CHAPTER III.

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On Monday, September 29, 1862, orders came to hold the regiment in readiness to move at ten o'clock next morning. On the 30th we accordingly left the Custom House, and went into camp close by Greenville Station Carrollton, some five miles above New Orleans. It was near the residence of Honorable Christian Roselius, who often visited us. The ground had been a Confederate rendezvous, called by the name of Camp Lewis. We christened it Camp Kearney, in honor of that valiant and lamented General. Here we formed a portion of what was known as the Reserve Brigade, under the command of General Godfrey Weitzel, who had just received his commission as Brigadier. The other regiments were the Twelfth Connecticut, Colonel Colburn, the First Louisiana, Colonel Holcomb, the Seventy Fifth New York, Lieutenant Colonel Merrit, the Eighth New Hampshire, Colonel Fearing; with Perkins' Massachusetts Cavalry, Barret's, Godfrey's, and Williams' Louisiana Calvary, Carruth's Sixth Massachusetts Battery, and Thompson's First Maine Battery. We spent twenty four days here. Colonel Birge being sick at his house in New Orleans, Lieutenant Colonel Warner drilled the regiment. Captain Comstock undertook the same task, but the regiment was not yet quite well enough drilled to form at this time an oblique square! General Weitzel personally gave the officers instruction

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and practice in skirmishing, and showed himself an accomplished drill-master. The men were exercised in target shooting, as well as the usual tactics. On the fourth of October the General carefully inspected his brigade, and complimented us, especially the Thirteenth, in very high terms. On the eighteenth of October there was a grand review of the Reserve Brigade by General Butler. We marched down to New Or-leans and were paraded in Canal Street, where the review was held. We returned to Camp Kearney the same evening, where rations of water, slightly tinged with whiskey, were distributed to the tired soldiers by the Quartermaster, who said he was "fearful of the effects of 'whiskey straight' upon the empty stomach!"

At Camp Kearney we had Sibley tents, and were very comfortably situated. The regiment was a thousand strong. Company A, however, was absent until the middle of October, at "Dan Hickox's" on the lake.

The principal difficulty at this time was in getting wood. Our Quartermaster, never long at a loss for expedients, finally proceeded to the depot of the Carrollton Rail Road, and commenced loading his teams. The Superintendent is said to have come up, and to have held the following dialogue with Bromley:

" What are you going to do with that wood?"

" Cook rations. (Go on with your loading, corporal.)"

"Who are you?"

" Bromley, Q. M. Thirteenth C. V. Allow me, sir. in turn to inquire whom I have the distinguished honor to address ?"

"I'm Superintendent of this railroad."

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"All right. (Go on with your loading, corporal.)"

" That wood belongs to the railroad."

" So I supposed."

" But I forbid you to take it."

" Put your protest in writing in red ink. Tie it up with a piece of red tape. I'll approve it and forward it. You see, we've got to have wood to cook with. Cant eat beans and pork raw. I'd prefer 'em raw, but the men are so unreasonable they want 'em cooked."

" But that wood's necessary for the use of the rail-road."

" It's necessary for the use of the Thirteenth Con-necticut."

" I should like to know how a locomotive is going to run without wood."

" I've often wondered how a regiment could be run without wood."

" General Butler orders me to run this railroad."

" Colonel Birge orders me to run the Thirteenth Connecticut."

"Who's Colonel Birge?"

"Who's Colonel Birge ?' Why-the d-deuce! don't you know Colonel Birge ? If there's one man above another that everybody knows it's Colonel Birge."

" Will Colonel Birge pay for the wood ?"

" Colonel Birge pay for the wood ! why, no. It's a reflection on your sagacity to ask such a question."

" Who will pay for it ?"

The Quartermaster's Department. If there's one thing above another that I admire in the Quartermaster Department, it's because they'll always pay for wood. Now, my friend, of the railroad persuasion, if

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you'll come and see me, I'll give you receipts, and help you fix up the proper papers to present to the Quartermaster's Department."

"How long will it be before I get pay ?"

" It will be at some future day-the futurest kind of a day, I'm afraid."

The superintendent posted off to see Colonel Birge. Bromley preceded him, however, and cautioned the sentinels to-observe the rule to admit no citizen with-out a pass. "Halt!" said the sentry; and the superintendent gave up the pursuit in despair.

The instructions which Bromley gave to Corporal Strange, a member of his Staff, as he termed him, were quite significant. " Strange, we're going on an expedition. I want my Staff to be on the look-out for turkeys, geese, pigs, and sheep. Don't be the aggressor in any contest. Stand strictly on the defensive. But if you're attacked by any of these animals, show fight, and don't forget to bring- off the enemy's dead!"

On the twenty-first of October orders came to embark on steamers. Next clay the Thirteenth moved on board with the remainder of the infantry. Immediately, however, the orders were countermanded, and we returned to camp, and were held in readiness to move at a moment's notice.

The plan of the La Fourche campaign, on which we were about entering, as I learned a few days previously from a discussion between General Butler and some of his subordinate officers, and from subsequent developments, was substantially as follows:

Weitzel's brigade was to drive the enemy down the Bayou La Fourche; the Eighth Vermont, Colonel Thomas, and the First Louisiana, Native Guards,

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(colored), Colonel Stafford, wore to intercept them in the neighborhood of the LaFourche Rail-Road crossing, three miles below Thibodaux, which is thirty-six miles from Donaldsonville; a naval force co-operating with the Twenty-first Indiana, under Colonel (afterwards General) McMillan, was to pass around the coast, ascend the Atchafalaya river as far as Bra-shear City, and so cut off the enemy from their only available line of retreat, which would be across Berwicks Bay. It was essential to its success that the arrival of our troops by rail at the crossing below Thibodaux, and of the gunboats at Brashear City, should be nearly simultaneous with the successful advance of Weitzel on Thibodaux.

On the twenty-fourth of October we again embark-ed. Under convoy of three gunboats we proceeded about ninety miles up the river to Donaldsonville, La., where we arrived next morning, it being Sunday. We disembarked. For that latitude the day was very cold. The troops were quartered in the Market-House, Court-House Theatre, abandoned hotels and dwelling-houses. The Twelfth Connecticut occupied a large church. Many excesses were committed by the soliders; for which General Weitzel took the blame partly on himself, " I have violated," said he, " one of the first principles of campaigning, never to en-camp in a village, when one can just as well remain outside."

Donaldsonville was a neat and thriving place before the war, but had now suffered from a shelling by our gunboats in retaliation for guerilla firing on Farra gut's fleet at that point. It was destined to suffer still more severely during its investment by the rebels the

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following summer. The enemy made no opposition. to our landing, but retired along the Bayou La Four-die, which flows from the Mississippi at this point in a south-east course to the Gulf of Mexico.

Sunday night, October 25, was very cold, windy and uncomfortable. Next morning overcoats were in demand. Leaving the First Louisiana to hold Donaldsonville, and throwing out skirmishers and flankers the brigade moved along the Bayou in pursuit of the enemy. These, to the number of about five hundred cavalry, received us as we advanced. Their intention was to avoid battle until the troops at Thibodaux, about two thousand in number, should concentrate at some strong position. The Thirteenth, with the greater portion of the brigade, moved down the left bank. The enemy, like ourselves, were on both sides, their rear occasionally skirmishing with our van, and their numbers constantly increasing. They were commanded by General Mouton. We passed several villages, and. saw two camps, just vacated, the fires still blazing. One of these was well built, with comfortable cane-roofed huts. These quickly disappeared in smoke, the burning stalks bursting with loud explosions, which rattled like pistol firing. At several points we saw hastily-constructed breastworks and rifle-pits, which the enemy abandoned without a con-test. The soldiers straggled a great deal on this, their first march, but committed few depredations. Great numbers of negroes left their owners' plantations and joined us, bringing with them mules, turkeys, furniture, and bundles of clothing. It was the first time they had ever seen the Yankees, and their ivory teeth and shining eyes glistened behind every fence, as they

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shouted, " Glory to God !" " God bless you 'uns !" They were only too happy to carry our soldiers' knap-sacks, and this satisfaction was quite mutual.

