CHAPTER V.

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ON the eleventh of July, 1863, the Thirteenth Connecticut, with the effective men of the brigade, the Twelfth Maine and Twenty-fourth Connecticut, marched through Port Hudson and down the bluff to the steamer Laurel Hill, on which they embarked for Donaldsonville. Arriving at this town we bivouacked near the levee, Colonel Birge being in command of the division.

July 13, Colonel Morgan's division, lying on both sides of the Bayou La Fourche, was attacked by a heavy force of the enemy and driven back on the town with a loss of several pieces of artillery, and many killed, wounded and prisoners. The Thirteenth, at sound of the cannonade, fell rapidly into line and marched with the rest of the brigade to their support. We met them as they were retreating in good order. On our way we came upon Colonel Dudley falling-back with his brigade, He said to Colonel Birge who had just halted us, " You'd better fall back. You're too far to the front. I'm going back to a position I can hold." Colonel Birge, with a glance at the Thirteenth, replied, loud enough to be heard by the regiment, " I can hold this position." We formed line along the levee. Colonel Morgan was brought past us to their rear in a wagon, having been " sun-struck !" From the levee we could seethe enemy at the bend in the bayou, and received a few parting shots, which flew harmlessly over us or fell short in the water. The

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 enemy retiring, Colonel Birge formed the division in line of battle in rear of the town, the right resting on the bayou and the left on the Mississippi. Here we slept on our arms. On this line the division remain-ed some days.

The battle of Donaldsonville was substantially over when we arrived. The engagement was creditable to our soldiers, who displayed their usual gallantry. But the feeble condition of Colonel Morgan and perhaps of some other officers, gave the advantage to the enemy.

It appears that the rebels had come in while we were concentrated at Port Hudson, On the twenty- first of the; preceding June they had captured Brashear City and Bayou Boeuf. Fights occurred at Brashear, Bayou Ramois, Chockahoula Station, La Fourche Crossing, and Donaldsonville. At the last-named place a small force of our troops in Fort Butler, mostly invalids, repulsed twenty times their number. All our stores at Brashear and Bayou Boeuf, were lost. The sugar mill and contents were burned. The loss fell heavily on many of us. The government made no recompense. In the affair at Bayou Ramois, Sergeant Blanchard, Co. E, was killed on the bridge by a volley from the enemy.

The military situation in the La Fonrche country being similar to what it had been on our previous campaign in that region, it was thought that a suit-able land and naval force might intercept the enemy at Brashear, as had been vainly attempted the preceding autumn. Accordingly, orders were said to have been received by General Grover to send two of his best regiments to Brashear by steamer. The Twelfth and Thirteenth Connecticut were selected.

July 18, they received notice to cook two days'

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 rations and be ready to embark. July 21, at six o'clock P. M. we went on board the ocean steamer Crescent, with the Twelfth. We expected to light the rebels who held Brasliear ; yet we left Donaldsonville without regret, having suffered much during our ten days there, for want of tents, baggage, clothing, and food.

Steaming down the river, we arrived in New Or-leans early in the morning of July 22. Lieut-col. F. H. Peck, Twelfth Connecticut, was senior officer in command of the troops. At New Orleans, where we lay at anchor a day and a half, off Canal street, we were visited by Col. Warner and Capt, Grosvenor. Adjt. Whittlesey here rejoined the regiment.

During the night of the twenty-second, as we lay at anchor, a singular panic occurred on the hurricane deck, which was crowded with sleeping soldiers. One of them, dreaming we were suddenly attacked by the rebels, leaped up with loud shrieks and alarmed his companions. Half-naked, confused, bewildered in the darkness, they sprang to their feet, four or five rushing overboard. Two were drowned in the swift stream; private Alger of A and a" soldier of the Twelfth, The remainder were picked up by a boat from a French war steamer.

