at 4 o'clock for Port Hudson. Weare the rear division, two being in advance. Marched 11 miles, bivouacked at 1p. m. Slept sound. Some firing from the river.

March 15, 1863. Sunday. Pleasant. Firing still heard from the gun-boats. Atdaybreak an explosion was heard, it must have been a gun-boat. We retired fivemiles and bivouacked for the night. Rained all night and was very disagreeable incamp.

March 16, 1863. I had a fly to a tent and slept quite comfortably. It clearedoff in the morning. We are in the rear brigade, the other two divisions are twoor three miles in advance. The explosion was on a steamer, the Mississippi; she ranaground opposite Port Hudson anda hot shot struck her, setting her on fire; she righted and floated down theriver. Two gun-boats ran by the port. Asyet we have accomplished nothing but to feel of the enemy; there is someskirmishing in the front.

March 17, 1863. Pleasant.Had orders to move with two days' rations; countermanded. Long roll sounded inthe afternoon. Our brigade marched three miles through the swamp and woodsto-day. No enemy.

March 18,1863. Pleasant. All quiet. Our regiment received orders to report to Baton Rouge, also theother regiments in our brigade. We are to go aboard transports, and proceed upthe river and join two regiments there, on the other side of the river,opposite Port Hudson. Weare to establish signal stations. Embarked at night, and went on; ran aground,and waited until morning. Three regiments go up. General Banks is with us. Whenwe ran aground the levee gave way and the water has run from the river throughthe crevasse, submerging a large plantation. General Banks says he hasaccomplished his object, viz., running by Port Hudson, thusdrawing troops away from Vicksburgto weaken that place in case of attack. Thirty lives were lost by the explosionof the steamer Mississippi'sboiler. We are in light marching order on this expedition.

March 19, 1863. Pleasant. All are at work trying to get the boats oft.Succeeded, arrived and landed opposite and two miles below Port Hudson. There are six regimentshere. In the afternoon, drew two days' rations. Captain and I with our companypatrolled down the river, Provost Marshal Fuller going with us. Saw a largedrove of cattle; tried to drive them in, but they were too wild. Marched sixmiles, returned at 8 p. m., with thirty chickens and a few eggs. Most of theplantations are deserted. Sugar is found and the United States Marshalconfiscates it.

March 20, 1863. Friday. Pleasant. Ho! for another tramp. At 9 a. m., startedwith two regiments in light marching order and a section of a battery;proceeded down the river two miles, then marched inland. Very hardmarching—bayous, cane brakes, etc., to push through. We crossed the bayous ontrees felled, swam the horses over. Object of the expedition, to let thenatives know we are around. Saw several alligators and snakes; not a verydesirable country to live in. We gobbled up mules, horses, and everything wecould get. The enemy have cut the levee on this side of the river, which willprevent our going up the river. We returned to camp at dark very tired. Rationsof whiskey were served.

March 21, 1863. A detail of cavalry has gone up the river to see if it cancommunicate with our gun-boats, which ran by the batteries of the fort. No newsyet. We can see five steamers near the enemy's works. One of our boats has beenplaying with the enemy. Our troops on the other side of the river have beendrawn in to Baton Rouge.

March 22, 1863. Sunday. Nothing new. The 116th New York have returned to Baton Rouge. We expect to go up to-morrow. Idon't think this expedition has accomplished much. I expect we shall be obligedto wait until the forces come down the river and co-operate with us. Some sportin our camp to-day by the boys trying to ride stubborn mules. Our regiment isquartered in negro huts on a plantation. Had a shower this afternoon.

March 23,1863. Rainy. Evacuated our bivouac, and took quarters in a negroshanty. Mail arrived; received a letter from Cyrus Latham. The Captain is onguard to-day. Confiscated cattle are being put aboard the steamers.

March 24, 1863. Cloudy and cool. Captain McGee's cavalry made a reconnoissanceup the river, burned one steamer, captured some horses and four prisoners. Theenemy fired at them from the other side of the river from their batteries. Received a letter fromGeorge Webster. Strange I do not get one from home.

March 25, 1863. Pleasant. I am on guard to-day. Nothing new.

March 26, 1863. Pleasant. Steamer arrived from Baton Rouge last night, and early thismorning orders were issued to embark by sounding the long roll. I was notifiedto bring in my guard at the sound of the firing of a gun, which I did at 9 o'clock. Found that my regiment hadalready left camp. I reported aboard the steamer. We arrived at Baton Rouge at noon and occupied our old quarters.

March 27, 1863. Pleasant. Brigade drill in the morning. The afternoon wasshowery. General Grover's division was ordered to Donaldsonville; it is rumoredthat a large force of the enemy is in the vicinity, coming from Red River. I don't think our last expedition accomplishedmuch. Started an officers' mess composed of eight.

March 28, 1863. Saturday. Rainy. No drill to-day. Many of us are troubled withbowel complaint. I have it.

March 29, 1863. Cloudy. Inspection and review in the morning. I had command ofmy company. Dress parade at sunset. The Captain is sick to-day.

March 30,1863. Pleasant. Company drill in the morning. Brigade drill in theafternoon.

March 31, 1863. Tuesday. Pleasant. Monthly inspection at 8.30, after which amarch down town. I was put in command of Company H, as the officers were sick.Captain Creasy has leave of absence for twenty days to go North.

Starke's Louisiana Brigade at the "Deep Cut"

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On the second day of the 2nd Battle of Manassas (August 29-30, 1862), the Brigadier General William Starke's Louisiana Brigade made history. Starke's Brigade, under the command of Colonel Leroy Stafford of the 9th Louisiana, consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, and 15th Louisiana Infantry Regiments. On the morning of August 30th, the brigade was posted along the unfinished railroad bed that spanned the length of the Confederate front. In the afternoon of August 30th, Stafford's front was hit by Hatch's division.

Map of Starke's Brigade on August 30, 1862

Battle of 2nd Manassas

(Battles and Leaders, Vol. 2, 509)

Report of Colonel Leroy Stafford, 9th Louisiana, Commanding Starke's Brigade on August 30th:

"On the morning of the 30th Brig. Gen. W. E. Starke ordered me to send half of one of my regiments forward and occupy the railroad cut as a point of observation, to be held at all hazards. About 8 o'clock in the morning the enemy commenced throwing forward large bodies of skirmishers in the woods on our left, who quickly formed themselves into regiments and moved forward by brigades to the attack, massing a large body of troops at this point with the evident design of forcing us from our position. They made repeated charges upon us while in this position, but were compelled to retire in confusion, sustaining heavy loss and gaining nothing. It was at this point that the ammunition of the brigade gave out. The men procured some from the dead bodies of their comrades, but the supply was not sufficient, and in the absence of ammunition the men fought with rocks and held their position. The enemy retreated. We pressed forward to the turnpike road, there halted, and encamped for the night."

As Stafford's Louisianians faced intense pressure, Brigadier General Charles Field's Brigade, under the command of Colonel John M. Brockenbrough, of A.P. Hill's Division was sent to support Stafford. Brockenbrough's command consisted of the 40th, 47th, 55th Virginia Regiments and the 22nd Virginia Battalion. Below is the accout of Colonel Robert M. Mayo of the 47th Virginia and his account of Stafford's Louisianians.

SouthernHistorical Society papers, Vol. 7, p. 124

The Second Battle of Manassas.

ByColonel ROBERT M. MAYO.

The facts of the case are about as follows:

The lines of Jackson and Longstreet formed a considerably reentrantangle, and the artillery was placed on a hill just between the two corps. TheFederals, in advancing to attack Jackson, were exposed for more than half mile to the fire ofthis artillery. Jackson's troops were in two lines - the front occupying the line of the uncompletedrailroad, and the second being in a wood about a quarter of a mile or less in rear ofthe first. My regiment [47th Virginia] belonged to Field's brigade (of A. P. Hill's division), whichwas just in rear of the Louisiana brigade and the Stonewall brigade. The former wasstationed at a very deep cut of the railroad, and the latter just where the cut ran out, andwhere there was but little protection. The cut was too deep to fight from, and the Louisianabrigade took position beyond it, behind the dirt which had been thrown out and which formedan excellent breastwork.

Reno's men, advancing under the fire of our artillery, fought theLouisianians until the ammunition of the latter was exhausted, and then drove them back intothe deep cut, where they were fighting with stones, when relieved by our brigade. TheStonewall brigade, not having the same protection at the Louisiana brigade, wasbroken and scattered through the woods. It was then that the second line wasordered forward the

retake the position. I do not know how much more of our first line wasbroken, and I am confining myself to what I know of my own personal knowledge and what Isaw with my own eyes. The charge of the Federals on this occasion was not surpassed ingallantry by any that was made during the war - not even by Pickett at Gettysburg. To have passed through such a fire of artillery, which almost enfiladed their line, and to have broken the Stonewall brigade, composedof troops equal to Napoleon's Old Guard, was an act of gallantry not to be surpassed byany troops of any army.

As my brigade advanced through the woods to retake the position, theminnie balls were rattling like hail against the trees, and as we debouched into thefield through which the railroad cut ran, nothing could be been between us and the smoke andfire of the enemy's rifles except the tattered battle-flag of the Louisiana brigade; thestaff of this was stuck in the ground at the edge of the cut, and the bridge was at the bottom ofit throwing stones. About midway between the woods and the cut I received a wound in thehand; but before we reached the cut, the enemy, who had been terribly punished,commenced to retreat, or, I may say, to fly in great disorder. We were ordered to halt at the cut; but some of the command, among whomwas Major Poinsett Tayloe, of my regiment with a considerable number of the men,did not hear the order, and continued the pursuit for some distance beyond. As soon as the battle was over I went to the rear to have my wounddressed, and having found the "field hospital," Islept that night with one of the surgeons under a wagon.

The following piece is from Clement Evens' Confederate Military History Volume 10, 232-234:

On the morning of the 30th Stafford's brigade was ordered upto this dangerous line, to be held at all hazards. At an early hour the enemy'sactivity began. Massed heavily, the Federals formed six lines of battle.Starke, to meet the expected attack, placed the brigade in the deep cut. Our artilleryquickly opened fire on the enemy. Ominously silent remained the brigade. TheFederals came at double-quick toward the embankment, heedless of what might bebehind it. Then the rifles of the brigade awoke. Our bullets came swiftly, andfrom close quarters made havoc in the advancing column. Charge after charge waseach time repulsed with appalling loss. While this slaughter was going on, theLouisianians began to run short of ammunition. Already some of the men wererelieving the dead bodies of their comrades of cartridges. Another Federaladvance, in force, came up closer than before to our position at the railroad.Company E, Montgomery Guards, First Louisiana, earliest out, first called forcartridges. Starke had already been notified by Nolan, commanding the regiment,that ammunition was running out. Directly in the rear of the Montgomery Guardswas their leader, Capt. Thos. Rice. The eyes of Captain Rice, from his stationon a slight elevation of the slope, moved, here, there, everywhere. Nothing buta great quantity of rock was lying around, broken in fragments of moderatesize, as they had been blasted when the railroad was building. Captain Ricedrew upon his experience in the Crimea. He recalled that battle with stones,fought in a rock quarry at Inkerman, close to the redan— one of the bulwarks ofSebastopol—which had now come to him like a flash, born of the need. Quick asthe thought, Rice picked up a piece of rock and calling out loudly, "Boys,do as we did at Sebastopol!" hurled the first stone. Ambulance men, beingidle just then, gathered stones at the word. The company, the regiment —evenother commands of the brigade—followed with more stone, pelting the enemysavagely in their faces, with good aim. Excellent work was done with these rocks—awork certified to by both pelters and pelted. Some of the enemy crawled up thebank and voluntarily surrendered themselves to escape the deadly stoning.