We passed that Monday night on the bare ground without tents or other shelter. It was our first night, as a regiment, in the open air. Happy the man who was able to procure a few cornstalks for a pillow. Suffering from the cold we nevertheless slept pretty well, and were in good spirits for the battle which occurred next morning.

We were ignorant of the real position and strength of the enemy, and knew not on which side of the bayou to expect the principal resistance. So the Thirteenth marched on gaily for an hour or two with banners flying and music from our magnificent band. A scout named Miller was our guide. About nine o'clock, Company A., being deployed as skirmishers under the command of Cornwell, who had just been promoted to a captaincy (vice Bidwell, dismissed, Lieutenant Woodruff having resigned), met the enemy's pickets and skirmishing commenced on the left bank. At the same time, very nearly, the scouts of Perkins' cavalry on the other side met the enemy's skirmishers.

The rebel position was well chosen. It was at a bend in the Bayou La Fourche, a mile above Labadieville, at a point known as Georgia Landing. Here they dug extensive rifle-pits and made embrasures in the levee, which admirably answered the purpose of a parapet. Their right whig consisted of Sims's battery, quite celebrated in Louisiana, a regiment of militia, and two or three hundred irregular cavalry. Their center consisted of a battery of field pieces, the splen-

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did Crescent City regiment, and another veteran regiment from Bragg's army, then at home recruiting; and a few hundred cavalry. Their left wing contained a section of a battery and about five hundred cavalry. Their principal rifle pit was behind and almost directly under a stout cypress post fence, which extended nearly a quarter of a mile perpendicular to the course of the bayou on its right bank. Here their two veteran regiments lay. Immediately in rear of this was a thick wood which concealed their operations, while the open ground in front would leave the federal troops in full view. Most important of all was the fine bridge across the bayou and only a mile in their rear, by means of which they could rapidly concentrate their whole force upon whichever wing of our little army they might select, A narrow road was along the levee on each side of the bayou.

Our main force being on the left bank, we had only the Eighth New Hampshire and Perkins' cavalry on the right bank. Weitzel's plan was to advance cautiously, feel the enemy sufficiently to ascertain his position; concentrate rapidly by means of a floating bridge, if matters wore a favorable aspect; fight the enemy and drive him into the trap at Berwick's bay, where the gunboats were supposed to have already arrived. The floating bridge has not been mentioned before. It proved to be of most vital importance. It consisted of two huge Mississippi flat-boats, which been towed along from Donaldsonville by mules negroes keeping pace with the rear guard. During Monday night it had occurred to Weitzel that it might be necessary to cut down the levee, to allow the pas-sage of artillery over the bridge. Pioneers and ne-

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groes were immediately detailed with shovels and pickaxes to be in readiness for that work.

The plan of the enemy was similar : to concentrate the whole of their force upon a portion of ours by means of the Labadieville bridge. They attempted the capture of our right wing, not knowing our ability to make a sort of pontoon bridge; or, if they knew of it, yet hoping to strike the Eighth New Hampshire and Perkins' cavalry so quickly that our main body could not bring relief in season.

Skirmishing having commenced in front and on the left of the Thirteenth Connecticut, Cornwells company being at work, and the artillery on both sides being engaged, and an unknown force of cavalry, infantry and artillery before us, we filed from the levee road into an open field. Here one of our batteries was at work. "We threw off knapsacks and overcoats, leaving a few half-sick men to guard them who were soon afterwards frightened away by the enemy's shells! The Thirteenth Connecticut and the Seventy-fifth New York now formed line of battle, the Thirteenth being on the right. It was the first time we had formed line on the field of battle. The Twelfth Connecticut was still acting as rear guard. In front of us was a vast field covered with green, full-grown cane, standing eight or ten feet high. In this field on Its further side the enemy were likely to be concealed. As we entered it everything was hid from view, and there was little noise beyond the breaking of the stalks as we vainly endeavored to keep in line, forcing our way through the well-nigh impenetrable growth. Nothing but the regimental colors was visible above it. Momentarily we expected the flash of hostile

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rifles in our faces ; yet it was simply impossible to keep a regimental line. Without orders to that effect the companies gradually fell into a flank movement, and then into one rank, advancing irregularly by the right of companies to the front. Several of the deep draining ditches which cross these fields at right angles were a momentary obstacle. Had the enemy indeed been posted in the field, we must have retired worsted; for we were broken completely into long single files, and it was impossible to see half-a-dozen rods ahead. Emerging at last, breathless with the extraordinary fatigue of that rapid march, were Col. Birge, one captain, and one private, William Keating, Co. H. " Well, captain, where's the Thirteenth ?" said Birge, " There's one of them," he replied, pointing to Keating ; " the rest of them will be here as soon as they can squeeze through." They were already arriving in squads, and soon nearly all had come up. " Where's your horse ?" said Colonel Birge to Lieu- tenant-colonel Warner. " I couldn't get him through, sir," was the reply, " I got mine through," said Birge, patting with pride the splendid animal he rode, a perfect Bucephalus.

While we were struggling with infinite difficulty through the cane, the enemy had hastily withdrawn from that side, had crossed the bridge in the rear, and were pouring down to their strong position on the right bank. Weitzel divined their plans. " We are on the wrong track," said he. "The fighting will be on the other side." He immediately ordered us back to the bridge, to cross it and support the Eighth New Hampshire. Having already re-formed line we filed by a flank movement in quick time into the road

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alongside the levee, which was here about eight feet high and was a perfect protection against everything. but exploding shells. These the enemy sent after us profusely, though little besides our colors could have been visible above the levee. Several wounded men, covered with blood, were borne past us. The first man wounded in the Thirteenth Connecticut! Private Coffee, company D, a large fragment of shell mangling his back. Dr. Clary put him in a one-horse cart and sent him to the rear. We passed on rapidly, and soon forgot his sufferings in the excitement and danger.

To make sure work, the rebel commander, at the time he withdrew his right wing, had sent a section of battery and a strong force of cavalry by a circuitous route through the woods to get in the rear of the Eighth New Hampshire and cut off its retreat. His arrangements were admirable. Had there been no flat-boats, nothing could have saved our right wing. But while his cavalry was pressing ours slowly back, not too slowly, and their flanking party was making its long circuit in a swampy road, the two best regiments of Weitzel were in process of rapid transfer across the bayou. The pioneers cut the levee in a trice. The flat-boats swung end to end. The bridge was made. To the astonished eyes of the rebels, it must have appeared the work of magic. They instantly opened a fierce cannonade upon the frail structure ; two twelve-pound howitzers responding. Amidst the shrieking of shells and round shot which splashed the water over them but did no harm, the Twelfth Connecticut, which was already on the spot and fresh, dashed over the bridge, and debouched into

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the open field, a distance of about a quarter of a mile at right angles to the bayou; then halted, faced the front and advanced.

The Seventy-fifth remained on the left bank, and now moved to the rear to guard the baggage trains and the approaches to the bridge.

For the first time the Thirteenth was now fairly In battle. The big solid shot were pounding upon us, and the rifled shells were whistling demoniacally over our heads. We had great confidence in General Weitzel and in Colonel Birge, but not yet in ourselves. Would our men stand fire ? Would they resist a cavalry charge? for the enemy were superior in cavalry. Would our men march straight against a bristling fence of bayonets ? Would they stand firm and cross bayonets to resist a bayonet charge ? Would they see their comrades falling, and still press on In the teeth of batteries vomiting death ? Such questions agitated our breasts as the enemy's shot came, ripping up the ground, smashing the trees, or screaming and exploding over-head.