In the afternoon of the twenty-third we steamed down the river, and out of South-west Pass at night. Next day we made fine progress till noon, when we got into shallow water, where the steamer left a long muddy wake and often grounded. Finally we were obliged to lie quiet all night about two miles from a lighthouse. The weather being hot and the troops crowded, we found the steamer a most uncomfortable

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 place. Next day, July 25,we steamed along, getting aground occasionally. We arrived at Brashear at three o'clock p. M. We went ashore. The rebels had hastily evacuated the town previous to our arrival, pitching some of their artillery into the river, burning the cars, smashing their locomotives, and setting fire to sonic of the large gun-carriages, which were still burning. They had done a great deal of fortifying during the month they had held possession. Fort after fort, one of them, with embrasures for eighteen guns, had sprung up for miles along the river on both sides. They were clever in their wit, too. In conspicuous capitals, on the walls of one room at the depot, was the significant inscription, " Office of Major-General N, P. Banks, Chief of Ordnance for the C. S. A, forces south of Bed River, and Ex-commissary of Stonewall Jackson!"

We lay two days in a muddy, filthy field, near the railway and not far from the depot. The ground had been a camp. At night mosquitoes swarmed in numbers and vigor unparalleled ; an indescribable torment.

July 27, we moved three-quarters of a mile to a delightful green plot on the river bank, close to an extensive sugar mill.

Sunday, August 2, our pickets at the bend, nearly a mile above our camp, had an exciting skirmish with a party of twenty or thirty rebel horsemen across the river. Being field-officer of the day, and riding with Lieut. Baker on the bank where there was no cover, the writer was the recipient of close and numerous attentions from their rifles. Deserters coming in re-ported an intended attack.

August 4, a flag of truce, escorted by a large number

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 of cavalry, made its appearance on the other side of the river. As they came leisurely along, they had a capital opportunity to reconnoiter our position Annoyed beyond measure at their cool audacity, we had yet no means of stopping their advance. We were delighted when at last a big gun on the steamer Clifton thundered the wished-for, "Halt!" Their business being trivial, Col. Peck thought it prudent to withdraw the Thirteenth from its exposed position. Next day we returned in a rain storm to our former mud camp.

While at Brashear, Lieut. Wells, with company I, went on a two days reconnoitering expedition,. They embarked on the gunboat Estrella, and passed up the Teche, and into Grand Lake in pursuit of a steamer, the presence of which was betrayed by its smoke. On the Teche they were attacked by guerillas, whose fire they answered with artillery. In the midst of Grand Lake they ran aground, an accident for which they believed themselves indebted to a disloyal pilot. After twelve hours they were pulled off by the Clifton, which had come to their assistance.

Through the frailty of Dr. B., Surgeon of the One Hundred and Thirty-first New York, the two regi ments were now left without a physician. The swamp malaria, the rain, mud, lack of shelter from the scorching heat of mid-day, and the heavy dews, and, not least, the unutterable nuisance of mosquitoes, began to tell on the health of the regiment. More than half fell sick, At one time but a single officer was fit for duty. The consequences were lasting. Eleven of the Thirteenth are reported to have died in University Hospital in September. Hospital Steward

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 William Bishop rendered invaluable service. On the eleventh of August we were rejoiced at the appearance of our tried and faithful physician, Dr. Clary, who had been absent sick for several weeks.

August 12, the long railroad bridge over Bayou Rainois, four miles from Brashear, was completed by workmen under charge of Sergeant Maddux.

August 13, General Weitzel and staff came in the first train from Algiers, A salute was fired by the fleet in honor of his arrival. A scene of great hilarity followed in the car, where mirth and conviviality ruled the hour. All were in good spirits for some time.

August 16, Lieut. Perkins was sent with Company C on picket to Bayou Boeuf. Here they lived three days on nothing, while the mosquitoes lived on them! August 19, the Clifton took them off to Brashear, whence the remainder of the regiment had just started for Algiers by rail.

At nine P.M., the regiment arrived at the Algiers railroad depot, where they remained all night. Next day at three P. M. we embarked on the steamer Jatan (not Satan, as often improperly spelled), and went up the river near to Carrollton. Here, for the first time in five months, we were allowed tents. The poorest house is better than a tent, as the poorest tent is better than no shelter at all.