By this time the men had warmed to the work. A fresh assaultof the Federals, in formidable array, came up to the railroad. Major Barney,commanding the Twentyfourth New York, rode gallantly up to the very bank, on afine bay horse. As he came close to it, and the horse had planted his fourhoofs squarely on the embankment, the major was shot through the heart. Stonepelting had swiftly turned tragical. At his fall, his command becamedemoralized and fled in confusion. The bay, half dazed by the clamor, wasfinally captured. He was ridden by Lieutenant-Colonel Nolan, and remained withthat brave soldier until his death on Culp's hill. He became next the propertyof Father Hubert, soldier-priest known and dear to every man in the army ofNorthern Virginia. Martial tradition has it that under Father Hubert thewarrior bay learned to care no more for '' the battle afar off," norrecked he of "the thunder of the captains and the shouting."

While this battle of the rocks was still going on, Jackson,in response to Starke's report of the failure of ammunition, had sent word that"men who could hold their line and drive back the enemy by throwing stonecould defend themselves a little longer, until reinforcements or ammunitioncould reach them." Jackson smiled rarely. He may have smiled, for aught weknow, at this. At 3 p. m., a Virginia brigade reinforced the First Louisiana.The result was a prompt distribution to each man of twenty rounds ofcartridges. Thus was fought the picturesque " Battle of the Rocks,"and fought to victory.

The loss of Starke's brigade during August was reported at65 killed and 288 wounded. Among the killed was Lieut. -Col. R. A. Wilkinson,of the Fifteenth.

30th Massachusetts' Tour in Louisiana, Part III

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February 1, 1863. Sunday. Rainy all day. Inspectionat 9 a. m. Wrote home. Read in Handy Andy. It is reported that StonewallJackson is outside some thirty miles. Let him come, we are ready for him.

February 2, 1863. Rainy. There was to have been an inspection to-day by theAssistant Inspector of the Division, but the rain prevented.

February 3, 1863. Pleasant. In the morning our regiment was inspected by theAssistant Inspector of the Division. In the afternoon no drill.

February 4, 1863. Rainy. Drills as usual. No indication of the enemy about. Camplife is monotonous if lasting too long; a soldier desires constant change.

February 6 and 7, 1863. Pleasant. Drill on the 6th, none on the7th. Our regiment is second to none in drill and soldierly bearing.

February 8, 1863. Sunday. Inspection and review by General Dudley. Captain E. A.Fiske has obtained three days' leave and gone to Donaldsonville to visit hisbrother, which leaves me in command. A flag of truce has gone outside undercharge of Captain McGee, who goes as a Sergeant, toward Port Hudson, toascertain anything about the enemy.

February 9, 1863. Pleasant, not so cold. Drill as usual, also brigade drill. Theflag of truce has returned, the enemy's pickets are within six miles of ourline. I feel tired to-night. At reveille, we form into line of battle, thenwheel into columns of companies and the roll is called.

February 10, 1863. Pleasant. Brigade drill very good. The battalions wereinstructed in forming squares in a new way, viz., centre divisions marchforward, then the companies on the right, left face forward and file right, thecompany on the left, right face and file left and the 10th company join the1st. Very pretty and quickly executed.

February 11, 1863. Showery. In the afternoon, a brigade line was formed, and wewere caught in a shower; got completely wet through. The officers, in theevening, called on the officers of the regiments in our brigade; we took a bandalong, and our Glee Club.

February 12, 1863. Manual drill. I drilled the company as skirmishers. Battaliondrill this afternoon. I did not go out, as I had been summoned to attend acourt-martial. A mail arrived to-day; no letter for me. All quiet at the front.I have only twenty-five men for duty; the regiment will never turn out 500 menagain.

February 13, 1863. Pleasant. Company drill in the morning, brigade drill in theafternoon. The Captain has not yet returned. I wish a forward movement would bemade; we have troops enough to accomplish something. A vocal and instrumentalconcert was given this evening, for the benefit of the Orphan Asylum here. TheState has neglected it since the war broke out. The concert was given by oursoldiers.

February 14, 1863. Saturday. Captain Fiske arrived to-day. No drills. Policing campthe order of the day.

February 15, 1863. Sunday. Review and inspection,afterwards a march down town. We have quite a brigade, five regiments. I am on picket dutyto-day; have the right of the line, with forty-five men, quartered in an oldbuilding. The general officer and the brigade officer of the day visited me inthe forenoon.

February 16, 1863. Cloudy. Was relieved from picket duty at 12.30 p. m., byLieutenant Prince of our regiment; feel pretty tired; took a nap in theafternoon. Captain H. C. Wells has gone home on a leave of absence. I senthome, by him, my Quartermaster Sergeant's warrant. No indication of any fightabout here.

February 17, 1863. Pleasant. Nothing new. They bury asoldier occasionally. The music of the funeral dirge causes sad feelings, andturns our thoughts homewards. The air is often whistled by our boys about camp,so much so, we have given orders to stop it, it is so solemn.

February 18, 1863. Pleasant. I made application for a leave of absence, to go to New Orleans to draw mypay.

February 19, 1863. Leave of absence granted; also oneto Lieutenant Ferris, who goes on the same errand. Went on board the steamerLaurel Hill; started at 1 p. m. Made landings several times on the way down, totake sugar, cotton, etc., onboard; arrived the next day at 10 o'clock.

February 20, 1&63. Went to City Hotel to see if LieutenantFerris was there. Did not meet him. Went to Paymaster Sherman. No satisfaction there. Shall waituntil Monday, then call on Major Vedder, our Paymaster.

February 21, 1863. Saturday. Met Ferris yesterday. To-day we did the city,"going the grand rounds," as we style it. Met many comrades.

February 22, 1863. Pleasant. Lieutenant Fuller of our regiment is here. An exchangeof prisoners is to be made; secesh are on the streets and many are going to thelevee to the steamer where the exchange is to take place; there are some fouror five hundred to be exchanged. Nothing vexes me so much as to see thecitizens carrying rebel flags, wearing badges, etc., emblematic of their traitorouscause. It would not have been allowed under Butler's administration. Think of it! also onWashington's birthday! Thefeelingis as strong as ever, only smothered. Mailfrom the North arrived to-day.

February 23, 1863. Pleasant. Called on Major Vedder; no satisfaction, no money;shall have to wait till pay day. I learned from the express office that mytrunk, which contained clothing, was lost on the steamer Walla Walla, as she came from the North. Shewas run into and sunk. "Fortunes of War." I suppose the mermaids aresporting in my new clothes. I am "out" $60. I care more for thetrouble my family have had in getting the things together to please me.

February 24, 1863. Started for Baton Rougeat 6.30 o'clock lastevening. Made slow time during the night, it being foggy; arrived at 3 p. m.The boys were all glad to see me. I brought some express matter for theregiment. A company of Louisiana Cavalry and the 12th Massachusetts Batterycame on the same boat. I had a pleasant trip; was gone six days. Met Mr. Fiskein New Orleans;he is coming to Baton Rougeto see his son, who is Captain of my company. He brought a bundle for me, apair of pants and a vest. Received sister Lizzie's photograph; it is a goodone. I have two loving and patriotic sisters.

February 25, 1863. Pleasant. Drill as usual. Brigade drill in the afternoon. Wewere caught in a shower and went to quarters. There is a report the enemy arecoming down the river in boats to board our naval fleet to-night.

February 26, 1863. Rainy all day. No drill. Wrote home. At work on our pay roll. Noappearance nor sign of the enemy. We have now some five companies of cavalry.Continued work on the pay rolls in the morning.

February 27, 1863. Cloudy. Drills as usual. No squad drills now. Made out adescriptive list of men of the company who are in the hospital at New Orleans. Brigadedrill in the afternoon; went through street firing. Worked on pay rolls in themorning.

February 28,1863. Saturday. Rainy. No drill to-day. Mr. Fiske arrived. Wrote home.

Claiborne Rangers at Camp Moore, 1861

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James W. Nicholson enlisted in Claiborne Rangers which became Company L of the 12th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. In 1915 he wrote Stories of Dixie. In his book he recounted his time at Camp Moore, Louisiana. Camp Moore was the main training camp for Louisiana units at the beginning of the war. The 12th Louisiana Infantry was formed at Camp Moore on August 13, 1861. Below is Nicholson's experience at Camp Moore.

Private James W. Nicholson, "Claiborne Rangers"

Company L, 12th Louisiana Infantry

CAMP MOORE

In the piny woods of Tangipahoa Parish there is a certain old field neglected and overgrown with pine bushes. Thousands have seen it from the passing trains of the Illinois Central without suspecting that it was the site of a great military encampment in the stormy days of '61. Here Camp Moore, named after the governor of Louisiana, was located. Hardly could a more appropriate place for the purpose have been found seventy-five miles from New Orleans, sufficiently rolling for easy drainage, and level enough for military evolutions. Situated as it was in the ozone belt, the air was pure and sweet, and redolent with the odor of fresh pine straw. On one side was Beaver Creek and on the other the Tangipahoa River, both running streams of clear sparkling water.

Here the sons of Louisiana went to enlist in the army and to be trained in the duties of soldiers. When the war began these sons knew nothing of drilling, guard mounting, and many other duties which alone make men efficient in the camp and on the march and the battle field. Camp Moore was established by the state to provide this instruction. In a word, it was a real military school in which men were trained for war and formed into battalions and regiments. In this school they were kept usually six or eight weeks and then forwarded to the "front," where the fighting was to be done.

As green and awkward as the Claiborne boys were with respect to drilling, there were three things in military life they could do as well as the drill master: shoot quick and straight, put up tents, and march in "route-step" (go as you please). They marched in this go-as-you-please style from the depot to the camp, a large drill-ground in front of "a little city of white tents." The grounds were as smooth as a floor and as clean as a newly swept yard, and the white tents were arranged in straight parallel rows. Everything seemed to have been designed and finished with a single eye to order and cleanliness. Here and there on the campus were squads of soldiers, each being drilled by an officer who was as straight as an Indian and as " bossy as a new overseer." " Shoulder arms!" "Forward, guide right, march!" "Company, left half wheel, march!" The welkin rang with these and other commands, each having something of the clear crack of a rifle.

When the Rangers received their tents they at once put them up in two rows, facing one another, and Captain Scott said, "They look as .well as any on the grounds." The next day officers were elected, and the company mustered into service for one year. Then they drew guns all kinds, scarcely any dozen of them being of the same pattern. Thus equipped, they entered upon all the duties of soldiers; namely, drilling, guard mounting every morning, dress parade every afternoon, policing, inspections, cleaning quarters, washing clothes, drawing rations, cooking and eating the frugal meals.

When a regiment was formed and sent to the "front" its place was soon filled by new companies coming in from all parts of the state. A few of these were Irish, more French, and still more English. Ten of the English companies from North-Central Louisiana, including the Claiborne Rangers, were formed into a regiment, known as the 12th Regiment, Louisiana Infantry. Of this regiment Captain Scott, of the Rangers, was elected Colonel.

The 12th was formed of a thousand young men stalwart, muscular, dauntless hobbledehoys. They were the sons of lawyers, doctors, business men, and farmers, and having been reared largely in Christian homes they had that pride and morale which make men towers of strength in peace and in war. Of course their military potency could not be estimated before training and trial, but there was the assurance in advance that "blood will tell"; for there flowed in their veins the blood of the heroes of Hastings and Marston Moor, Valley Forge and Yorktown, Horse Shoe Bend and New Orleans, Buena Vista and Chapultepec.