We neared the opening in the levee. Our step changed to the double-quick. The enemy were pressing the Eighth hard, which had just formed square to resist a cavalry charge. It seems they had mistaken the horses of the rebel battery for squadrons of troopers ! " Pile left!" commanded Colonel Birge, and the regiment at a double-quick glided down the bank; and upon the bridge, with muskets at a right-shoulder shift. Our pace quickened almost to a run, while the camion balls were flying over us or ploughing up the water under our feet. Up the steep bank on the other side, and straight out among the brambles and

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trees! We glanced to the left as we passed them and saw the Eighth retreating slowly, crouching, broken, somewhat disordered, but still fighting, the men blazing away here and there without orders, those in the rear shooting over the heads of those in front or between them! It is said they attempted to form line by inversion; an arrangement which brings the right companies on the left, and is very likely to confuse the men and entangle the companies. We reached the middle of the field. "Battalion, halt! front! On the centre, dress!" rang out the voice of Colonel Birge. A shell exploded over his head at this moment, and a large fragment dropped under his horse's feet. "A piece of shell for you, boys," said he smiling. They soon came thicker than was amusing.

The three regiments were now in echelon descending from the night, at about ten rods lateral and perpendicular distance between the steps; the Eighth the Twelfth on the right. The Twelfth were already in motion to the front, when our colonel commanded, "Battalion! Forward! Guide Centre! March!" Through the thick thorn-bushes and among scattering trees, over stumps and ditches, we pressed forward, our greatest immediate anxiety being to keep a straight line. Victory seemed hardly worth gaining, unless the regiment presented an even and regular front : such was the effect of habit in drilling! It gave us real pain to see the line become wavy! There was an astonishing and somewhat shocking quantity of swearing expended, to keep the ranks closed and the companies even with the colors. There

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resting on the bayou, the Thirteenth in the center, was, however, no lagging, except when an exhausted, sick or wounded man fell behind. The Twelfth and Thirteenth were moving steady forward, the Eighth still peppering away in our rear, the enemy's artillery for the most part firing as if we were thirty feet high, when we came to a straight rail-fence, extending parallel to our battalion. " Break it down !" shouted Birge, and the front rank rushed against it striking it with their breasts, and laying it flat on the ground nearly its entire length. The writer of this history, being on the top of the fence when the front rank of his company struck it, was precipitated about twelve feet forward into a ditch, breaking his scabbard but singularly sparing his neck ! Hastily re-forming the broken line without halting, we penetrated a very thin woodland, or rather bramble-land, interspersed with trees. Weitzel rode a little distance behind us and on our left, dressed in sky-blue overcoat, smoking a cigar, looking like a common soldier and keeping amusingly cool while so many officers and soldiers were bowing and dodging at every sound of an iron projectile. We were a little more than a quarter of a mile from the rebel line, and had not yet fired a bullet, when the enemy's infantry opened upon us with a rattle like the discharge of an endless string of fire-crackers. The invisible messengers came humming and singing in our ears, and striking a man here and there with a quick chuck! that sounded far uglier than the rush of the larger missiles, which can often be seen and frequently give a little warning before they strike. Here we passed the band of the Thirteenth Connecticut, and some of the drum-corps, not standing up or, marching to the front blowing and drumming as if

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their life depended upon it, as one sees them represented in pictures ; but lying flat on the ground be-hind stumps, and clinging fondly to mother earth.

We passed a few rods further, halted, dressed accurately on the center, and stood a few minutes in line, while the hail flew over us. David Black, private of company F, dropped dead, a bullet passing through his heart: others fell wounded, A large tree stood in touching distance of the line. A quick rush was made by a dozen soldiers and two or three officers to get behind it. " Come out from behind that tree, and go back to your places in the ranks, or I'll blow your brains out!" exclaimed our colonel, with a succession of oaths that sounded at the time emphatic rather than profane. Weitzel came close up. " It's getting pretty warm," said he; " you'd better lie down." " Lie down !" commanded the colonel. This order did not need to be repeated; nor did any other. We had passed through the severest test of discipline; that which requires a soldier simply to stand straight tip and be shot at, without flinching and without re-turning the compliment. It is very easy to press for-ward in a charge with flying banners and the belief that a moment of heroism will be crowned with ever-lasting laurels. It is even not difficult to endure a heavy fire at a stand-still, provided one can defiantly hurl back the blows. But to stand immoveable at shoulder-arms and let .the iron and lead smash through the ranks, to be a target for a thousand muskets and never deliver a shot in reply,-this is indeed trying.

As Weitzel sat on his horse at our left intently watching the enemy, he suddenly said, " Rise up !" A moment after he remarked quietly, " Their cavalry

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are coming." Bayonets were fixed, but there appear-ed not to he time to form square. We stood breathlessly awaiting the onset. "You may lie down. They're not coming," said the General; " We must charge them," "Rise up! Battalion, Forward! Guide Center ! March!" Colonel Birge again commanded. The Twelfth were in motion the same instant, and the final grand charge began. The enemy's fire redoubled its fierceness. From their cover in the edge of the wood, and down in their rifle pits behind the stout fence, they had a full view of the four hundred men of the Twelfth, and the long line of six hundred bayonets of the Thirteenth, that came steadily forward with unbroken ranks; while . we could see very few of our antagonists, though the innumerable puffs of white smoke and the terrible roll of their musketry and cannon fully revealed their position. With difficulty, by savage threats, we re-strained our men from shooting, while the tempest of missiles was hissing past us, tearing through our colors, our clothing, and our persons. Two captains of the Eighth were shot dead. How we longed to return the fire ! But our leader seemed determined to rely on the bayonet alone. The flanking force which the enemy had sent round, might fall upon our rear at any moment. Not a second was to be lost by stopping to fire even a single volley. Forward, still forward we pressed, shoulder to shoulder, and still we were the targets of their two batteries and three infantry regiments. Our impatience to be shooting grew extreme, and I think the sweetest sound that smote upon our ears during the war was the sudden crash of the four hundred rifles of the Twelfth Con-

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necticut on our right. Heavens ! What a volley ! Unable to hold back longer, the Thirteenth instantly answered with a tremendous roll of musketry. Both regiments poured in an unceasing fire, all the while marching steadily forward. The fence beneath which the first line of rebels lay, was splintered, riddled, honeycombed. The excitement grew intense. Will they stand a bayonet charge? See, the rebel line wavers! Their officers frantically brandish their swords and in vain try to hold their men! Many are leaping out of the rifle pits ! Many more are fluttering their white handkerchiefs in token of surrender !

How wildly some of our men aimed ! " What the devil are you shooting at up in the sky ?" exclaimed the pious Lieutenant Clark to private George Hazen, Company H, whose musket ball must have gone that instant a quarter of a mile high!

Both regiments now rushed up to and over the ||fable position, carrying it in the twinkling of an eye, fifed driving cavalry, infantry and artillery pell-mell ifchrough the swampy woods. Their cavalry column gained our rear at this moment, but too late, and only discharged a few straggling shots at our rear guard across the Bayou.

The commander of the rebel center, Colonel Mc-Pheeters, was killed directly in front of the colors of the Thirteenth Connecticut. He was a brave man, and we could not look upon his manly face without sorrow. A bullet had passed through his head. The famous Crescent-City Regiment lay opposite us, and of its bravest men were gasping in the agonies of

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death. We were destined to meet that regiment again face to face at Irish Bend six months later.

The Thirteenth, having crossed the rifle-pit, halted. General Weitzel addressed them a few words expressing the highest satisfaction at their conduct. The regiment answered with enthusiastic cheers.

Captain Tisdale volunteered to go with his company into the woods to pick up the enemy's stragglers, a work which they performed well. Tired and faint from the hard work in the morning, we were yet push-ed on several miles in pursuit, but were ordered back near to the battle-ground the same evening.

In the battle of Labadioville or Georgia Landing, we captured one piece of artillery, a brass twelve-pounder, many arms and accoutrements, and two hundred and eight prisoners. The whole of the rich La Fourche country immediately fell into our hands. The retreating enemy, however, were not caught at Brashear City, as we had hoped ; the vessels of the naval force having been detained two or three days off the mouth of the Atchafalaya, unable to cross the bar in consequence of adverse northerly winds, and the rebel General, abandoning much of his stores, having effected his escape with those of his men who did not improve the opportunity to desert. This was effected the more easily, as a very large proportion of Ms men were mounted.