Next day we went into camp on ground formerly occupied by the First Louisiana, a part of our old camp Kearney.

August 28, private Secille, Company F, was drowned while bathing in the Mississippi.

August 26, Assistant-surgeon L. W. Clarke, opportunely

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 arrived. There was much sickness, and he was remarkable for his unremitting attention to his patients, as well as his skill in the treatment of disease.

August 28, orders came at dusk for the regiment to be ready to move with one day's cooked rations at seven next morning. At nine A. M. the regiment left by steamer for Algiers ; thence by rail at five P. M. to Terreboune station on the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad. We arrived at eleven P. M.

Sunday, August 30, the regiment marched three miles to Madam Guion's plantation, lying alongside the Bayou La Fourche, and in the edge of Thibodaux. Madam Guion, though an ardent secessionist, was a kind, true-hearted woman, a lady of the highest respectability and moral worth.

Much sickness prevailed ; the result of the hard-ships and exposures of the five preceding months. For illustration : August 80, Company H had twenty-four nominally present for duty, but all being really greatly debilitated; ten present sick; twenty-five absent sick and wounded.

September1, Captain Sprague, Lieuts. Wells and Beckwith, Sergts. Wheeler and Sterry, and Corpls, Brown, Baldwin, Murphy and Gay, were directed to proceed to New Haven, " to receive and conduct recruits to the regiment." This detachment left Thibodaux September third for New Orleans; thence, via Mississippi river to Cairo, and by rail to New Haven.

For some months the regiment enjoyed much-needed rest, and gradually recovered health and strength. Under the judicious care of Captain Comstock,

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 the camp was beautifully laid out, the company streets were handsomely paved with brick, the tents were neatly floored, a drum-corps of remarkable skill was trained by Principal Musician Hadley, who had returned from desertion, and the regiment was drilled in the various company and battalion movements. Time passed rapidly and pleasantly.

September 19, 1863, Colonel Birge was promoted to be brigadier.

October 5, Capt. Blinn was promoted lieu colonel, and Capt. Sprague, major. November 5, Blinn was promoted colonel; Sprague, lieu-colonel; Comstock, major. In November, Sprague received a commission as colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, C. D. A.

The detachment sent to New Haven was detained there at Conscript Rendezvous, on courts-martial and other duties, till near mid-winter.

December 31, Capt. McCord and the writer rejoined the regiment at Thibodaux. We found the men as comfortable as the intensely cold weather, and the pond of mud and water, in which each tent was an island, would allow. Col, Blinn was in command. Major Comstock had left for the North. Captain Cornwall with Lieut, Meissner had formed a mounted detachment of thirty-five picked men of the Thirteenth, for duty at Gen. Birge's head-quarters. This detachment always appeared well and rendered good service on several important occasions.

The same evening a pleasant scene was enacted at Thibodaux, It was the presentation of a magnificent sword, belt, sash and spurs to General Birge, the gift of the officers and soldiers of the regiment. Captain McCord had selected them with exquisite taste at

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Tiffany's, at a cost of" about five hundred dollars, The presentation speech was made by Colonel Blinn, to which the general briefly and modestly responded, Other speeches followed and toasts were offered. Captain Darderi, a citizen, was present, and in a very happy frame of mind. He had been drinking of a peculiar liquor entitled " Perfect Love," which " cast-eth out fear " and sorrow ! " Gentlemen," said he, " I propose a toast-' The Mayflower ! May she live ! ' " Then, after a moment's pause, " Gentle-men, go slow. I am Captain Darden, descended from an ancient family, known in history as the Dardanelles! The Mayflower was the first ship that came to this country. I came soon afterwards, and selected this beautiful spot for my residence, -the finest country in the world. Go slow, gentlemen! I speak from observation. I have traveled extensively. I have seen the animals in the geological gardens in Europe, Go slow ! I have passed through the Duchess of Saxe Weimar. Therefore, I proposed the health of the Mayflower /"

January 2, 1864, at dress parade, the regiment was formed in double column and listened to a neat, brief and touching speech from General Birge, who thanked them for their beautiful presents, and bade them fare-well as he was going North on leave of absence. Colonel E. L. Molineux succeeded the general in. command.