It was a short walk from camp to the Tangipahoa River, and early in the morning and late in the afternoon the soldiers were permitted to go there to bathe and swim. This was much enjoyed by all, and every day the river was lined with the jolly and noisy swimmers. Indeed, throughout the war, the range of their pleasures being so narrow, the men went in the creeks, mill ponds, and rivers whenever they had a chance, even in pretty cold weather, that being about their only pastime. They often took their soiled clothes, washed them, and spread them on the bushes to dry, while they bathed and played in the water.

It was at Camp Moore that Nick learned to swim. That was queer, for, as a rule, Louisiana boys take to water almost as soon as they can walk. But after that, Nick made up for lost time by swimming in, if not across, nearly every stream between that place and the Atlantic Ocean.

When the men neglected duty or violated the rules they were punished in severe and singular ways. A soldier once stole something, and was punished for it by having to wear a board fastened to his back on which was printed ROGUE. Often a culprit was punished by having to wear a barrel, or being tied
up by the thumbs, or put in stocks or a pillory.

As a rule, it was only the rowdies who had to be treated in this way. The men generally did their duties cheerfully and faithfully. As the war progressed the roughs, rowdies, and bullies gradually "played out." It is men of moral courage that make dependable and enduring soldiers. Hence punishments became fewer as the war went on.

There was an Irishman in the llth regiment named Kelly, who was punished for drunkenness by being put under guard with a chain and ball attached to his ankle. Kelly had been a steamboat roustabout, and was a giant in size and strength. Nick happened to be on guard that day and had to guard Kelly. Now the big Irishman, moved by a spirit of humor or desperation, seemed to be watching for a chance to spring on Nick and beat the life out of him. So every time he moved down would come Nick's gun. It was loaded with an ounce ball and Kelly knew it. When the corporal of the guard came, Kelly said to him in a whisper: "Would ye be after putting a man in the place of that spalpeen of a lad? The little cuss has got so he won't let me turn over."

Nick was as glad to go as Kelly was to have him go.

Exposure and other causes produced much sickness among the troops. At the beginning of the war each camp was supplied with a hospital in which the sick were cared for. In it were clean beds, medicines, and nurses, and many ladies came with flowers and delicacies for the patients. But year by year, as the war went on, camp hospitals became poorer and the medicines scarcer, until they really disappeared altogether. At first the chief kind of sickness was measles, which is usually a harmless disease, but a very fatal one when the subject is exposed. More men died of it during the war than of all other diseases together. It caused the death of more than a dozen of the Claiborne Rangers at Camp Moore.

Many of the bodies of deceased soldiers were taken to their homes for burial, and the rest were interred on a mound in the woods nearby. The latter were buried with military honors; that is, the remains were escorted to the graveyard by a squad of soldiers, and when the body was put in the ground the
squad fired three rounds of blank cartridges over the grave. It was a very sad and impressive service.

The site of Camp Moore is now an old and deserted field. All signs of the camp are gone. There is nothing left to remind one of the stirring scenes of '61. Instead of the merry laugh and heavy tramp of soldiers, one now hears the "mournful song" of the pine straw as it is swept by the passing breeze.

Many years after the war the Daughters of the Confederacy induced the legislature to appropriate enough money to buy the old graveyard, clean it off, build a strong iron fence around it, and erect a monument in memory of the men, living and dead, who served there. When the monument was unveiled
(1907) Nick, then a professor in the state university, made the dedication speech.

Two large beech trees were left standing in the inclosure on account of the many names of the soldiers cut into their bark. Among these old carvings Nick's attention was called to his own initials, " J. W. N.," which were probably cut by him just forty-six years before.

In the latter part of August the 12th was ordered to "the front." With what a thrill of excitement was the order received by the men ! At last their hopes of getting into a battle were to be realized! Up to this time they had had no news to write home except the details of camp life. Now they were to go far away into Kentucky, where the storm of war would soon be raging.

There was a great hurry and bustle in preparing to move taking down tents, packing luggage, and cooking three days' rations. When they boarded the train each man carried a knapsack, a haversack, a canteen, two blankets, and a gun and cartridge box. It was a long freight train that was to carry them, and some took passage in and some on top of the box cars. When it "pulled out" a long and loud hurrah was shouted by a thousand jolly fellows. Poor boys ! They little dreamed of the hardships and privations in store for them.

Roster and history of the Claiborne Rangers at the 12th Louisiana Infantry website.

32nd Iowa at the Battle of Pleasant Hill

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From the History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2, pages 320-321 is the following account of the 32nd Iowa at the Battle of Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill was fought on April 9, 1864 following the Federal disaster at the Battle of Mansfield the day before. The 32nd Iowa's brigade was posted at the very front of the Union line across the road to Mansfield. It faced several attacks to his front by Texas Cavalry but was hit in its flank by the Texas brigades of Walker's Division.

Senator W. V. Allen of Nebraska, then a private in Company G, givesthe following graphic account of what followed:

“The cloud ofsmoke from our guns hung for a moment in the breeze, then rose, revealing to usthe sickening sight of riders and horses lying in a promiscuous heap of deadand dying. Their warm life-blood was forming little pools, which uniting, ranaway in streams, while the pitiful neighing of dying horses, and the sorrowfulcries and appeals of the dying soldiers for help and water was a sight to makethe soul sick. While we were contemplating this horrible picture theredebouched from the opposite woods three strong lines of infantry, the divisionof Churchill, Parsons and Majors, with wings spread out like a great fan. Theirbayonets were fixed ready for use and they carried their guns at right shouldershift. It was our time to turn pale. There were two of them to one of us, threestrong lines to our single line. They broke forth in the ‘Rebel yell,’ which was simply acheer from fine voiced men, a high piercing noise like the call of a woman madeat long distance. It differed from the cheer of our men, which was heavier,heartier and more uniform [Blue emphasis added by me]. They brushed aside our skirmishers anddropped their guns to the position of a charge. They were to fall upon andcrush in our center by the fury of their assault and the machine strength ofnumbers, while other portions of their army were to envelope, overlap and crushour flanks, and thus rout if not capture our entire army. Their success the previousday had made this, to their minds, not an impossible feat. Banks, alwaysfruitful in blunders, had sent back to Grand Ecore a large part of theThirteenth Corps and all our cavalry except one brigade, which being roughlyhandled early in the fight was unfit for offensive service when needed; so thatwhen the enemy struck us in full force with his assaulting columns, we wereweakened fully by this reduction of our numbers. We were ordered to shieldourselves as best we could from the enemy’s fire, and reserve our own, until heapproached within a few rods of us. The chivalrous Shaw was at his best. Hisusually dull eye kindled with an unnatural fire, and his unusually homelycountenance grew almost beautiful in contemplation of the death struggle that wasat hand. He rode along the line giving his orders as coolly as if on dressparade. ‘Aim low, boys; it is better to wound than to kill, for it will taketwo good men to carry a wounded man from the field,’ he said. Above the din ofthe gathering storm, again rang out the voice of Shaw as the Rebels approachedus. [ 321 ]‘Fix bayonets,’ he said, and in an instant every man’sbayonet was ready for use. The Rebels were upon us. The noise of 1,600 Springfield rifles rangout in unison as 1,600 minie balls sped into the enemy’s ranks to do theirdeadly work. He was strong and stopped, but rallied and again renewed theassault with additional fury. Another volley thrown full and fair into hisranks caused the enemy to reel and stagger like a drunken man, but he ralliedto renew the attack. The assault was repeated and another made, this time alongparts of the line the bayonet was used; but each assault was repulsed withgreat loss of life and limb on both sides. So the fighting went on, on otherparts of the field. Our right wing was crushed in and driven back to thereserves, and this made it necessary to retire Shaw’s Brigade a distance tokeep a connected line. The order was given, and the Twenty-fourth Missouri,Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh Iowa drew back, but Adjutant Charlie Huntley,brave as a lion and mild as a woman, while bringing the order to theThirty-second was killed, and the order never reached the regiment. Havingpreviously orders to hold the position at all hazards there was but one thing forColonel Scott to do, and that was to hold his position unless wrenched from himby the enemy. The regiment at our left had been withdrawn, leaving both flanksof ours exposed. For more than an hour this regiment alone was fighting tentimes its number. Everywhere in front, on the flanks and in the rear thecontest raged with great fury and loss of life. Nowhere in ancient or modernwarfare can be found an instance of more heroism than was here exhibited. Up tothis time the enemy had been the assailant, but now that he was weakened, thetime came for us to take the offensive. General Smith had made all preparationsto receive the advancing foe; and as the human tide came rolling up the hill,almost to the muzzle of his guns, a sheet of flame flashed along his lines andswept the front like the besom of destruction. Hundreds fell dead and dyingbefore that awful fire. Scarcely had the seething lead left the guns when theword ‘charge’ was given and 7,000 men precipitated themselves upon theshattered ranks of the enemy. Emory’s division was pushed forward and joinedthe Sixteenth Corps, driving the Rebels rapidly down the hill to the woods,there they broke and fled in confusion. The victory was won, and our troopsfollowed the enemy until night put an end to the pursuit.”

30th Massachusetts' Tour in Louisiana, Part II

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We pick up with Howe's journal in January of 1863. Here is his notes for the month of January 1863:

January 1, 1863. Arose at reveille, and attended roll-call; wished all theofficers and my men "A happy New Year." Up to this date we have beengoing through the usual routine of duties, and recruiting the health of themen; many are in the hospital. Made out the monthly return of my company (G),also the quarterly return of the deceased soldiers, of whom nine of my companydied during the last quarter. Wrote home. Lieutenant Norcross is officer of theguard to-day. Lieutenant E. A. Fiske is sick. Pleasant, but cool.

January 2, 1863. Pleasant. Attended an anniversary dinner of the officers in theevening. One year ago we left old Massachusetts.Colonels Dudley and French came down from the city.

January 3, 1863. Saturday. Pleasant. Muster rolls all right. Went up to NewOrleans, bought a pair of shoes, and two hundred pistol cartridges; had a nicetime.

January 4, 1863. Pleasant. Inspection at 8.30. Went with the Colonel to thevarious quarters, also to the hospital. Quiet all day. Some of the officerswent to the theatre in the evening, Sunday. Such is the custom in New Orleans. A reportthat Galvestonhad been re-taken, and three gun-boats.

January 5, 1863. Splendid day. I am detailed forofficer of the guard. The guard consists of one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, fourCorporals, and fifty-four privates.

January 7, 1863. Pleasant, but quite chilly. I had a good guard; was relieved byLieutenant Emerson.

January 8, 1863. Pleasant. Anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, under General Jackson. A salutewas fired at noon. We had abattalion drill in the afternoon. The officers met in the evening, to celebratethe day; there were toasts and speeches. Steamer Cambriareturned to-day from Galveston, Texas; everybody supposed she hadbeen re-taken. She waited at the entrance of the harbor forty-eight hours for apilot. After she took one on board, the Captain mistrusted something was wrong,and returned to New Orleans.

January 9, 1863. Pleasant. Made out descriptive lists of members of the companywho are in the hospital to enable them to draw their pay. Lieutenant Norcrossand I drilled the company to-day as skirmishers. The officers met at CaptainWhittier's quarters in the evening and had a social time, singing, speeches,toasts, etc., with egg-nog in abundance. Parting song, " Home, Sweet Home."

January 10,1863. Some rain. Lieutenants Loring, Ferris, Fay and myself visited aplanter to-day, down the river, a Mr. Ducros. I formed his acquaintance when onpatrol duty with a squad. We had a nice dinner, he gave us some wine he hadimported from France.He believes in slavery because the Constitution allows it. We returned atsunset on the cars.

January 11, 1863. Sunday. Pleasant. Inspection at 8.30 o'clock. My company looked well, small numbers, fiftycomprise the company and there were only twenty-five for duty. At sundown, the47th Massachusetts Regiment marched inside of the barracks, they came from Carrollton. Pleasant timein the evening all around. They are a nine months' regiment lately arrived.