The Thirteenth lost but few men in this conflict: one killed and thirteen wounded. Private Thomas Reilly, Company A, was taken prisoner while skirmishing, and the whole company narrowly escaped cap-tare, but were extricated by the forethought and skill of Captain Cornwell. The Twelfth Connecticut lost

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three killed, fifteen wounded, and one, Lieutenant Francis, a prisoner. The whole loss of the brigade was about ninety, of whom the Eighth New Hampshire lost half. The knapsacks and their contents overcoats, and the like, which our men had thrown, off at the commencement of the battle, were inextricably mixed up with those of other companies and regiments, and for the most part, lost to the men. This loss came heavily on them, as the Government, though importuned, never replaced the articles.

This experience of the Thirteenth, was invaluable. Our first battle was a victory ; and it had been gained with just enough of difficulty and danger to give the soldiers confidence and thirst for military glory.

Next day we marched nine miles further along from Labadieville to Thibodaux, the capital of the La Fourche parish. It was with inexpressible pride that we bore the blue flag of Connecticut and the hated Stars and Stripes through the half-deserted streets, keeping Step to the music of our re-enspirited and splendid Band. No welcome greeted us from the white race. They closed their doors and window-shutters, or scowl-ed with eyes askance from verandas and balconies. The negroes from far and near swarmed to us. " Every soldier had a negro, and every negro a mule. Many of the blacks also brought with them horses, wagons, house-furniture, provisions, bundles of clothing, bed-ding, with their wives and infants, till the bayou was thronged with them for miles. The question became exceedingly perplexing, " What to do with them ?" Many of the able-bodied men soon enlisted in Butler's three regiments of Native Guards, and more were afterwards enrolled in Bank's Corps d'Afrique.

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The second clay after the battle the regiment march-ed to Raceland, a small hostile force being reported there. On the way a rebel wagon, loaded with flour, sugar and whiskey, and driven by a negro who was making off with it, came into the hands of Lieutenant-colonel Warner, then in command of the regiment in the absence of Colonel Birge. The whiskey was issued-ed to the men at noon. At Raceland we found some military stores, and a few cannon on the cars ready to be whirled away ; but no enemy.

On the thirtieth we returned to Thibodailx, and went into camp a mile below the town, on the same side of the bayou. Weitzel named the place Camp Stevens. The weather was delightful and the town pleasant. Many of the houses had been abandoned by their owners at the approach of our forces, and some of them were broken open and shamefully pill-aged before Weitzel had an opportunity to establish guards. These disorders and abuses, though inseparable from a hostile military occupation, filled the officers generally with the deepest shame. A military Commission for the trial of such offences was convened in the Court House in Thibodaux, consisting of Lieutenant-colonel Merrit, Major Peck, Captains Thompson, Barret, Sprague, Mitchell and DeForest; but beyond the hanging of one negro they accomplish-ed little towards the administration of justice.

General Weitzel occupied the house of a rebel officer on the plantation where our camp was. Colonel Birge remained in his tent. Colonel Warner and Quartermaster Bromley, whose respective wives had arrived from the North, occupied a house in town.

Three or four miles above us on the bayou was the

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beautiful residence of the Reverend General, Leonidas Folk, who had laid aside the Bishop's robes for the sash and epauletts. and whose remains now rest in St. Paul's churchyard in Augusta, Ga. ; a mournful illustration of the truth, " They that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Nearly opposite Bishop Polk's plantation, across the bayou, is the large plantation of General Braxton Bragg. For a week or two after our arrival at Camp Stevens, we suffered for want of sufficient food, and our new chaplain, Rev. Henry Upson, conciliated the good-will of the soldiers by foraging extensively on these plantations for the benefit of the hungry. There was a vein of fun in his composition, the solemnity of his look and demeanor adding greatly to its effect. One morning he and Adjutant Grosvenor were ploughing up sweet potatoes for the half-starved soldiers; Grosvenor held the plough, a negro drove the mule, and the chaplain walked along side picking up the vegetables and moralizing. The course of the plough was anything but straight, and the adjutant finally becoming impatient at the awkwardness of the driver, ejaculated, " Where in h-- are you going ?" The chaplain discontinued Ms religious discussion for a moment, looked up gravely through his spectacles, eyed the African and the crooked furrow, and said slowly, "Perhaps, under the circumstances, that is a very proper question."

Colonel Warner and others one day visited Mrs. Bragg at her house, and politely expressed the wish that he might at some time meet her husband at his residence. Mrs. Bragg drew herself up to her full height, and with great dignity and dramatic effect, replied, " The place for you to meet General Bragg, sir, is on the battle-field!

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On the seventh of November, 1862, a startling event brought mourning into our midst. Lieutenants Wheeler and Johnson of the Thirteenth, had been left behind sick at Camp Kearney, with other invalids, on the departure of the regiment. On Saturday, the day referred to, they took the cars for Thibodaux. Colonel Birge was drilling the Thirteenth about four o'clock, P. M., when a loud explosion was heard, apparently several miles off, and a vast column of smoke was seen to ascend in the direction of the rail-road crossing. In an hour news came of the blowing tip of a car loaded with ammunition, and the instant death of the two officers and ten or a dozen others, men and women. Rumor was rife that General Butler, who was expected to visit Thibodaux at that time, and who actually came next day, was supposed to be on the train, and hence the attempt to blow it up with an infernal machine: but the truth seemed otherwise. Those in the passenger cars heard the deafening explosion, saw the shells bursting in every direction, and the mangled remains of the victims scattered every-where. Heads were torn from bodies, and limb from. limb ; the headless trunk of a female being found many rods off, blackened by powder. Many were wounded, and their groans filled the air. The car was totally destroyed, the track torn up, and the engine precipitated down the embankment. The dry grass and cane were immediately kindled by exploding shells, and this fire in turn exploded other shells that lay scattered over the fields. Hastening to the spot with other officers, the writer of this history found the bodies of the recently promoted lieutenants Wheeler and Johnson, of privates Assant, Company F, and Richmond, Company I, among the rest. The

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disaster occurred some thirty rods from the bayou. The surgeons were busy with their amputations, and the whole scene was horrible as a battle-field. Champion, our sutler, lay with both legs broken among the other sufferers. The corpses of the officers were taken next day to New Orleans, where they were embalmed, and shortly afterwards were sent to their friends in the North.

Wednesday, November 26, at eleven and a half o'clock, P. M., the " long roll" was beaten, the pickets having suddenly commenced firing. The brigade instantly turned out under arms. The Thirteenth was one of the first regiments in. line. By command of Weitzel "we were ployed into column, deployed, and made to execute various maneuvers with the greatest celerity. After a half-hour's evolutions, Colonel N. A. M. Dudley, Inspector General, Department of the Gulf, (familiarly known at that time as " The great North American Dudley"), for whose gratification Weitzel had ordered the alarm to be made, came in front of the Thirteenth Connecticut, as we stood shivering in the intense cold, and there delivered a spirited speech complimentary to us and. to the gallant Weitzel, under whom he said he " should be proud to be a brigadier general!" He had been cordially treated on his visit to Thibodaux, and appeared to be in a very happy frame of mind.

On the last Thursday in November, 1862, the anniversary of our Connecticut Thanksgiving, we had a grand celebration. The day was set apart to hilarity and enjoyment. There were horse-races, mule-races, and foot-races, games of ball, and numberless other amusing exercises. Colonel Birge temporarily abdi-

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cated his position, and allowed the regiment to choose a colonel for the holiday. They accordingly selected Sergeant Ezra M. Hull, company D, who immediately arrayed himself in the garb of an Indian chief, and Issued a series of amusing orders, one of -which was, that whosoever should do anything right during the day should be put in the guard-house ! He appointed a suitable officer-of-the-day, who arrested all that were orderly and punished all that committed no offence. A great dinner was eaten. The whole of the festivities concluded with a sham dress-parade, in which the line officers in disguise personated the band of music, and the whole regiment, attired in a style that would have broken even Falstaff's heart, obeyed the standing order to do nothing right. Such a Thanks-giving was never celebrated elsewhere.