January 4, Lieut. Col. Selden, formerly of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut, arrived, an authorized agent to secure the re-enlistment of the men as veteran volunteers. The orders of the War Department not having been laid before the regiment, and it being generally supposed that the Thirteenth had not been

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 long enough in the service to entitle them to re-enlist, little interest had 'been felt in the subject, and nothing had been done. The time limited was January 5. But one day therefore remained. In that one day, wet, cold and stormy, each company was called up separately in the rain, and the matter was urged upon them. Four-hundred men accepted the proposition tore-enlist for three years or during the war ; and we only waited for the arrival of proper blanks. This hearty, spontaneous., almost universal enlistment of those men who were accessible, there being but four-hundred and six men present for duty, is hardly paralleled in the history of the war. It was fitting that the regiment, which had been so conspicuous for hero-ism at Irish Bend and Port Hudson, should surpass others in the alacrity with which they volunteered for another three years of hardship and death. The want of blanks was a very serious hindrance. Fortunately the War Department extended the time to the twelfth of January, and again till the first of March.

The re-enlistment was effected under three promises: first, that the men should receive a thirty days' furlough in Connecticut; secondly, that the Thirteenth should be turned into cavalry ; thirdly, that they should be promptly mustered out at the close of the war, if it happened within three years. None of these promises was fulfilled.

January 25, Mr. Tobias Gibson called for a guard over his negroes. He had two sons, graduates of Yale in 1853 and 1854; one being then a brigadier in the rebel service. Scores of similar applications were made, some of which were granted.

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The wholesome respect felt by the citizens for the Federal officers is illustrated by the instant compliance of a wealthy planter with a demand by a negro woman for her wearing apparel, of which he had un-justly deprived her. She presented the following solemn document :

Thibodaux, Jan. 29, 1864. General Orders, No. 1.

Lucinda, colored, is hereby appointed Laundress of Company A, 13th Conn. Vols. She will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

January 29, a photographic picture of the Thirteenth at dress parade was taken.

January 30, a General Court Martial, of which the writer was president and Capt. McCord one of the members, was convened at Thibodaux. It sat several weeks. Among the cases tried was that of private Nugent, who had assaulted "Capt. Perry Averill, formerly Lieut. of old D," while Field-officer of the Day. Nugent had seized the captain's horse by the tail, and attempted to stop him by tugging thereat; railing in this, he dragged the captain from the horse and tried to choke him.

The One hundred Fifty-ninth New York occupied ground adjoining ours on the left. The Twenty-sixth New York Battery was half a mile distant on the Terrebonne road. The Ninetieth New York was along the railroad. The One hundred Thirty-first was at Brashear. The First Louisiana was at Donaldsonville. Barret's Cavalry were at Napoleon.

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Tuesday evening, February 9, there was a grand Soiree Dansante, or Mardi Gras ball, at the Court House in Thibodaux, Many of the officers were surprised to find their names in the list of managers on the cards of invitation. One Lien tenant-colonel, having a stye on his eyelid, declined to join in the movements of the light fantastic toe. These were days when our officers were fond of " going down to Terrebonne to shake the foot,"

Lasting impressions were made upon the soft hearts-of some. Lieu.it. Daniels married Miss K--s, daughter of the worthy postmaster at Thibodaux.

February 12, a Board of Survey, of which the writer was president, was ordered to investigate the losses of the regiments at Bayou Boeuf and Brasliear in the preceding June. Their efforts were laborious and: thorough. They strongly urged upon the Government to reimburse the men ; but in vain.