January 12, 1863. Monday. Pleasant. I am twenty-two years old to-day. Time passesrapidly; but no one could use it better than in defending the flag of hiscountry. Went up to the city in the evening.

January 13, 1863. I returned to quarters in the morning. Our regiment has ordersto go to Baton Rougeand join General Dudley's brigade. We ought to stay here two months longer;cannot muster over three hundred men for duty. Went aboard the steamerIberville, the same boat which carried our boys to Vicksburg last summer.

January 14, 1863. Rainy. Touched at Donaldsonvilie on the way. Met three officersof the 1st Louisiana Regiment with whom I am acquainted. Occupied a state-roomwith Lieutenant Haley, had a pleasant trip, arrived at Baton Rouge at 3 p. m., stayed aboard duringthe night. Six companies went ashore and quartered in the theatre building.

January 15, 1863. Rainy. The balance of the regiment went into quarters at thetheatre building. I looked after the company's baggage. We all slept in thehall at night. Quite cold.

January 16,1863. Friday. Cold, ice formed. Lieutenant Norcross on guard. Theregiment had a march and a drill in the afternoon. We looked fine. Some of ourofficers have hired a house. I quarter in the building, find my bed very hard. Baton Rouge looksdeserted, the citizens are nearly all gone. The State House is now merely ashell, as only the walls stand, the enemy having burned it last summer after weleft.

January 17, 1863. Pleasant but cold. No drill to-day. I visited the battle-fieldwith other officers, it looks natural. We have some eighteen thousand troopshere.

January 18,1863. Sunday. Warmer. Inspection at 10 a. m., after which we weremarched. Turned out three hundred and eighty men. We are to be brigadedto-morrow. Happy day this, as I was notified that the Governor has commissionedme, which makes me a fullfledged Lieutenant and not an acting one any longer.Mail arrived but no letter for me. Rainy to-night.

January 19, 1863. I am boarding at a coffee house at 85.00 per week. Moved ourquarters, occupy three rooms, one for my servant.

January 20, 1863. Pleasant. General Auger takes command. I made out our ordnancereturns in the morning. Battalion drill in the afternoon by General Dudley.Captain McGee, of the cavalry, went outside with his company scouting; reportedthat he saw quite a force nine miles out. Our regiment has the reputation ofbeing "the crack regiment," and the neatest looking.

January 21, 1863. Pleasant. Company drill as skirmishers in the morning. Battaliondrill in the afternoon. General Banks is in town to-day. General Auger is nowin command. Our regiment is in General Grover's division. Our brigade iscomposed of the 30th Massachusetts,the 50th Massachusetts,the 2d Louisiana,the 161st and the 174th New Yorkregiments. We expect to go into camp soon. Wrote home. Sent for a suit ofclothes.

January 22, 1863. Pleasant. Company drill in the morning; battalion drill in theafternoon. Quiet, nothing new to-day.

January 23, 1863. Cloudy. Went into camp on our old drillgrounds. We are on theright of the brigade. I had all the tents pitched by sunset.

January 24, 1863. Saturday. Marched into and occupied our camp at sunrise.Policing camp is the order of the day. Received my commission to-day from thehands of Lieutenant-Colonel Bullock; it is dated August 19, 1862. I was the senior Sergeant whowas promoted.

January 25, 1863. Sunday. Our brigade was reviewed by General Dudley in themorning, after which inspection took place. Started a mess to-day; there areeight in it; we hire a room in a house and a cook. It is quite cold.

January 26, 1863. Looks like rain. I am detailed for picket duty, as the juniorofficer. Lieutenant Johnston and Lieutenant Norcross also detailed. After guardmounting, we marched out into the country two miles. I had charge of six posts,three privates to a post, the last post connecting with the picket of anotherbrigade on our left. Lieutenant Norcross connected with a brigade on our right.Lieutenant Johnston in command and at our reserve. All quiet, no enemy insight. Some citizens passed through the lines during the day with passes.Visited by the General and the officer of the day at 1 a. m., and at night bythe officer of the day. It commenced to rain at dark; it was very cold, and noshelter; had to "grin and bear it." Had an old chair and sat in itall night. Was relieved at 10 o'clockthe next day by a detachment of the 2d Louisiana Regiment. This regiment iscomposed of all nations; it was raised in New Orleans; there is one Chinese in it; he cannot speakEnglish, pretty soldier, he! My negro servant found a pocket-hook, whichbelonged to one of our men; he was seen when he picked it up, but stoutlydenied it. I threatened to shoot him and gave him two minutes to either produceit or die; then he handed it over.

January 27, 1863. Tuesday. Cold and muddy. No drill to-day. We are laying floorsin our tents; I have finished mine, which makes it quite comfortable. Nothingnew. No expectation of a fight at present.

January 28, 1863. Pleasant but cold. Received a long letter from home and it was agood one, mother's picture was in it.

January 29, 1863. Pleasant but cold, water froze in my tent last night, the icewas quite thick. I have set up a small stove. Drill in the morning from 7.30 to8.30, then from 10 to 6 o'clock. Battalion drill in theafternoon, from 2 to 4 o'clock.

January 30,1863. Captain and I drilled the company in the manual to-day.Battalion drill in the afternoon. No excitement to-day.

January 31, 1863. Saturday. Our brigade was reviewed by General Grover. The 30th receivedtheir usual praise from the commanding officer for soldierly appearance. TheCaptain is on picket duty. I preferred charges against two privates of CompanyH for deserting their post while on picket with me, as I was ordered to do soby General Dudley.

Alex Morgan Letters, 19th Louisiana

2012-01-13T07:33:00.000-06:00

Baylor University has put on display letters from Dr. Alex Morgan of the 19th Louisiana. The 19th Louisiana was part of Colonel Randall L. Gibson's Brigade at the Battle of Shiloh. Gibson's Brigade included the 1st Arkansas, 4th Louisiana, 13th Louisiana and 19th Louisiana. Morgan's letters describe his life in camp and his involvement at the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862). The charge he talks of was made on April 6, 1862 against the Hornets' Nest in the center of the Union line. Gibson's Brigade made three charges against this position and lost about 1/3 of his brigade's strength. To learn about the 19th Louisiana and Gibson's Brigade at Shiloh just grab a copy of my book ;) on the Louisiana Brigade of the Army of Tennessee: Louisianians in the Western Confederacy: The Adams-Gibson Brigade in the Civil War.

Links directly to Baylor's online posting of Dr. Morgan's letters:

Harpers New Monthly Magazine Online!

2012-01-11T07:00:00.002-06:00

At Cornell University they have digitized all of the Harpers New Monthly Magazines. It is listed by year and by issue. VERY nicely done.

Louisiana Artillery Plays Prank on Virginians

2012-01-07T08:45:00.001-06:00

From The New Eclectic Magazine, Vol. IV, 1869, p. 616-617:

From New Orleans, La., we receive an account of a thrilling scene at the battle of Gettysburg. The writer says:

We were formed in line of battle on that memorable morning, and were waiting orders with feverish eagerness. Every soldier knows how trying is such a time, and how even the order to advance in the very face of death is felt to be a relief from the suspense and anxiety of inaction. A Virginia brigade was thus drawn up, and manifested some of the natural restlessness under such a state of uncertainty. An hour passed, and then another, but still the expected orders did not come.

Their nervousness had reached a high pitch, when a mounted orderly was seen dashing up, holding aloft an envelope. "The orders have come!" cried the men along the line. The orderly galloped up, inquiring, "Where's the 49th Virginia regiment?"Hundreds of men called out to him, " Here's the 49th Virginia!" but he rode rapidly on, calling out, " Where's the 49th Virginia regiment ?" All order was at an end, one half the brigade broke ranks and deployed as skirmishers to intercept the bewildered orderly with those mysterious orders. Back he came, riding furiously, and still holding up his dispatch. All attempts to stop him were in vain. He galloped right through the 49th Virginia,snouting with all his might, " Where's the 49th Virginia regiment?"

The men caught at his bridle, yelled to him to stop, but he eluded them all, and never slacking his speed, went out of sight of the brigade. The excitement now was beyond all bounds. Officers and men were eagerly inquiring, " Who is he ? What does it all mean ?" Some said that he was one of Lee's escort; others were sure that they had seen him with Longstreet . While the discussion about the mysterious stranger was being vehemently carried on, he made his appearance again, riding at the same furious pace, and holding up his dispatch as before. " Kill him or stop him this time ! " arose from hundreds of determined men. The orderly was halted at last, and conducted to the regiment he had been inquiring for so long. "Is this the 49th Virginia Regiment?" he inquired, waving ominously the big envelope. "Yes, yes, it is !" broke in many voices. "Well then, 49th Virginia regiment, lie down,for they are gwine fer to shell ye!" And off dashed the mysterious orderly like a shot from a Hotchkiss gun.

It was that graceless scamp of the Louisiana Guard Battery. He had picked up an official envelope somewhere, and had borrowed a sergeant's horse, and thus equipped had been playing orderly for his own amusement. A. M.

Funeral of Charles Dreux, 1st Louisiana Battalion

2012-01-03T21:31:00.000-06:00

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Dreux, commander of the 1^stLouisiana Battalion, had the unfortunate distinction of being the firstConfederate field officer, and probably the first Louisianian, killed in theCivil War. Dreux was killed onJuly 4, 1861, in a minor skirmish near Young’s Mill, Virginia, while trying toambush and capture some Union officers who frequented the area. Dreux was a Louisiana blue-blood. His New Orleans funeral, which drew30,000 mourners, was said to the be the largest ever held in the city up tothat time. The following report ofthe funeral comes from the July 20, 1861, Richmond Daily Dispatch.

Grand military and civic Obsequies of the late Lieut.Col. Dreux.
[from the New Orleans Picayune, 16th]

One of the largest military and civic funeral processionswhich ever was seen in this city, took place yesterday afternoon from the CityHall, on the occasion of the burial of the late gallant Lieut. Col. Charles D.Dreux.

The remains continued to lie in state during the day at theMayor's reception room, the metallic coffin being placed on a large high bierin the centre of the room, which was covered with a flag of the Confederacy. Onthe top of the coffin lay the cap and uniform of the deceased, covered with awreath of white flowers, while loose fresh flowers were strewn all around it. Astack of arms was placed at each corner of the tier, which was also guarded bya detachment of soldiers. The walls and windows of the room were tapestriedwith flags of the State and the Confederacy, draped with black. Incense wasburned on the mantles, and a fine cabinet oil painting of the deceased, hungwith crape, also adorned the room.

Hundreds visited the remains during the day. At 2 o'clockthe room was cleared, when the relatives of the family of the deceased paidtheir last sorrowful tribute of affectionate regard to the memory of thedeparted.

The procession formed in front of the City Hall athalf-past 4 o'clock, extending on St. Charles and Lafayette streets. All thestores on our principal streets were closed, and flags were displayed athalf-mast from the public buildings, hotels, public offices and the shipping. During the procession the bells of theseveral churches were tolled. The procession moved according to the order whichhas already been published, passing up St. Charles street to Julia street, downJulia to Camp street, thence to Chartres street, and down Chartres toEsplanade, and down Esplanade to the new St Louis Cemetery. It had beenintended to perform the religious rites and mass at the St. Louis Cathedral,but the order was changed, and the ceremonies were performed at the cemetery.All the windows, verandahs and balconies of the houses on the streets throughwhich the procession passed were crowded with ladies, as well as the sidewalks.When the funeral cortege had reached Jackson Square, the crowd was immense,besides the windows and balconies of the Pontiac Buildings, the old MunicipalHall and the Court-House being filled. The procession was one hour and twentyminutes-passing the Cathedral.