On the tenth of December were held a review and inspection of the regiment, on half an hour's notice, by Colonel Dudley, who showed himself an energetic and able inspector. Like every other that examined us at any time, he bestowed special praise upon the perfection of our muskets and accoutrements. "Never," said he, "have I seen better belts and boxes in the volunteer service ; nor better muskets among either volunteers or regulars."

December 17th, news came of the arrival of General Banks at New Orleans the preceding day, with orders to relieve General Butler, The same day a portion of Banks' force arrived at Baton Rouge.

December 27th, we received orders to proceed to Baton Rouge by way of Donaldsonville. Monday morning, December 29th, we left Thibodaux and marched through rain and deep mud twenty miles on

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the loft bank of the bayou towards Donaldsonville The roads were In a most wretched condition. The soldiers, being almost wholly unused to marching and far too heavily laden with knapsacks, found the labor fatiguing to the last degree. Like Stonewall Jackson, Colonel Birge marched his men faster and farther than was agreeable to themselves or the enemy, Hardly a foot, the sole of which was not one huge blister. Many sunk down exhausted. A year later, they would have thrown away their knapsacks at the end of the first half hour, A little after dark we marched eighty rods from the levee road to a sugar mill, where we lay on the ground until morning. At midnight companies E and II were alarmed at a herd of goats trampling over them in the darkness, which some dreaming soldiers mistook for a charge of rebel cavalry!

Next day we marched more leisurely to Donaldsonville. The captain of company B crossed to the other side of the La Fourche and preceded us in a buggy, without permission from Colonel Birge. The latter, arriving himself in advance of the troops, was Indignant to find the captain already at Colonel Holcomb's head-quarters indulging in social refreshment.

The same day we embarked for Baton Rouge, which is some sixty miles further up the river. We reached our destination next morning, December 31. There we went into camp near a cemetery on the battle ground where Breckenridge had been repulsed in his assault the fifth of the preceding August. By what mysterious influence is it that cemeteries are fated to become battle-fields, as many a one from Baton Rouge to Gettysburg testifies ? This had its fences perfo

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rated like a sieve, its trees cut off., and its tombs torn open by cannon shot. In one ease the body of an infant was still exposed to view in a half demolished tomb. The demon of war ! From the day when the Roman Conqueror strode into the Jewish Holy of Holies, no place has been sacred or secure. Our camp-ground itself was evidently a place of burial after the battle. Digging a few indies under his tent, the writer struck the shoes on a soldier's corpse ! But whose ?

We remained in that field one night. Next morning we moved to the old United States Arsenal grounds, and pitched tents alongside the barracks. We had hardly established ourselves here when we were moved next day to still another portion of the-same grounds, just inside the strong breastworks that were still in process of erection. We immediately resumed battalion and company drills. The captains successively drilled the regiment in presence of Col. Birge or Lieutenant-colonel Warner, and under their supervision.

January 9, Colonel Birge ordered a board of officers, consisting of Captains Sprague and Cornwell and Lieutenant Baker, to examine the sergeants with a view to their promotion to be commissioned officers.

January 26, the regiment moved into camp a mile from town near the Port Hudson road. About this time Colonel Birge assumed command of the Third Brigade, Fourth (Grover's) Division. His brigade comprised the Thirteenth Connecticut, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth New York, Twenty-fifth Conn. and Twenty-sixth Maine. Brigade drills immediately followed. Colonel Warner and Quartermaster Bromley, with their families, occupied a house in town. Colonel

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Birge's headquarters and the camps of the whole brigade were on the upper or north side of the town near the creek that flows past the Arsenal grounds.

On the twenty-seventh of January, Lieutenant Jonah P. Clark, company H, died of fever in hospital at Baton Rouge after two weeks sickness. On the twenty-ninth his funeral was attended by many of the officers and soldiers, and the body was interred with military honors. The sudden bereavement was deplored by all his brother officers, and his memory was sacredly cherished by his company, who knew his gallantry, his patriotism, and his integrity.

Difficulties and disputes having arisen in February relative to the support of the Thirteenth's line band, and the amount appropriated by the quartermaster from the savings of rations and from the savings at the regimental bakery in New Orleans for the payment of the musicians, several excited meetings were held, and a committee of officers was appointed to investigate and report. Captain Cornwell at one of these meetings made in behalf of the committee a very lucid exposition of the result of his examinations ; and the result of the whole was that the officers found it necessary to make liberal contributions and subscriptions to pay off the indebtedness. The en-listed men also contributed nobly to that object. The burden was heavy, but the music was sweet.

Bromley having been appointed acting brigade quartermaster, Captain Cornwell was detailed as acting regimental quartermaster. This office he filled satisfactorily for many months, the command of company A meanwhile devolving on Lieutenant Tibbets, than whom a more faithful officer could not be found.

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Great interest was felt by the Connecticut soldiers at Baton Rouge in the approaching gubernatorial election. At a meeting called for the purpose of considering the subject, they appointed Colonel Bissell, Twenty-fifth Connecticut, and Captain Sprague, Thirteenth Connecticut, a committee to prepare an address expressive of their views. The latter accordingly, while on picket duty on the seventh of March, wrote an Appeal to the People of Connecticut. This document, after its adoption by the meeting, was extensively signed by the soldiers, then under marching orders. It was published with a portion of the signatures in the Connecticut papers shortly afterwards, and is said to have had some influence in the election of GOV. Buckingham.

For a week we were under marching orders. Two- grand reviews had been held ; one by General Augur, one by General Banks. It was known that we were to march against Port Hudson. Indeed that intention was openly avowed. On the ninth of March we struck tents. Farewell to comfort thenceforward. Until the following August, with the exception of three days at Bayou Boeuf in April, we slept no more under tents or root's of any kind. For five months we were without bed or shelter. Louisiana mud, snakes, mosquitoes, lice-they soon ceased to have any terrors for us. We acquired what Carlyle would term, " Toughness plus Astucity"

A great struggle of some kind was evidently impending. Graver's and Augur's divisions had long been concentrating. The fleet of mortar schooners, gunboats, sloops-of-war, and iron-clads, was assembling above Baton Rouge. Banks was there and Farragutt

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was there. Banks' record showed that he was at least brave, and no one supposed that Farragut ever knew fear. It is related of the Admiral that, at a dinner in New Orleans given by General Banks to the officers of the army and navy, amidst a number of speeches and toasts the brave old hero was called upon to respond. He made a speech, in which he strongly urged an immediate attack upon Port Hudson and the great duty of self-sacrifice. " Very likely," said he, " it would be very destructive of life. Many a brave man will fall. You, General Banks, may fall. I may fall. Every officer here may perish. But there will be others to continue the battle. There will always be a last man, and he will carry the flag on to victory and glory, and will save the country ! Gentlemen, HERE'S TO THE HEALTH OF THAT LAST MAN !"

On the thirteenth of March the regiment left in the afternoon with streaming colors and the music of our unequaled band, and joined the grand column moving on Port Hudson. We marched eight or nine miles and then bivouaced. Next day we advanced slowly about the same distance, preceded by skirmishers, cavalry and infantry, till we nearly reached the outer works of the fortress. Colonel Clark of General Banks' staff, while reconnoitering, was seriously wounded. The enemy were reported eighteen thousand strong. Our regiments moved to the places assigned them, and the stronghold seemed to be in-vested. Companies E and H of the Thirteenth were stationed in an open field separately from the remainder of the regiment, which was in a wood ; and these two companies were favored with a view of the bombardment.

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The river at Port Hudson is very swift and narrow, shallow on the opposite side, but very deep where the channel curves a mile or more round the foot of the perpendicular bluff, seventy feet high, 011 which the village and fortifications stand. Eighteen or twenty huge columbiads and innumerable smaller pieces of artillery frowned from the continuous line of works, and were able to throw plunging shot right down upon our decks.