February 17, there was a large political gathering at the Court House, Speeches were made by Hon, Michael Halm, and. Messrs. Lynch, Lombard, and Shannon, At evening, Bromley, who had been honorably discharged the service, gave a " scientific per" at the hotel! He ordered stuffed birds of paradise, the tongues of nightingales and the brains of humming-birds. He avowed himself a representative of the interests of Mr. Flanders, the rival candidate of Mr. Halm for the gubernatorial chair; Flanders and Bromley being both in the Treasury Department. An animated political discussion arose, in which Captain Darden, one of the savans, challenged Bromley to point out the difference between the Hahn principles and the Flanders principles. He instantly replied,

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"It's the same as between charcoal and charcoal!" Captain Raymond, another of the philosophers at the "scientific supper," interfered, and finally grew personal. " I want to know," said he to Bromley, " how a" quartermaster-sergeant can send home eighty dollars a month!" " Why, the deuce!" said Bromley ; "I'm surprised! Don't you know the facilities we have for sending home money? Send it by Adams Express, of course." " But how can he make the money?" said the captain. " Make it? Why, that's a reflection upon your sagacity! Make it out of his regiment, of course!" Capt. Darden now chimed in: " Don't you Flanders men mean to put the negro on in equality with the white man ?" " Put the negro on an equality with the white man ?" echoed Bromley with an air of indignation ; " Why, no ! We consider the negro to be infinitely above the white man! We wouldn't degrade the negro, by bringing him down to the low level of the white man !" " Where does the Tombigbee river empty ?" interrupted Capt. Raymond, who prided himself upon his geographical knowledge, " The Tombigbee river," said Bromley ; " The Tombigbee river empty ? Why, where do you empty a bottle of whiskey ? Into your mouth ! Well, the Bigtombee river empties into its mouth!" So fared it at the " scientific supper."

March 7, a brigade of cavalry marched through Thibodaux, commanded by Colonel N. A. M, Dudley, who had been known by the sobriquet of " The Great North American Dudley," but who afterwards, from the splendor of his uniform, was called "Gold-Lace Dudley." They were the advance guard of the Red

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River army on their way overland through the Teche country to Alexandria.

Saturday, March 12, Major Comstock returned from a two and a half months' absence North. Lieut. Wells also came, bringing fifty recruits from the State rendezvous. The next week he was mustered as Captain, and Second-lieutenant Kinney was mustered as First-lieutenant.

March. 13, General Grover arrived at Thibodaux, and assumed command of the Second Division,, Nineteenth Corps, .Next day, by General Order No. 1, he brigaded the division. The Second Brigade, under General Birge, comprised the Ninetieth New York, Thirteenth Connecticut, One hundred Thirty-first New York, One hundred Fifty-ninth New York, and First. Louisiana.

March 15, orders came to be ready to march at half an hour's notice. March 19, we moved to Terrebonne station ; thence, in the morning by rail to Algiers, where we arrived at noon. Here we bivouaced near the railroad. At night a cold rain storm came on, which soaked the regiment and made the ground a lake of mud. March 21, the Thirteenth marched into the old Belleville iron-foundry on the principal street in Algiers.

Friday, March 25,1864, we embarked on the steamer Alice Vivian, a captured blockade-runner. At dusk we steamed across to Mow Orleans, where we lay till nine o'clock, P. M., and then moved up the river. Next day, at seven, we passed Donaldsonville; at one, Baton Rouge ; at four, Fort Hudson, At night we tied up to the river bank, On. the 27th we entered Red River. At noon we saw Fort DeRussy,

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 which A, J. Smith had captured two days before the arrival of General Banks. At night we again tied up to the river bank.

At seven A, M., March 28, we reached Alexandria, We went into camp half a mile above town on the right bank, quarter of a mile from the high bridge spanning the Bayou Rapides. Along this bayou that morning the long lines of the Nineteenth Corps, under General Franklin, were moving out by the flank. Close to this place of bivouac, some weeks later, was built the celebrated Bed River darn. Hardly had we reached this position when we saw a fine large Mississippi steamboat strike on the rocks at the rapids just above us, and settle a few feet in the water. It was a hospital boat, and lay there partially submerged for some weeks, Lieut. Stanley of the Thirteenth was sent with a guard of ten men to protect it while patients and stores were removed.