The military display was the largest and most imposing everwitnessed in this city. It is estimated that between three and four thousandtroops were in the ranks, and that the total number in the procession,including citizens, was between eight and ten thousand.--The Confederate Armywas represented by Major General Twiggs and staff, and Colonel Sulakowski withsome fifteen officers of the Polish Brigade. The Navy was represented byCommodore Rousseau, and officers of the Confederate States shipsteamers St.Philip and McRae.

A large advance of cavalry and infantry preceded the openhearse, which was draped with flags, and covered by a canopy hung with black,and drawn by six black horses — An escort followed, composed of Orleans Cadets,Jefferson Mounted Guards, Capt. Guy Dreux, on each side of the hearse, followedby the special detachment from the 1st Battalion of Louisiana Volunteers, whoescorted the remains from Virginia, under Lieut. H. F. Bend. Twelve carriagesthen followed, containing Bishop Odin and the Catholic clergy, preceded by therelatives of the deceased.--Next came Major Gen. Lewis and other officers, theGovernor, Mayor, police, firemen and the different societies, citizens, &c.

The police of the several districts made a fine turn-out,headed by their chief.

The Fire Department was also well represented, consideringthe large number of firemen who have left to join the army:

On arriving at the cemetery, the funeral rites wereperformed by Bishop Odin, assisted by the priests, who sang the"Requiescat in pace," after which Lieut. Col. Olivier, followed byRandell Hunt, Esq., delivered most touching addresses on the spotlesscharacter, the noble qualities, and chivalrous intrepidity of the deceased.Three salvos of musketry were then fired by the Louisiana Battalion with exactprecision. The procession was then dismissed, and the military and othercompanies proceeded separately to their quarters.

15th Louisiana's Losses at Chancellorsville

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Found this piece in the Richmond Daily Dispatch.

On May 14, 1863, the Richmond Daily Dispatch published a listof casualties for the 15^th Louisiana in the Battle ofChancellorsville. Colonel Pendleton’sfinger was shot off in the fight.

List of killed and wounded in the 15th Louisiana regiment(Col. E. Pendleton) at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2d and 3d, 1863.

Field and Staff.--Wounded: Col Edmond Pendleton, Lt-Col M GGoodwyn, Serg't Maj Haskins.

Company A.--Killed: Privates Whittle, Hoffman, Burns. Wounded: Serg't Lente. Missing; Private Cain, (reported killed.)
Company B.--Killed; Privates Walker, Finnegan, Vest, Brake. Wounded; Serg't Hinrick, Corp'l McArthy; privates Conroy, Brenan, Fitzgerald, Haffy, Russell. Missing; Petere.
Company C.--Killed: Private Brown.--Wounded; Lieut Erwin, (in right arm,) Lieut Gross, (slightly,) Serg't Hanck, (seriously.) Serg't Dupuy, (flesh wound in leg;) privates Vizer and P Smith. Missing; Privates Bernard, O Badeaux, and P Badeaux.
Company D.--Killed: Private H Johnson. Wounded: Lieut Power, Lieut Lockwood, Serg't Simcox; privates Riley, Krechbaum, Lehauey, Fanning, Guravin.
Company E.--Killed: Lieut Haynes and Serg't Paul. Wounded: Privates Cormady and Brown. Missing: Corp'l Rourke.
Company F.--Killed; Sergt Rowe. Wounded; Sergts Roden and Clendenning, Corporal Wynn, privates Knight and Donley. Missing: Corpl Holloway, privates Carroll and Flynn.
Company G.--Killed: Sgt McElwel, Corpl Tucker, private Bigger. Wounded: Captain Michie, slightly; Lts Bowman and Davenport slightly; Sgts Wynn and Brown, dead; Corpl Aldridge, privates Lott, Carroll, England, Dawson, Merillian, Braddock, Cannedy, J W Nuggatt, Crawford, Womack. Missing: Manning.
Company H.--Killed: W Woff. Wounded; Capt Withemp, Lt Blackstone, Corpl Vinet. Missing: McPherson, M Gainer, Barnett.
Company I.--Killed: D Hogan, E Clark. Wounded; Lt Brown, since dead; Sgts Trumzler and Napier, Cpl Trisher, privates Tiller, McClure, Manning, Greer, McQuaid, Shae.
Company K.--Wounded: Sgt Brown, prisoner, Sgt Beck, Cpls Salois and Dillon, privates Norris, Keefer, Cunningham, Rank, Heno; Arnauld, Hoff. Missing: Private Messing.

1st Louisiana at the Battle of King's School House

2011-12-26T08:32:00.002-06:00

This story from the Richmond Daily Dispatch was advanced to me by Terry L. Jones (Lee's Tigers, Campbell Brown's Civil War: With Ewell and the Army of Northern Virginia, The Civil War Memoirs of Captain William J. Seymour: Reminiscences of a Louisiana Tiger). This is a great story on one of the more obscure Louisiana regiments in the Army of Northern Virginia.

THE FIRST LOUISIANA AT KING’S SCHOOL HOUSE

The Seven Days Campaign began on June 25, 1862, when UnionGeneral George B. McClellan advanced his line outside Richmond, Virginia—a daybefore Robert E. Lee attacked McClellan’s right flank at Mechanicsville andstarted driving the Yankees back. Aspart of A. P. Wright’s brigade, Lt. Col. W. R. Shivers’1^st Louisianahelped stop McClellan’s advance on June 25. In the fierce fighting known as the Battle of King’s School House, theLouisianians captured a battle flag from Daniel Sickles’ famed ExcelsiorBrigade but lost many men in the process. Colonel Shivers was shot through the arm and a total of 16 of theregiment’s 27 officers were killed or wounded, along with 128 of the 328men. Two days after the battle, the Richmond Daily Dispatch ran a storydescribing the 1^st Louisiana’s role in the fight.

Believing an attackwas imminent, Gen. Wright ordered up the 48th North Carolina (Col. Rutledge's)regiment, which moved up the road and took position to the left of it, in anopen field, with dense woods on their left flank. The right of the road wasoccupied by the 1st Louisiana, and to their right were the 22d and 4th Georgia.The North Carolinians were in an exposed position, but maintained their groundwithout flinching, losing not less than 100 killed and wounded. The position ofthe 1st Louisiana was equally disadvantageous. Before them was a thick chaparral, in which the enemy were stronglyposted. Behind this, also, several brigades were drawn up, their flanksextending beyond, so that they kept up a continual fire upon the Louisianians,inflicting sad loss. Being ordered to charge, the 1st advanced nobly, with the"Butler! and New Orleans!" and at the first dash drove the enemyforth with great havoc. But emerging into the open field behind, they wereastonished to discover not less than three brigades opposing them, viz: ThomasFrancis Meagher's Irish brigade, Sickles's Excelsior brigade, and another one,the name of which we could not ascertain. Bravely holding their ground, theLouisianians maintained the unequal contest with great dash and boldness, theenemy quailing and retiring before their steady and deadly fire. To theirright, however, things were progressing favorably, where the 4th and 22dGeorgia were hotly engaged with the enemy, who, after some two hours hardfighting, slowly and reluctantly retired. Comparisons are odious, but it isadmitted that the conduct of the 48th N. C., 1st La., and 4th Ga., was beyondall praise. The first of these regiments was perfectly fresh from home, and hadnever been under fire before; yet there they stood, in open field, waiting forthe cowards to advance, and although Col. Rutledge reports a loss of 100 killedand wounded, his brave fellows never gave an inch of ground, but kept up amurderous fire upon the foe, who suffered so much that, although five to one,they did not dare to leave the woods. The Louisianians went into action with300, and lost 144 killed and wounded. These figures are more than enough todemonstrate their conduct in the fight — for every second man fell! The 4thGeorgia, it is said, acted like very devils, and fought and charged threeregiments three several times!--and, more than this routed them, losing notless than 50 in killed and wounded. The 22d Georgia lost some ninety odd inkilled and wounded, and behaved splendidly.

We would conclude bymentioning the heroic conduct of Private James Henderson, Company A, First Louisiana. This brave fellow hadundergone the severe fiery ordeal with his regiment in the morning, and when itwas ordered to fall back he voluntarily moved to the front to assist thewounded, as there were neither surgeon nor stretcher bearers with his regiment.Henderson brought off Col. Shivers from the field on his back, returned andrecovered the same officer's sword and other equipments, and whenever finding awounded man sufficiently strong to be removed, he carried him from the field onhis back, despite the repeated vollies which the cowardly enemy fired upon him.More than this — when the enemy had posted their pickets, this fine soldierstole through the grass upon his hands and knees, and actually stole ourwounded men from under the enemy's guns! We always delight to record the deedsof privates, but can any words of ours add to the honor of such a brave fellowas Henderson? There are, doubtless, many who did as well, in some capacity orother, but we regret that none will advise us of their names and deeds.

4th Wisconsin from Opelousas to Port Hudson

2011-12-03T19:14:00.001-06:00

From the Fourth Wisconsin

Campaign on the Red River

The Assault on Port Hudson

Correspondence of the Sheboygan Times

Port Hudson, La. May 25, 1863

My last communication was from Opelousas, since which time, wehave eaten, drank, and slept in the saddle. We have performed some wonderfulequestrian feats, some matchless tumbling, and kept in a perfect whirl ofexcitement night and day. We have roamed the extensive prairies, forded bayous,lassooed horses, chased Rebs., and other acts too numerous to mention. While atOpelousas we were transferred into Dwight’s brigade, Grovers division, wentdown to Washington and had a running fight of six miles with the enemy, thencommenced our march to Alexandria on River river eighty miles distant; ouradvance was in sight of the rear of the enemy nearly all the time. On thismarch Gen. Dwights’ brother was shot by a guerilla; the assassin was caught,tried and shot. We made a grand cavalry dash into Alexandria, coming in on thedead run, hooting and yelling like so many savages, and what a notable figurewe did cut; rough, ragged and dirty are feeble words to express our conditions;we found that Commodore Davis had beaten us, having reached there, the nightbefore, took possession of the town and hoisted the stars and stripes, in thecenter of the town; we stopped and gave three rousing cheers for the flag,three for the navy, three for Commodore Davis and cheered for everybody andwith a will too, such as the 4th Wis. had not evinced since the first three orfour months in the service. - We had been on a long march and endured muchhardship and we fancied that we were going to have a season of rest, but inthis we were deceived.

We started thenext day in pursuit of the enemy, and overtook him at Cane river, 45 miles fromAlexandria, completely surprising him, taking about forty five prisoners andscattering the rest; we captured about 1,000 horses and mules. Co. C wasdetailed to guard the baggage train back to Alexandria, since which time wehave been detached from the Regt. Immediately upon reaching Alexandria, thecompany was detailed to guard Gen. Bank’s headquarters baggage train; weproceeded to Simmsport, 80 miles distant on the Atchafalaya, twelve miles fromthe month of Red river, crossed as expeditiously as possible, on a flat boat,rowed by six negroes; you may guess how fast that was, over a river a mile wideand very rapid. Gen. Grover’s division arrived while we were crossing; nextmorning Co. C, 4th Wisconsin, and Co. F, 1st La. cavalry, started on a reconnoiteringexpedition; we were joined by three companies of New York cavalry, all underthe command of Major ---. We proceeded down the Red river to its mouth, wherewe saw the steamship Hatfield, watching for rebel prey. We then descended theMississippi, going through the towns of Williamsport, St. Coupee and a coupleof other little places sporting no name, and stopped opposite Port Hudson,while the chief engineer on Gen. Grover’s staff made observations and gainedthe desired information. We had a splendid view of the fortifications, and theexamination was highly satisfactory. We took a prisoner who informed us therewas a rebel force on that side the river on the point opposite Port Hudson,which point was separated from us by a small bayou. Of the strength of theforce we knew nothing, but it was determined that we should find out somethingabout them; so we proceeded about three miles down the bayou, and we crossed alittle neck of land connecting with the point, we then proceeded up the point,thinking to bag them. Co. F being the only ones that were fully armed, we sentout as skirmishers. Co. C had no sabres, nothing but our long muskets whichwere useless on a horse; the New York boys had no carbines, nothing but sabresand revolvers, good enough on a charge, but worthless as skirmishers, so weonly had eighteen men fully armed; we had not proceeded far, when theskirmishers were attacked by the enemy in the edge of a piece of woods, theyheld their ground bravely, returning the fire with surprising rapidity.