At eleven o'clock, the night of March fourteenth, the steamships attempted to run up past the batteries, and the bombardment commenced all around the works. It was a spectacle the like of which is not often seen. The night was intensely dark. Some-times half-a-dozen shells from the thirteen-inch mortars would be visible in the air at once; each, like a spark of fire, at first swiftly rising and gradually slower, creeping on its vast semi-circumference up the sky ; hesitating a moment at the zenith ; then slowly descending, but with ever-increasing speed, till it plunged into darkness, or, with a lightning flash, burst in a tremendous roar. The smaller shells incessantly darted athwart the firmament like shooting stars. All the river front, for more than a mile, was ablaze with the fire of artillery from the land and from the ships, while the countless explosions kept up a continuous roll like heaviest thunder. Near one o'clock our attention was attracted to a bright light in the midst of the hottest battle. For a while seemed stationary, but increased in vividness, and then seemed to be moving down the river. We were stationed two or three miles back, and intervening woods concealed the blazing mass itself. The

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fierce cannonade seemed fiercer than ever around it. What could it be ? In our suspense and anxiety, the imagination conjured up the image of rebel iron-dads engaging our wooden fleet, setting one of them on fire [and driving them helpless down the river, our heroic Admiral fighting to the last. For two hours this strange exhibition continued ; the blazing object, whatever it might be, slowly drifting far down the current; the sound of its cannonade growing less frequent. On a sudden, the whole heavens were lit from horizon to horizon with a fiery splendor. The stars sank in an ocean of flame. For ten seconds the lurid glare filled the sky ; then came a moment of dense blackness ; and then, a crash so loud and deep that the earth shook for a hundred miles, and it seemed as if all the thunder of the past five hours had been concentrated in one terrific peal. The vessel had run aground, had been defended with frantic courage, had been set on fire and abandoned, had floated with the stream, its guns going off and its "shells exploding as the flames successively reached them ; until the conflagration touched the magazine, and in a blaze of glory the grand old steam frigate Mississippi vanished forever!

An orderly soon rode up and communicated the brief instructions : "The object of the expedition having been accomplished, the troops will immediately set out for Baton, Rouge." Much wondering at this Delphic announcement, not yet knowing that Farra-gut had successfully passed the batteries with the flag-ship Hartford and the Albatross, we marched at day-break. A heavy rain commenced tailing, and the roads were soon flooded. We waded on mile after

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mile in the semi-fluid mud, our shoes and boots being filled by the torrents of water that seemed to leap from the open windows of heaven. All day and for an hour after nightfall we toiled slowly on, till we reached a point about eight miles above Baton Rouge, when we were marched by the flank out of the road and into a pond of water, and told to pass the night there ! It was an old cane field. The water was from an inch to a foot in depth, with occasional mud islands, stumps, logs, and clusters of bushes. Egyptian darkness was upon us, and the rain was yet falling. Such nights are more destructive than battles. How we envied the horses of the general and his staff, in their warm, dry stables on the other side of the road!

The Twenty-fifth Connecticut were close beside us. They alone, of all the regiments, managed to get a little coffee, a part of which they generously distributed to other sufferers, though some of their men drove some of the Thirteenth from their fires. A few of our soldiers, going about forty rods and groping in. the darkness, contrived to get a poor supply of wood, and after a time we had two fires blazing ; but there was not room to sleep around them. Colonel Warner, with the surgeon and chaplain and several other officers, gathered around one burning stump, and, after a brief discussion, decided that Bromley's proposition was a wise one : " The only way to keep the water out is to keep the whiskey in." The chap-lain hailed every passer by, with, " Halt! Who goes there ? Advance, friend, and give the Countersign!" and then imparted spirituous comfort. Doctor C., usually so abstemious, distinguished himself on this occasion equally by his wit, his sound strategic views,

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and his medical skill. His advice, loudly proclaimed, and enforced by his own example, was: "If you can't take Port Hudson take Baton Rouge; and if you cant take Baton Rouge, take whiskey!"

Many worse were the uncomfortable nights we passed, but none worse than this. We named the spot, "Camp Misery," and by that appellation we shall always remember it. The generals called it "Camp Alden," but they did not sleep in the mud and rain.

Next day we moved three-quarters of a mile to the Mississippi bank, and bivouacked there. We remained till March twentieth, when we returned to our old camp ground at Baton Rouge. On the twenty-second, orders came to hold ourselves in readiness to move at fifteen minutes' notice.

On the twenty-fourth of March the position of Lieutenant-colonel in the Fifth Regiment Engineers, colored, was offered to Captain Sprague. The commission was sent him some days afterwards, but found a lodgment in some "pigeon hole" at intermediate headquarters and never reached its destination.

The morning of March 28, 1863, we were notified that we should start for Donaldsville that noon. We actually left at dark that evening, in the midst of a thunderstorm. Thoroughly drenched, we embarked on the steamer Empire Parish. Several companies slept on the hurricane deck in the rain. Before light the next morning (Sunday) we reached Donaldsville and disembarked, cold, wet and exhausted. Orders were issued that the soldiers should take no wood from fences and should cut no trees. The most stringent orders against straggling and marauding were issued, authorizing the killing of an

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offender found pillaging. It was currently related that some three weeks later General Dwight ordered the summary shooting, without even a drum-head court-martial, of a soldier whom he found with a stolen pair of citizen's pantaloons.

Tuesday, March 31, we moved at early morning along the right bank of the La Fourche twelve miles. Next day we advanced about the same distance, and bivouaced just below our old battle-ground of Georgia Landing, The rules against pillaging were rigidly enforced. Not a fence rail could be taken to make fire or bed for officer or soldier. It being the first day of April, Lieutenants Bradley, Kinney and Tibbets were put under arrest by the Provost Marshal, by General Grover's order, for crossing the bayou to purchase eggs !

Thursday, April 2, we inarched through Thibodaux to the Terrebonne railroad station, where we took the cars. The same evening at half-past ten we arrived at Bayou Boeuf, where we remained just a week.

Sunday evening, April 5, an order was issued -by General Grover, requiring all negroes who had the expedition since it left Baton Rouge, to be turned over to the Provost Marshal; an order which many supposed to be tantamount to delivering up the fugitives to their masters. Chaplain Upson that evening; preached a sermon, in which he took occasion in case he should disobey the order.

Next day, General Order No. 68, Head-Quarts, Grover's Division, was issued, which restricted officers', baggage on the intended expedition to " a small valise or carpet bag, a small roll of blankets, and

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what messing utensils are absolutely necessary." We were ordered to store all other baggage in a large sugar-mill a few rods from camp. Accordingly we left trunks, our best clothing, records, papers, and every article we could possibly dispense with on a march. Few of us ever saw any of these things again, as the sugar-house was burned to the ground with all its contents the following June upon the capture of the place by the enemy.

At half-past two o'clock, A. M., Thursday, April 9, we were awakened, ordered to have reveille at four o'clock, cook a clay's rations, strike tents, and be ready to march at eight o'clock. A.M. At the appointed time we marched out promptly, and at three o'clock, P.M., we reached Brashear City. We went into a field adjoining the camp-ground vacated the same day by the Twelfth Connecticut, whose tents were still standing. Here our soldiers stored knapsacks and every superfluous article, and we held ourselves in readiness to march at any moment.

Saturday night, April 11, we embarked on. the steamboat Laurel Hill. Sunday morning, Grover's division, on board the seven steamers Laurel Sill? St. Mary's, Estrella, Quinnebaug, Clifton, Arizona, and Calhoun, all crowded with troops, moved slowly up the Atcliafalaya river, which widens into Lake Paludre, Lake Chestimache and Grand Lake.

Simultaneously with the departure of Grover's "division, that of Weitzel moved towards the rebel works just below Franklin on the Bayou Teche, where the enemy lay in heavy force and strongly fortified, The region is perhaps the richest sugar-producing country in the United States, and as beautiful as a

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level country can be. On this charming bayou the rebels had at this time the excellent gunboat Diana, which, after a gallant fight two weeks before, had been captured from us with company A, Twelfth Connecticut, on board. The plan of General Banks, who was present in person at Brashcar City, was to land Grover's division on the shore of Grand Lake at a point where one of the bends of the Teche approaches the lake within one or two miles, and hold the bayou and the narrow strip of land on each side and so cut off the enemy's retreat if Weitzel drove them ; or march down 011 Franklin and co-operate with Weitzel in the investment, if they made an obstinate stand. Having captured this force the road would be clear for an immediate march to the siege of Port Hudson.