Friday, April 1, we moved with the rest of the brigade at noon to the other side of the bayou nearer the town. The regiment was engaged in picket duty. April 4, General Birge arrived on the steamer Battle. April 7, a heavy rain fell, completely flooding our camp. The eighth and ninth were clear and cold, and the pond of water vanished.

Monday, April 11, at ten o'clock, P. M., the regiment left Alexandria on the steamer Ohio. Belle., bound for Grand Bcore, The captain of the boat expressed some doubt of being able to reach his destination at the time appointed. General Birge suspecting him of disloyalty, notified him in very emphatic language, that he must bring his boat to Grand Ecore at the designated

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 hour. Private Henry Robinson, of G, was lost overboard and drowned at night.

About three P. M, next clay, as we steamed up the river, a sharp fire was opened by guerillas upon the troops who were crowded upon the upper and hurricane decks. It was a complete surprise and caused a great stampede to the lower deck. Our soldiers vigorously returned the fire. The scramble to get out of the way of the rebel balls was amusing. One ser-gent jumped down through the covered top of a telegraph wagon. The pilot house was riddled, and the negro pilot expressed great wonder at the small dimensions into which a field officer compressed himself. The frantic ejaculations of one captain to another, " Don't delay me ! Don't delay me ! Get out of the way! Let me skedaddle!" were an- inexhaustible subject of merriment to his fellow officers. Two men of Company II were wounded. One of them, Henry Smith, as neat and faithful a soldier as any in the regiment, lost his leg.

Guerilla-firing on boats was a daily occurrence on the Red River. Every steamer must run the gauntlet. The upper works of many were honey-combed by rebel shot. The stream was so low between the high banks that the large guns of the fleet could not effectively return the fire.

At seven P, M,, Tuesday, April 12, we disembarked on the left bank opposite Grand Ecore, Here we threw out pickets and slept on our arms in a ploughed field. Next day at noon, as we were pitching tents, Colonel Blinn rode up and said, " Get ready for a fight!" We immediately " fell in," crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, and ' went through the village,

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and nearly a mile back from the stream into the woods. Here the regiment formed part of a continuous line of troops, which extended circularly around Grand Encore, the right and left resting on the river. Below the town on the river bank was the Corps d'Afrique, which General Banks did not allow to do any fighting. Next came Lee's cavalry division, of which Lucas's brigade lay next the colored troops, Then Dudley's brigade; alas ! no longer " Gold Lace Dudley !" Then Fox's New York battery ; the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts ; the One Hundred Twenty-eighth New York ; the Thirteenth Connecticut; First Louisiana ; Twenty-fourth and Twenty-sixth Iowa ; several New York regiments ; Forty-seventh Pennsylvania ; batteries from Missouri, Vermont and Delaware ; Duryea's Zouaves ; and others, extending quite to the river.

We found the army greatly depressed. The battle at Sabine Cross Roads, April 7, in which all the beautiful uniforms and all the precious champagnes of the long trains, some miles of wagons, changed owners in the midst of much noise and confusion, " the mules resolutely facing the enemy ;" and the drawn battle of Pleasant Hill, April 8, where both armies sent flags of truce which met on the battle-field from which each had retreated ; placed our invading army on the defensive.

Grand Ecore, as its name indicates, is on high bluffs. The village is composed of forty or fifty houses, picturesquely situated. The place is easily fortified. It is four or five miles from the old town of Nachitoches.

Shreveport was the objective point of the expedition.