Co. C, underLieut. Brooks, immediately dashed forward to their support, but the N.Y.cavalry hung back; Lieut. Mack of Co. F rode back urging them to come forwardand make a charge and we could take them prisoners; but they refused. He cameback swearing horribly, and addressing us said: “Come on Wisconsin, we can doit alone, such cavalry as that ought to be in h-ll.” We joined his company, Co.C, numbering 37 and Co. F numbering 18. The enemy retired farther into thewoods, we followed and deployed. Co. F, with the first platoon of Co. C, underLieut. Mack, deployed to the right of the road, while the 2nd platoon of Co. C,15 men, under Lieut. Brooks, deployed to the left extending from the road tothe Bayou. Thus forty-five men began a fight with an unknown force of the enemyright under the guns of Port Hudson, that famous stronghold of the Southwest,frowning down upon us, the garrison viewing the contest, and we being 57 milesfrom reinforcements.

The attempt washazardous in the extreme; the major in command was five miles behind, drunk![bully for the Major!] Abandoned by our comrades, each Lieutenant had to fighton his own hook; but we had found the enemy and was bound to fight him. Lieut.Brooks advanced through the woods about forty rods, when he struck the leveeroad, and the advance of the rebels being in sight, we commenced firingbriskly, the enemy again retreating, we chased them about forty rods further toa turn in the road and levee, Lieut. Brooks and Serg’t O’Conner taking thelead. The Lieutenant becoming convinced that the enemy were endeavoring to drawus into an ambuscade, gave orders to halt. We were now in rather a niceposition. Our horses were untrained and would become unmanageable, if we wentto firing guns about their ears, and having only fifteen men we could notafford to dismount and let a part hold horses while the rest fought. - Severalof the boys dismounted and holding their own horses fired whenever they saw areb. The enemy waited some time in silence, hoping that we would advance intotheir snare, but Lieut. Brooks was not to be caught in that way. SergeantO’Conner went over the levee and advanced alone into the woods to within tenrods of the ambuscade, and finding that they were discovered, they opened atremendous fire of musketry upon us, to which we replied with some effect, forwe saw some fall; but the overwhelming numbers of the enemy convinced us thatwe could do nothing there, with no force to fall back to, so be were ordered toretreat. About this time, Wm. Sager, of Lima, was shot through the hand. He hadjust charged cartridge and was drawing rammer, when the shot took him in theright hand, but he succeeded in loading his piece and fired. By this time wehad returned some distance; he then mounted his horse and fled, the bulletscoming after him like hailstones, but he was true blue. He went a shortdistance to the rear, where one of the boys tied up his hand the best he could,and he rejoined the company and remained through the action.

A bullet wentthrough the stock of E. Estry’s gun, between the barrel and rammer, thesplinters skinning his knuckles. We retreated about forty rods and halted, whenSergeant O’Conner came trotting up leading his horse, which was so badlyfrightened he could not mount him. The rebels then sent up a yell of exultationwhich made us feel wolfish, but could not resent it, so we fell back into theclearing behind the levee, so if they came out in sight we could pepper them.Sergeant O’Conner was dispatched to inform Lieut. Mack that we had retired, sothat the enemy should not flank him and cut him off, but the Sergeant could notfind him. Meantime Lieut. Mack with his men had advanced rapidly, not meetingany opposition, and the New Yorkers were advancing along the road at arespectful distance behind. Upon hearing that loud firing upon his left, heordered his men to about face and come to the support of Lieut. Brooks. Beforehe could get his men together in the road and get back, however, the firingceased, and he supposing that we were all prisoners ordered a retreat, the NewYorkers, being behind, now became the advance, next Co. F, then the firstplatoon of Co. C. The rebels had stationed themselves in the woods by theroadside, and now poured in a terrible fire upon them as they passed by. Hereoccurred a striking instance of the heroic daring that characterized our boysand made them conspicuous. One of the New York cavalry was killed, and hiscomrades rode on and left him, not a man paying any regard to it. When Co. Ccame strong, Wm. S. Buzzell stopped and ordered two negroes, that rode in therear, to dismount and lift the body on his horse. They did so, and he took thatdead body across the neck of his horse and carried it five miles, when itseemed like certain death to stop. It won for him the encomiums of the wholeparty, and too much cannot be said in his praise. It was a noble act, promptedonly by the determination that the enemy should not obtain it as a trophy.Wisconson should be proud of such a noble son.

We learned nextmorning from the citizens that the enemy had two regiments of infantry, twocompanies of cavalry, and a section of artillery on that point, and had weadvanced fifteen rods further we should have been annihilated.

John McGrath, "In a Louisiana Regiment" Part V

2011-08-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

John McGrath began his military career as a Sergeant in the Delta Rifles of the 4th Louisiana Regiment. We have several of his accounts posted at Louisiana Civil War documenting his role in the 4th Louisiana. McGrath also took the time to write the New Orleans Picayune and include a brief write up of his early days in 13th Louisiana. He actually focuses his attention on joining "Avegno's Zouaves" as a Lieutenant. The six companies of the Governor Guards' Battalion ("Avegno's Zouaves") combined with four independent companies to form the 13th Louisiana in September of 1861.

In a Louisiana Regiment.

New Orleans Picayune, Aug. 2, 9; Sept. 6, 1903

Well, we are off at last. Off to where battles are being fought and where heroes are developed, and every officer and enlisted man in the Thirteenth is eager and anxious to participate in the fray. The all-absorbing desire is to reach a battlefield before the war closes. ‘It cannot possibly last longer than six months,’ say the wise ones. ‘Were not Mason and Slidell taken from an English ship and will not Great Britain avenge the gross insult to her flag?’ With an English fleet at their doors and Southerners at the heels of their soldiers, [117] short work will be made of the Northern armies. Throw fresh fuel into the furnace, firemen. Put on more steam, engineer, to hurry us on our journey. It depends largely on the speed of the boat whether we return conquering heroes, to be welcomed by the shouts and cheers of grateful and admiring thousands, or slink back to peaceful pursuits ‘unknown, unhonored and unsung.’ Ah! my debonnaire comrades, could you but glance into the book of fate and read what is there recorded; see before you the long, weary marches under burning suns, pelting rains or cutting hail storms, your hearts would be heavy and your faces serious. Could you, Major, see that shallow grave gaping to receive your mortal remains on the fiercely contested field of Shiloh, you would cease the interesting story you are telling and turn to beads and prayer. Charley, gallant, light and hearty Charley, could you picture in your mind that solemn midnight scene, on the banks of Stone river, where your body was laid away by tender hands of comrades, Il Trovatore, snatches of which you are softly humming, would suddenly cease and in its stead arise the solemn De Profundis.

Comfortably seated in an armchair, inditing these crude reminiscences forty-two years after, it appears strange and unreasonable that young men are ever ready to leave the comforts of home life to go where chances of early sepulcher are great, limbless bodies abundant, and at the best only hardships and suffering are to be found. So it was, is and always will be.

Readers of these sketches must expect quite a number of twists in the thread of my story. I am not writing a history of the 13th, but my own experience, as a soldier ‘in a Louisiana regiment.’ History tells the tale of the regiment. Nor will I cover more ground than that occupied by the Louisiana Brigade of the Army of Tennessee. While I was at the birth, baptism and death of that great Southern army, I only know what occurred outside of my brigade by hearsay. It was understood in our regiment that they who knew most of the general features of an engagement were company cooks, servants and skulkers, who gathered around wagon trains and viewed ‘the battle from afar.’ I felt in those days that a soldier who stood by his colors was doing his full duty without wandering over the field, watching the operations of brigades to which he did not belong. The truant's excuse, ‘I became entangled with other troops and could not again find my regiment,’ was met by a sneer in the 13th, and to avoid being sneered at, if not for loftier motives, [118] I confined myself and my knowledge of battles to regimental and brigade lines.

Now that we are afoot and fairly on our way, it might be well to furnish a roster of the regiment, which was as follows:

Randall Gibson, Colonel; Aristide Gerard, Lieutenant-Colonel; Anatole P. Avegno, Major;——King, Adjutant.

First Company, Governor's Guards—Auguste Cassard, Captain; Charles Richard, First Lieutenant; Victor Mossy, Second Lieutenant; Victor Olivier, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Second Company, Governor's Guards—J. Fremaux, Captain; B. Bennett, First Lieutenant; C. H. Luzenburg, Second Lieutenant; Charles Hepburn, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Third Company, Governor's Guards—Bernard Avegno, Captain; St. Leon Deetez, First Lieutenant; Henry Castillo, Second Lieutenant; Eugene Lagarique, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Fourth Company, Governor's Guards—M. O. Tracey, Captain; Hugh H. Bein, First Lieutenant; Eugene Blasco; Second Lieutenant; George W. Boylon, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Fifth Company, Governor's Guards-Lee Campbell, Captain; John M. King, First Lieutenant; J. B. Sallaude, Second Lieutenant; Norman Story, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Sixth Company, Governor's Guards—W. Dubroca, Captain; John McGrath, First Lieutenant; A. M. Dubroca, Second Lieutenant; Robert Cade, Junior Second Lieutenant.

St. Mary Volunteers—Thomas G. Wilson, Captain; James Murphy, First Lieutenant; H. H. Strawbridge, Second Lieutenant; Adolph Dumartrait, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Gladden Rifles—William A. Metcalf, Captain; John W. Labuisse, First Lieutenant; Walter V. Crouch, Second Lieutenant; E. B. Musgrove, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Southern Celts—Stephen O'Leary, Captain; John Daly, First Lieutenant; E. J. Connolly, Second Lieutenant; John Dooley, Junior Second Lieutenant.

Norton Guards—George W. Norton, Captain; M. Hunly, First Lieutenant; A. S. Stuart, Second Lieutenant; George Cammack, Junior Second Lieutenant.

J. M. Parker, Sergeant Major.

Colonel Gibson, a graduate of Yale, wealthy, refined and polished by travel and association with the most famous men of the day, served as Colonel or Brigade Commander from the firing of the first gun until the battle-torn and stained flags of the regiments were [119] furled for the last time, and never missed a battle or skirmish in which his command was engaged, and these numbered one hundred or more. In my opinion, Gibson was not what one might call a great commander, but that he was a brave and faithful one his splendid record bears testimony. He was a good soldier, if not a military genius.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gerard was a Frenchman by birth and a soldier by profession. He was a master of the science of war, and brave to a degree of rashness. Arriving in New Orleans some years previous to the war, while occupying an editorial position on one of the French papers, he became prominent through a duel with a notorious duelist, in which the latter was fatally wounded. Colonel Gerard was not long with the regiment, receiving a severe wound atFarmington, and upon recovery being assigned to duty in the Transmississippi Department.

Major Avegno was a Creole of Louisiana, educated, refined and wealthy. His service was also short, as he fell mortally wounded on the second day at Shiloh, and died a day or two after.

Adjutant King, at the breaking out of the war, was a second lieutenant in the United States Army, resigning to take service with the Confederacy. He was a thorough soldier, and to him in a great measure was due the fine discipline and perfect drill which were always characteristic of the regiment.