The morning of April 18, the anniversary of our landing at Ship Island, we disembarked at a place called Sand Beach, near Irish Bend. The enemy with several pieces of artillery and with some small arms threw shell, solid shot, grape and lead among us while we were effecting our lauding. The First Louisiana led the way. The Thirteenth Connecticut came next. We landed by companies, in flat boats, and formed line of battle on the beach. Pressing forward against the enemy, preceded a short distance by the First Louisiana, we drove the enemy before us into the woods a hundred rods distant from the shore. The First Louisiana had its Lieutenant Colonel (Fisk) and five men wounded. This affair is sometimes spoken of as the battle of Sand Beach.

In perfect silence we passed a mile through the dense woods in pursuit of the enemy, who retreated to Madam Porter's plantation. Emerging from the

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woods, we saw a few of their cavalry a mile distant their mounted officers riding rapidly to and fro, or watching us with glasses, among a few scattered plantation houses. While the other regiments and batteries were coming up, we improved the opportunity to take a lunch. Late in the afternoon we moved to-wards them in force, they receding as we advanced. Crossing the bayou bridge, which the rebels attempt-ed to burn, near the beautiful mansion of Madam Porter, proprietress of one of the richest plantations in the South, the soldiers helped themselves liberally to sugar from the large mill that stood by the road-side next the bridge. We marched a short distance further and then bivouace, our regiment being thrown out as an advance guard. At intervals during the day we had heard Weitzel thundering at the gates of Franklin. We supped on hard-tack and sugar, sent Company A out to the picket line, and forty men of Company H under Lieutenant Deming to hold one of the bridges near us, and then lay down in a lane between two fences.

Showers occurred at intervals during the night, and the regiment got very little sleep on the wet ground, It appears that the enemy, on learning of the appearance of our fleet in the lake near Irish Bend, determined not to be caught between the two fires, and commenced moving stores, trains, and troops up the Teche roads. During this night they noiselessly evacuated their forts below Franklin, completely giving Weitzel the slip. Grover of course ought to have been in position to intercept them, but was a little too late. It was currently reported that the landing near Irish Bend was a mistake; that the understood plan

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was for Grover to land some miles farther up, near Indian Bend, where the belt of ground practicable for military operations is narrower, and where he could have seized and held the only available route of re-treat before the enemy could have arrived. All night, it Is said, they were passing. If this was so, their object in lighting us the next day was only designed to-check our pursuit, or overwhelm a detached portion of our force by superior tactics. But conjectures are useless. It was ours to fight battles; not to plan them.

Tuesday, April 14, 1863, the regiment fell into line at day-break. Some five hundred rods distant was a forest fringed with low cane on the right as we faced it. In this wood the enemy were posted, covering the Franklin road, to secure their line of retreat. General Grover remarked that he thought there was nothing more than a picket there. Mounting the fences we watched' the woods for some time, while the Twenty-fifth Connecticut were deploying and advancing as skirmishers to the edge of the wood. "We were fully exposed to the view of the rebels, but could see hardly any thing of them. The right wing of the Twenty-fifth first deployed under the immediate-charge of their gallant commander, Colonel Bissell, and as these feelers neared the edge of the cane, we watched them with intense interest. Suddenly a sputtering fire opened upon them from the woods in front, which they warmly returned; and they were greeted with discharges from. a Battery posted a considerable distance to-the left in the woods. The other companies of the Twenty-fifth now deploy-ed and advanced to the support of the skirmish line,

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which had become warmly engaged along two-thirds of the whole front of the forest. An unexpected force of the enemy having been thus developed, General Grover ordered up the rest of Birge's brigade. Rogers' battery was also brought up to reply to the rebel artillery and to the gunboat Diana, whose guns now swept the field. She had come up the Teche that morning. Birge's brigade moved gaily to the battle-ground under the eyes of the whole division. The scene is described as having been exceedingly beautiful; the thundering of the artillery and the scattering musketry giving little indication as yet of the fierceness of the approaching storm. The regiments were all large, the Thirteenth having five hundred men in line.

The wood in which the enemy were posted extended with irregular front about half a mile. Two thirds of the distance from the right of the edge, as we stood facing it, a plantation road leads perpendicularly into the forest. The One Hundred and Fifty-ninth New York and the Twenty-sixth Maine moved in line of battle towards the front, while the Thirteenth Con-necticut, having a much farther distance to traverse before advancing directly forward, moved by the flank to the left. Crossing the plantation road, the regiment came " on the right by file into line ;" Company B having first been detached under command of Lieu-tenant Bradley to support a section of Rogers' battery.

The right of our regiment now rested on this road. Directly in front of us was a narrow skirt of thin woodland parallel to the main forest, and thirty or forty rods distant from it. Penetrating this strip of

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ground, Company A was deployed at a double-quick to skirmish and cover our advance.

A terrific fire on our right on the other side of the road told us that the three regiments, which were separated from our view by trees, had met with stout resistance ; but we did not dream how sanguinary was the contest there.

With a brisk and steady step the Thirteenth moved rip in solid line close on the heels of our skirmishers, who were tired out, having been on duty all the pre-ceding night. The instant we began to emerge from; the narrow belt of trees and entered the fleshly-ploughed field that now intervened between us and the enemy, a rapid fire greeted us from the battery,, " St. Mary's Cannoniers," the Crescent City regiment directly in front, and from the gunboat Diana, a single shot of which killed two of our men. The Sharps' rifles of Company A's skirmishers now opened a brisk fire upon the enemy. The Thirteenth,, though start-led, did not retreat, but continued advancing with as much precision as if at a review, when Colonel Warner gave the order to commence firing. This mode of firing-firing while advancing in line of battled-is-not laid down in the tactics. We had used it at Labadieville. It seemed the spontaneous action of the regiment, and it wonderfully supports the courage of the men, Nothing, however, is more difficult than to load and fire advancing without breaking into hope-less confusion. Here the rigid drilling we had received, and the perfect confidence we had in our success, sustained us, notwithstanding the shower of missiles that drove in our faces, and the hellish noise of battle where the rest of the brigade was engaged out of our

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view. Had we been able to survey that part of the field, we should indeed have been disheartened. The enemy had silently massed several regiments on the right of our brigade, and had suddenly opened such a front and flank fire upon the unionists there as mowed them down by scores, A few moments of stubborn fighting, arid they retreated in disorder to the middle of the large field whence they came. Two officers of the Twenty-fifth were killed, and five wounded. The Lieutenant-colonel (Draper), Adjutant, and several other officers of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth New York were killed, and the Colonel severely wounded. Draper was riding the magnificent horse of Colonel Baker, who fell-at Ball's Bluff. All the horses of Birge's staff officers, except one, were killed or wounded. The rebels with their peculiar wild-cat yell rushed upon them and made many prisoners. The moment was an anxious one to the thousands of Grover's Division who were looking on at the distance of a mile or more. They saw Birge's brigade borne down by the weight of irresistible numbers, and the1 rebels forming line of battle in the open field. The Thirteenth had disappeared from, view in the first strip of wood-land, and had passed beyond the new rebel line. The spectators in vain strained their eyes to catch some glimpse of our re-tiring colors, or looked to see us running in confusion. Our five, hundred men were in the midst of three thousand rebels. All seemed lost. Suddenly, however, from the gleaming rifles of our advancing line, there poured a steady stream of lead, every man loading and firing three times a minute, and the twenty or thirty shots per second making with the answer-

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ing fire of the rebel line a prolonged and tremendous roar. It had no cessation. The white smoke reveal-ed the position of the regiment to our friends, and although they saw that we were in the very lair of the lion, the terrible and unceasing din of our arms assured them we had no intention of hacking out. " When the Thirteenth commenced firing," said an officer who was among the lookers-on, " it didn't sound like the other regiments, but there was a steady roll without any break in the sound for near ten minutes." " That rebel battery ceased firing mighty quick !" said Lieutenant Leonidas Hall, of the First Louisiana : " I never heard such firing. It seemed like a never-ending peal of rolling thunder. I knew something had got to give way in front of the Thirteenth, for no troops that ever breathed could stand such a fire as that." Said another officer who wrote a history of the battle for the press, " It was the most heavy, rapid rolling fire to which I ever listened, whether in battle or on drill." Said our Lieutenant Bradley, who was supporting Rogers' Battery at a distance, "I felt a good deal alarmed for you, till I heard that stunning steady roar, and then I knew that the old Thirteenth was all right!" We certainly felt that we were all right, though fifty of our number fell in the first two or three minutes. A little extravagance was natural; and as the writer of this history was swinging his sword over his forehead a rebel bullet splintered on the hilt, and the fragments were buried in his hand and arm. The blood pattering in his face, and a numbness in the disabled hand, first apprised him that he was wounded. All the while we moved slowly forward in line, and just before we reached our

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antagonists their pet regiment followed the example of their pet battery, and disappeared. The latter did not even stop to carry off its banner which stood leaning there against one of their wagons.