At one of the landings made by the boat it was learned that a battle had been fought at Belmont, opposite Columbus, and that the Yankees had been defeated with great loss and had returned to Cairo pell-mell, and that, too, without the presence of the 13th. Thus, thought we, faded the only opportunity of ever facing the enemy. Defeated at Manassas and at Belmont, the Federals would realize the folly of attempting invasion of the South and throw up the sponge. The disappointment had a most depressing effect on officers and men alike, the former cursing the slowness of the boat, while the latter, more superstitious, laid it on the unlucky number of the regiment. ‘Oh, why the blazes did I join the 13th. I might have known we'd be unlucky,’ was a common remark. It was a most discouraging piece of news to all, but I lived to see a time when the boys were not so anxious; when they could have remained on board a Confederate boat with perfect complacency while others were dying. The 13th always performed its full duty when called upon; the men did the fighting falling to their share, but, like the man who ate the crow, ‘didn't hanker arter it.’ After one or [120] two good stiff battles indignation meetings were not held if the regiment found itself in reserve. We might say right here, however, that no battle was fought by the Army of Tennessee where we were overlooked, when a battery was to be captured or a line of battle attacked. ‘Oh, go on, Mike, don't ye know we'll be sent in. We're not voters, an' they'll want to save the Hoosier regiments so as to have as many men after the war as they can to vote. Every last man of the colonels will be running for office,’ I heard one of the men of the Southern Celts say on one occasion.

About evening of the sixth day the journey ended. Columbus was covered by snow and the men without overcoats. Crowds of soldiers came down to the river to see us land, and as many of these had never seen a zouave before, they were surprised beyond measure. They took the baggy trousers for petticoats and one loud-mouthed Hoosier shouted: ‘Jeems, come over here and see the Loosyane wimmen soldiers. All of you'ns come.’ Disgust was plainly discernible on the countenances of the men at being taken for women, and the remarks addressed to the country soldiers were not such as to be printable.

At last the 13th was at the front.

Black Louisiana Confederates

2011-08-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to a piece Arthur Bergeron wrote in Civil War History, Volume XXXII, No. 3, September 1986. It highlights the role of free men of color that fought in Louisiana units.

14th Louisiana Goes to War Pt. VII

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

The following write up comes from Wayne Cosby. It is a first hand account of Private W.P. Snakenburg of Co. K, 14th Louisiana Infantry. Wayne informed me that the original source of Snakenburg's letter is unknown but his account was printed in 1984 in the Amite News Digest. This is the last piece on Snakenburg's role in the Civil War. This post picks up after Snakenburg's capture at Spotsylvania Court House in May of 1864.

The prisoners were taken to Fredericksburg and next day to a place near Aquia Creek and placed in a bottom or hollow place that put me in mind of a place they called "The Devil's Punch Bowl" that I read of in a book when a boy. There we were kept two or three days, then were taken to Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac River on the Chesapeake Bay. There we were kept in a prison guarded by white and negro troops. There was water on three sides of us and no shade at all. As well as I can remember, there was no shade trees at all and the water we were forced to drink as bad as could be, as it was full of copperas, and very little to eat and plenty of salt in what we did get. The officers of the prison were in another stockade, near to ours, but we never could see each other. From our prison camp we could see across Chesapeake Bay to the eastern shore of Maryland on a very calm morning. Men-of-War lay out in the Bay as guards, as also infantry and batteries of artillery were posted to guard the prisoners. Around the prison a plank wall twelve or fourteen feet high was built with a platform about four feet above the top, on the outside, for the guards to walk day and night. While at this prison, I learned through letters from my mother that one of my cousins on her side was there guarding prisoners and belonged to a company attached to the 144th Ohio Regiment. He also learned through his people that I was there a prisoner, and they made arrangements with the officers to send for me. I went to the gate and was taken down to the landing where I met him. His name is John Hemphill, a first cousin. We talked for one hour, I suppose, and the general drift of the conversation was to advise me to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and not go back South to the army. I would not do so and went back to the prison. I was to go back the next day to the same place to meet him as he promised to get me some things I needed, as I lost everything in way of clothes when captured in the works. I went to the place two or three days but did not see him there. When I did see him afterward on guard duty, he told me that he had got into the guard house for some insubordination and could not go. I thought that he was not telling me the truth and did not try to see him any more, and rather than be troubled and worried by him and some officers of the prison about taking the oath, I went to another prison camp in New York as soon as I got the chance. I did not let him know that I was going and he did not find out until I was gone.

While in prison at Point Lookout, I saw a negro soldier, who was walking a beat near the eating houses, fire into a crowd of prisoners going and coming out of the eating houses and were crowded in his path. His ball mortally wounded two and one slightly in the hand. The negro was removed from the camp and we were told that he was tried by a drumhead court marshall and shot the next morning. We did not believe it, as no witnesses were taken out of the prison to such a court. When I left Point Lookout, I and others were taken to Elmira, New York on the Chemung River. We had large plank houses to live in, which was much better than the tents at Point Lookout and good water, but no more to eat than before, but that salted well. I will try to give you our bill of fare and tell you how it was cooked. In the evening, after we ate our dinner, the cooks would put meat (mess pork) into large kettles and boil in clear water, and then take the meat out and let it get cold for breakfast next morning. A slice of the meat and a slice of loaf bread (five or six slices to the loaf) was given each of us for breakfast. After breakfast, the soup in which the meat was boiled the evening before was heated again and a sack or sacks of peas or beans were thrown into the kettle and boiled. Many times we thought that the cooks made a mistake and took up a sack of salt in place of beans and poured it into the kettles, as often we would not see a pea or bean in our plate. A tin cup of the soup and another slice of bread was our dinner. No supper. Many of us had the scurvy in our limbs, which was very painful and would draw the muscles of our bodies bad. Mine were drawn for several weeks. I was crippled badly and my feet broke out with a very bad rising in the instep, one of them the summer after the war was over. It snowed there on the 10th of October, 1864 and we did see the ground any more until March, f1865, excepting when the snow was cleared away. Small pox broke out among the prisoners and there were many cases, but very few died from that trouble, but many from pneumonia and bowel trouble. I suppose the cause of so few deaths from small pox was because we were so lean that the disease could not make an impression on us.

Part 6 - 19 October 1984

During my imprisonment there, I received letters from my home and also from my uncle and aunt in Ohio and Illinois, all wanting me to take the oath and go to their home until the war ended, if I would not go to Louisiana. A certain Doctor, named Green, a citizen of Elmira, who was engaged by the United States Government to attend to the sick in certain wards in prison, was after me nearly every day when he came to prison to make application to take the oath and go to his house and live with his family until the end of the War. I would not.

During the political campaign in the fall of 1864, when Lincoln was elected the second term, there was a large mass meeting and speaking in Elmira one mile from the prison. After the meeting was over and the cannon had ceased to fire salutes, and were returning to their position near the prison, some rascal put a rock in the gun when near the camp and fired it through the roof of our ward near where I lay. The rock came through the roof and struck a hat on the opposite side of the house, cut the hat badly and dropped down in the bunk where two prisoners were lying.

During the winter of 1864, I received several letters from Uncle Paul Jones in Illinois. I kept them and brought them with others back to North Carolina when I left prison and left them with your mother when I went off. She let your Uncle Willy Gardner have them to read and he lost them and they could never be found afterwards. I would have given much for some of them. I would have been glad for all my children to see and read at least one of them from Uncle Paul. I do not think that I can repeat it accurately, but nearly so. He wrote as follows: After speaking of mother and family matters, he wrote me thus -

- Letter -

"And now, William, I hear that you have been wounded and are now a prisoner. How is it? Have you like thousands of others, been made the victims of a few designing slave holders who have, by their peculiar cunning, made you believe that the Constitutional rights and Liberties of the South had been, or were going to be, taken away by the Republican party, who were just then coming to power? If so, read the history of the country and you will find that the Rebellion has been secretly contemplated for almost thirty years, at almost every presidential campaign. Reading the records of the country, will, no doubt, reveal to you the facts in the case, that their intention was to destroy the Union and on its ruins to erect a government with slavery in place of freedom as its chief corner stone and then having used the poor white trash to accomplish their undermining schemes, they would enjoy about as much Liberty, Freedom and Peace as the serfs of Russia did or the peasantry of Ireland do. Such miserable mudsills of society, as you and I, could get employment only when a negro could not be hired and then only at such low rates of wages as they saw proper to give or not being able to own so many acres of land, or so many human chattels, would be debarred from holding any voice or office in government. This may sound ridiculous to you, but it is the inevitable result of carrying out their pet principle, that capital should own labor; that they abhor and detest the laboring class, is evinced by almost all their orators and editors, for they seem to take great delight in calling us by such names as "small fisted farmers", greasy flinty mechanics, "Hot house wifery & Co.", which you, no doubt, have seen posted in their speeches and editorial columns. What better evidence do we need, that they hate us and would continue to hate us even after we had fought their battles and shed our blood to gain their independence? But space tells me to close." etc. (signed) Your Uncle, Paul Jones.

I am satisfied that I have not quoted all of the letter, I cannot remember it exactly. That letter was the first I received from him and was written in the fall of 1864. I received another from him though, shortly. We received notice from the prison officials that in writing to relatives or friends that we must not write more than one page of note paper in an answer. I have seen some comrades receive letters torn in two and only get a part of a letter. That with the signature of my uncles letter was 4 1/2 pages of foolscap and came to me marked in red ink across the letter "Examined, too long, notify your party not to write so long", but I think that the contents of Uncle Paul's letter to me suited the examiners too well to be torn in two, as it might have more effect on me, a rebel, than several personal visits to me while a prisoner. I wrote him that I was not in a position to answer his letter; that all letters were examined and any answer from me to his letter would not leave the prison and so would not undertake it. I also received one, I partly remember, from Aunt Aggie Nichols, of New Richmond, O. She told me that they dwelt in a large brick mansion, owned a large farm, and wanted me to come over some evening and sup with her and get some nice biscuits made of wheat grown on their land, some nice young chicks, some nice milk and butter of her own making and many things of the kind that were good and would have been very good to me then. I simply wrote here I could not go and that when I did leave my present home that I should strike for Dixie. I received letters from others somewhat of the same strain.

The last of February, 1865, I with others was called out to be sent South to be exchanged and I know that I was glad of it, as I had been confined a prisoner since the 12th of May, 1864, and also glad to get out of hearing of some of these people. We were placed under guard and took the train at Elmira, N.Y. and traveled to Little Fork, Harrisburg, Pa., to Baltimore, Md., then took the boat from Baltimore, Md. by Fortress Monroe and Newport News, to the mouth of the James River and up the James to the landing twelve miles from Richmond, Va. As we passed Newport News, we could see the masts of the man-of-war "Cumberland" sticking up out of the water where she was sunk by the Merrimac early in 1862. We got to Richmond March 2nd, 1865, and then learned that the cartel was broken and that we would not be exchanged. I never was anything after but a paroled prisoner. I stayed in Richmond several days and then came down in North Carolina and stayed about ten days and started for Georgia, intending to stay there until exchanged, then return to my Company, but when I got to Raleigh, N.C., I learned that Gen'l Johnston's army won fighting Gen'l William Tecumseh Sherman's army at Bentonville, only a short distance from Raleigh and that Johnston's army was retreating. I could not get by Sherman's army and being a paroled prisoner, did not want to be taken by Sherman's troops a prisoner again, so after staying in Raleigh and vicinity, returned to Edgecombe County. After staying there a while, I went down in Martin County to spend a week and while there learned that Gen'l Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. I did not believe it at first hearing, but after I had gone back to Edgecombe County found that it was so.