It is impossible to describe the enthusiasm of the men at this moment. A few Parthian shots were still dropping among us, and the gunboat was still sending its iron missiles through our midst. Our men were firing irregularly, wherever they caught sight of a retreating rebel. " Battalion, halt! Cease firing 1" now commanded Colonel Warner. The two or three companies, on .the right, however, continued to fire obliquely in that direction. " What does this mean. ?" said our commander ; "I ordered you to cease firing." "Colonel, do you see those men in gray ?" replied Lieutenant Averill, commanding Company D, in the absence of Captain Puller, who being, ill, had fallen out of the column in its advance that morning. At this moment the bullets commenced coming thicker from that quarter, and some even came from a direction obliquely in rear of the right of our regiment. This sprinkling of shot was fast increasing to a shower, and again the rallying rebels began to annoy us in front. The alarming truth flashed upon Warner's mind that the confederates had turned our right, as we had turned theirs, and had actually got in our rear ! " What shall I do ?" said he in the greatest perplexity ; " they have given me no orders. Why don't they send me orders ?" "Colonel," said one captain, "if you ask me, I say wheel round to the right and charge bayonets on their flank; or charge Straight ahead, and then swing round and take them in the rear." This hazardous advice was not followed,

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for at that moment Colonel Birge rode up and communicated orders to fall back to the grove, or till we met the supports which General Grover had ordered "up. We retired slowly and sullenly across the ploughed field, many of the soldiers refusing to turn from the enemy and marching in the backward step, as dreading to be wounded in the back. "Reaching the thin grove, word came that the enemy's cavalry were about charging on the Thirteenth. We halted, fixed bayonets, and awaited their onset; but they did not come. We unfixed bayonets and re-opened fire on the rallying rebels.

The regiments on the right having reformed line, and Dwight's brigade of our division having made its appearance in the rear, the command "Forward!" was again given. This time the charge of our united brigade swept everything before it along the whole front.

In this battle the enemy fought handsomely. They had, it is true, the advantage of position, and were comparatively hid from us, while every movement of ours was distinctly visible to them. This enabled them to concentrate on the right of our brigade, and at first defeat us in that quarter. But at this critical moment the splendidly audacious charge of the Thirteenth broke the rebel lines, threw them into disorder, made them believe a heavy force was getting in their own rear, and wrested victory from their grasp.

But though we had driven the enemy's cavalry, infantry and artillery, the gunboat was still dropping its shells with remarkable precision among us. Lieutenant-ant Wells, with thirty sharpshooters of the Thirteenth. and Lieutenant Beaton of Co. E were sent to pick

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off its pilot and gunners. This contest was ended by the approach of Weitzel's artillery from Franklin, when the rebels set the Diana on fire, and it soon blew up with a deafening explosion.

Great numbers of dead and wounded men and horses strewed the ground in front of the Thirteenth, and attested the terrible destructiveness of our firing. Besides the property we. were obliged to abandon when we received orders to fall back, the Thirteenth captured two caissons, one limber, four artillery horses; one particularly fine horse, evidently an officers', splendidly caparisoned, and long afterwards known as " Irish Bend ;" many swords ; muskets; a great quantity of ammunition ; sixty prisoners ; also the large and elegantly embroider silk flag, bearing the inscription, " THE LADIES OP FRANKLIN TO THE ST. MARY'S CANNONIERS." This trophy has found its way at last to the archives of the State of Connecticut.

Marching away from the field that evening we passed the Ninety-first New York under the command of Colonel Van Zandt. "Good evening, Colonel," said our commander ; " Was your regiment engaged to-day?" "Was my regiment engaged?" he answered with astonishment; " I rather think my regiment was engaged. The heaviest part of the fighting was done by my regiment. I lost six men." It seems that after Birge's brigade had dislodged the enemy and they were in full retreat, Dwight's brigade arrived on the spot in time to receive a few parting shots from the gunboat. What was our surprise a few weeks later to see in one of the illustrated New York papers a glowing account of the battle, ascribing all the honor to. General Dwight and adding in

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substance, as follows: "Thus did Dwight's brigade, with a loss of six men accomplish in a quarter of an hour, what Birge's brigade had failed to accomplish in three hours with a loss of several hundred men!"

In this battle we had seven men killed outright. Forty-six were wounded. Among the latter were three officers, Captain Sprague, and Lieutenants Strickland and Kinney, neither of whom, however left the field. Captain Puller, though not actively engaged in the fight, was struck on the leg by a spent ball.

As we moved away at sunset with martial music, bearing our battle-torn flags and the rebel trophy, our pride was tinged with inexpressible sorrow and many eyes filled with tears as we passed the new graves where First-sergeant Prank E, Stanley, one of our manliest and most promising soldiers, and Ms brave compatriots lay. While a member of the Thirteenth shall live, the memory of the two Stanleys and the rest of our noble dead fallen on the bloody field of Irish Bend, shall never cease to be cherished.

Chaplain Upson and Hospital-steward William Bishop deserve special praise. They fearlessly ex-posed themselves, and rendered most valuable aid in ministering to the wounded and removing them to the sugar-house a mile or more in the rear, which had been suddenly converted into a hospital. One of the officers of the Thirteenth thus describes the place " After my wound had been dressed I visited the sugar-mill which had been turned into a hospital for both union and rebel wounded. Twelve of my company had been hurt----some of them severely, and I wished to find them and supply their wants if possible.

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The night was very dark and cold. Several hundred lay there. But one or two candles could be obtained, and the surgeons were busy with these. There should have been at least twenty surgeons, but only three or four were present. Some of those worst wounded did not have any attention for several days. Quite a number of dead lay at one door, and a pile of legs, feet, arms, hands, beside the bloody table where the surgeons were still amputating. Nothing was to be heard but cries, groans, entreaties. It really seemed as if nobody cared for the sufferers, so few were there-to assist them. Groping a few minutes among the wounded, for the building was pitchy dark, and the ground was covered with victims, I started for a light. It was nearly an hour before I was able to procure the use of one for a few minutes, I soon found my first-sergeant. He had been shot through the neck; yet as if by a miracle, the wound was not fatal. He was suffering from cold and thirst, and was faint from loss of blood. Throwing my blanket over the poor fellow, I returned to camp and brought him a canteen of hot coffee, and some food for him and for my other wounded. Detailing William Patterson, one of our most faithful men, with strict orders to remain with them and nurse them, I left, being completely exhausted, sick-at heart of war and all its surroundings." Glorious, yet mournful at best, is death on the battle-field. Happy he, whose brain is instantly darkened by the missile crashing through it, or whose life gushes away in a crimson torrent! But sadder than words can tell is the fate of him who lingers hour after hour in agony, and then dies. The usual consolations of the last hour are wanting : the soft hand ; the last

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kiss; the cooling draught that quenches the mortal thirst; the whisper that bids the soul look heavenward when the earthly eye is growing dim. Alas! no angel graces or heavenly charities there! But yells, curses, groans, the rattle of musketry, the shrieks of shot and shell, the earth ploughed by iron projectiles, the air rent by explosions, the roll of ponderous wheels crushing all beneath them,-a hell on earth!