I soon had to go to Goldsboro to get more papers to enable me to go about without being molested by the United States troops. That was the end of the War for me. I carried those papers for several years and would not take the oath of allegiance to the United States until Gen'l Lee had published a letter advising all his army comrades to take the oath so that we would be entitled to rights of citizenship. Before and election held in 1867, I went before a negro registrar in Greenville who was very ignorant, could scarcely read, and with many mental reservations swallowed what he read. I then voted against changing the Constitution of North Carolina and my name and all others who did so were sent to Gen'l Edward Richard Sprigg Canby who was in command of the Department, but we never heard any more of the matter. Since then I have always voted the Democratic ticket and shall always do so, I hope.

I do not know anything of the work of the Company after I was taken prisoner, excepting from information, but have learned that they fought Sept. 19th, when Col. Jim Williams was killed and Col. York lost the very horse that he rode in the battle, a shell going through him. They fought in the 2nd Cold Harbor fight, near Petersburg, then were sent off with Gen'l Early through the Valley of Virginia, through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, then to the suburbs of Washington D. C. On this trip they fought at Kernstown, Va., Winchester, Monocacy Bridge in Maryland; near Frederick City, then Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, where York, who had been promoted General in the field of Cold Harbor, lost his arm. Corporal Peter Reilly was also killed there.

I will now close this account of our work for the Confederacy and hope it may interest you. I could have written more, as I have written nothing of our marching and fighting and very little of camp life, particularly as to how we spent our time while in Winter Quarters, such as playing ball, singing, etc.

John McGrath "In a Louisiana Regiment" Part IV

2011-07-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

In a Louisiana Regiment.

New Orleans Picayune, Aug. 2, 9; Sept. 6, 1903

After a month or more spent between the banks of Beaver creek and the river Tangipahoa orders came to proceed to Camp Chalmette, below New Orleans. Officers and men alike had been anxiously expecting orders to proceed to Virginia, and were greatly disappointed at change of destination, but as any change was desirable, marching orders were hailed with intense satisfaction.

Soon after receipt of orders a reign of busy activity began. Tents were taken down, trunks packed, blankets rolled and the regiment aligned along the railroad track to await the train. Every officer had one trunk at least at Camp Moore, but a day came when all one's surplus clothing was rolled in a blanket to be slung and carried over the shoulder. Trunks shrunk to valises, valises to hand grips and hand grips to nothing in a remarkably short time.

The train to carry the regiment and its belongings came snorting along about 3 o'clock in the morning, and as soon as filled with men and camp equipage was off for the Crescent City. Without regret, we bade farewell to the old camp in the pines, with its six or seven hundred graves, containing the remains of Louisianians who yielded up their patriotic young lives without having once faced the enemies of their beloved South. Not one single mound, however, was erected over the body of a member of the 13th, a fact which gives emphasis to the remark I often heard, that soldiers from urban communities withstand disease and hardships far better than those raised in the country, where regular hours are maintained and diseases usual to congested communities unknown. To measles may be largely charged the loss of life at Camp Moore, and as this disease is generally contracted in childhood by inhabitants in cities and towns, and as a great majority of our men were city bred, the 13th was as nearly immune as a regiment could well be.

After a few hours' travel, the train pulled into the old Jackson Railroad Depot, where an unusually animated scene presented itself. The surroundings were black with a dense mass of humanity. It was a bright Sunday morning, and fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sweethearts, and throngs of persons drawn hither by simple curiosity, or it may be, moved by patriotic impulses, arrayed in holiday garb, packed the depot until it was well-nigh impossible to alight from the cars or to form companies. [113]

Nine-tenths of the men of the 13th were from New Orleans, mechanics, screwmen, longshoremen, sailors, barbers, cooks, and, in fact, men of all trades and callings, some with parents, sisters and brothers, others with wives and children, and all with scores of friends, and it seemed this Sunday morning as if neither relatives or friends were absent—as if the last one was crowding in upon the cars as the train stopped. Nor was that the worst, for it seemed that every wife, mother or sister in the mob expected her soldier boy to accompany her home for the day. ‘Oh, Captain, for the love of God, let Patrick go home with me. I have a good dinner cooked for him, and he'll be in camp to-night. Oh, do, Captain; maybe I'll never see my boy again,’ importuned an old Irish mother. ‘Impossible, madam, strict orders to keep the men in ranks,’ was the reply. ‘Mon Dieu, Lieutenant! let my lila garcon, Jules, go my'ouse. His petitesis-tar seek. Come back queek,’ said another. ‘Impossible, madam..’ But Patrick slipped, and Mike followed; Jules dodged through the pressing crowd, and Pierre also. Of course, in such a crowd of admiring patriots, with hearts overflowing with patriotism, whiskey was slipped to the boys going off to fight the battles of the country, and the liquor soon began to tell, so by the time the march began many of the soldiers were decidedly groggy. Nevertheless enough sober and slightly intoxicated men remained with the colors to present a fine appearance as we bravely marched through Louisiana's great city, cheered to the echo by crowds massed on the sidewalks. With handsome field-officers, on gaily-prancing steeds, drum and bugle corps beating quicksteps, flashing uniforms of officers and men, the regiment presented a picture the like of which had not been witnessed in the Crescent City since Jackson's army fought at Chalmette—if then.

It was a long march from where the old Jackson depot was located to Camp Chalmette, and, as the men had not made any marches previously, it was absolutely necessary that frequent halts should be made, and every halt meant more whiskey. Only one gross violation of civil or military law resulted from excessive drinking, however, and that was the brutal and unprovoked murder of one soldier by another while resting in front of the Mint. This murder was committed by a Frenchman, a member of the Third Company, called the ‘Zoo-Zoos,’ who, crazed by drink, without the least justification, raised his musket and shot and killed a German of Company D. The murderer was disarmed, arrested and turned over to the civil authorities, but it is doubtful if he was ever brought to trial, as [114] the regiment left Louisiana not long after, taking all witnesses to the tragedy along.

The longest march comes to an end at last, and so did ours, and we arrived at Camp Chalmette in time to pitch tents for the night. Next morning stragglers came in by ones and twos, so that by evening roll call the regiment was itself again. At the time of which we are writing the battle field was a stretch of smooth pasture land, well adapted for regimental manoeuvers, and, as crowds of visitors came down from the city every afternoon, it was thought well to give daily exhibitions of the proficiency of the regiment. These drills and dress parades were no ordinary affairs, but on the most elaborate scale. Officers, mounted on handsome steeds, oceans of gold lace flashing in the sunlight, gorgeous Zouave uniforms and high-class military music, thousands of lovely bright-eyed women looking on admiringly, made every man of us feel as the old song expresses it:

Oh, there is not a trade a-going,

Worth the knowing or the showing

Like that from glory growing,

Says the bold soldier boy.

Nothing in the way of soldiering could have been more pleasant or agreeable than life at Camp Chalmette, and yet every unmarried man in the regiment was eager to be off. We were dreadfully afraid the war would end and we would be mustered out without experiencing the wild excitement of battle. To fight was what we had joined the army to do, and an opportunity to fight we ardently desired, yet, I think I speak truth, when I assert that in less than ten minutes in the ‘hornets' nest’ at Shiloh, the appetite for fighting of nine-tenths of the members of the regiment was satiated to repletion. If my readers will permit, I will digress right here long enough to say that the average patriot gets enough fighting to do him a lifetime in ten minutes under a good heavy fire of artillery and musketry, such as we had in the Civil War. A little of it goes a long way.

We were at Camp Chalmette some five or six weeks, and began to think the Secretary of War was ignorant of our existence or that he had a sufficient number of soldiers without us to whip all the Yankees this side of the Kennebec river, when orders came to strike tents and go by steamer to Columbus, Ky., where a Confederate army was then forming. Within five minutes after receipt of this order there was a hurrying and scurrying to and fro, such as was never before witnessed in the 13th. Striking tents, packing knapsacks, [115] filling haversacks and loading wagons to take our plunder to the steamer Morrison, which arrived almost simultaneously with the order to move. The news of our early departure had spread uptown before the soldiers themselves were made aware of it, thanks to the energy of newspaper reporters, and it was not long before, what appeared to be, a big half of the city's population was on the ground. Wives, mothers, sisters, sweethearts, with weeping eyes and saddened hearts, clinging to their loved ones, could be seen on every hand, and even those who were from other portions of the State were made serious and depressed by the sorrowful lamentations of the weeping women.

The last load of camp equipage had been sent to the river and only the stacks of arms and uniformed soldiers were left to mark the spot where our home had been for weeks, when loud above the hum of conversation and crying of women a bugle was heard sounding the assembly, followed by the short, sharp commands of ‘Fall in! Fall in!’ With a great cheer the men fell into their respective places, were brought to ‘Attention.’ ‘Take arms,’ ‘Carry arms,’ ‘Right face,’ ‘Forward march,’ quickly followed, the band struck up ‘The Girl I Left Behind Me,’ and the regiment marched gayly to the river, followed by the multitude of civilians, men and women, waving handkerchiefs and wishing Godspeed to those about to enter actively upon a war of four years duration, and which left only poverty, desolation and misery in its wake.

Weep, mothers, weep; weep, heartbroken wife; weep, gentle sister, for you are perhaps parting forever from your loved ones. Were you gifted with prophetic vision whereby you could penetrate the dark war-clouds of the future, you might see many of the dear ones now marching so bravely and proudly aboard the majestic steamer, lying stark and cold in death, on bloody shot-torn fields, or dying in fever-infected hospitals, with nothing but strangers to wipe the death-damp from their brows, or to utter a prayer for their soul's repose. Soldiers, take a last lingering look at your Crescent City, while the mighty engines throb and pulsate, impatient of restraint, for the years will pass before those of you who survive the bloody conflict will tread its streets again.

“I wish I had a gurl to cry for me; but the devil a wun cares whether I go or stay,” said a brawny young Irishman, as he looked on at the parting of other soldiers from those they held dearest in life.

‘A gurl to cry for ye, do you? Maybe ye'd like to have a wife [116] and two childer, like McMahon, over there, to be clinging to ye and begging ye not to lave'em. Be me soul, I'm glad I've no wun. If I get kilt me people will never know what became of me, and the only monument I'll get will be an entry on the Company books— Killed in battle, Mike Morrisy—and that's not me thrue name, at that.’

All aboard! The pilot has signaled the engineer, the shrill whistle gives warning that all is in readiness, the hawser is cast loose and the palatial steamer gracefully swings out into the stream. Nine hundred soldiers, five or six hundred of whom wore brilliant red caps and baggy trousers, cover the forecastle, the main upper deck and every spot available, except the cabin, which is reserved for the forty-five officers. A pretty picture was the majestic steamer, with its living cargo, as the gold lace and red and blue colors of the uniforms flashed in the evening sunlight, to elicit thunders of applause from immense crowds at points of vantage all along the city's front. Cannon saluted the departing soldiers as the boat passed the barracks; bells tolled out their sad farewells, and steam whistles shrieked shrilly and wildly. When the boat reached the upper limits of the city I noticed that every eye was turned cityward, and every face saddened at the thought of leaving home and friends. Ah, soldiers, take a long farewell look at your beloved Crescent City fading in the twilight. Feast your eyes once again on the crescent-shaped place of your birth, and the land of your fathers, for when the great steamer turns yon bend you will have passed from its life, many of you, forever. Even to you few who survive the dreadful carnage, will all be changed. Returning weary, emaciated, warworn, aye, limbless, you will find social, political and economic conditions far different from what you knew them, and the conqueror's steady tramp will be heard resounding through streets you proudly and bravely trod in the heyday of your military career. Turn away, soldiers, your city is no longer visible. The taps have sounded. Good-night.