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 What General Banks would have done, had he captured it, is matter of conjecture. It was at that time the rebel capital of Louisiana ; but of little importance in a strategic view. It was said lie intended to effect a junction there with General Steele pushing a column from Little Rock. Much, cotton grows in the Red River country, Grant was appointed Lieutenant general, March 9. At that time the expedition had already commenced, and Dudley, with his miles of wagons, and " mules resolutely facing the enemy," was far on the road to Alexandria. There certainly appeared to be danger that Banks would capture, Shreveport and penetrate Northern Texas. We conjured up visions of El Llano Estacado and hordes of swift Camauches. Let us hope it was true, as commonly reported, that Gen. Banks was not the originator of the Red River campaign, but acted in obedience to orders.

It was essential to the success of this romantic expedition that the Red River should rise. The old geographers say it annually overflows its banks in April. Had such been the fact in 1864 we might have run a brilliant career of conquest and gained new views of El Llano Estacado and the Great American Desert. Our wooden gunboats and iron-clads could easily have penetrated to Shreveport; nay, reached the great rafts ! General Banks, had he returned in time from the illimitable plateaus, might have been President! But the genius of the stream lay low with the alligators in the red ooze of the bottom ; disloyal, or heedless of almanacs and geographies and distinguished political generals!

" Heu! nihil invitis fas quenquam fidere dims!"

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The night of April 18 we slept on our arms in the woods. Next day we commenced throwing up strong breastworks along the whole line. Grand Ecore be-came at once a vast fortified camp similar to Port Hudson. Thousands of negro soldiers, were employ-ed cutting down trees in front of the fortifications on every side.

At night the officers of the Thirteenth Connecticut and First Louisiana used to meet around a large camp-fire and relate amusing anecdotes.

April 15, the enemy were reported driving in our pickets. Captain Averill and Lieut. Miner with a detachment from the Thirteenth embarked with rebel prisoners for Port Hudson. These two officers were taken sick. After some two or three months Averill rejoined us for duty at Algiers ; Miner, at Morganza.

April 19, we received orders to be ready to move at an hour's notice against the enemy. All colored per-sons, except officer's servants, were removed. "We were evidently preparing for active service of some kind.

This day the number of officers present for duty in the Thirteenth was twelve; of enlisted men, three hundred and seventy-nine.

Wednesday, April 20, A. J. Smith's command moved out at four P. M., on the Nachrtoches road.

Thursday was a quiet, beautiful day. Occasional cannonading was heard. At five o'clock, p. M., we marched out rapidly from Grand Ecore in a south-easterly direction along the banks of Cane River. Birge's Brigade, preceded by a cavalry force, took the lead, and the whole army followed. The road was long and dusty. As darkness came on the way was

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occasionally lit up by burning houses and barns ; a disgraceful and needless barbarism, which excited our disgust but could not be wholly suppressed. The march was very rapid and severe and continued till three o'clock next morning without pause, except for a few minutes where the roads were obstructed by the enemy felling trees. We made twenty-five miles that night. A large proportion were left utterly exhausted on the road. Officers fell asleep on their horses. Birge's "style" of marching was too rapid. We were obliged to wait until ten o'clock A. M, for the rest of the army to come up.

This forced march from Grand Ecore looked like a precipitate flight. As we resumed our retrograde movement on Friday morning at ten o'clock, the soldiers struck up the song, more truthful than poetic,

" In eighteen hundred and sixty-four We all skedaddled from Grand Ecore !"

This day we marched slowly along Cane River about ten miles, the roads being much obstructed by felled trees, and the enemy constantly skirmishing with our van. Lieutenant Lyman, in. command of the, rear-guard of the Thirteenth, performed his duty admirably. No one of our men lagged, behind. The enemy were reported several thousand strong, mostly mounted. The country was generally level, interspersed with woodland, and well adapted to cavalry evolutions. In the afternoon our advanced guard re-ported the enemy falling back in line of battle. Oar regiments wore kept perfectly compact and well in hand. Here and there for long distances the rebels had carefully moved round as on a pivot each length of fence rails, so as to allow unobstructed passage to

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their horsemen. Their numbers were constantly in-creasing ; they began to press our rear and hover on our flanks. It became evident that we were to have a battle.

Towards sunset we reached a point about a mile from Monet's Ford, better known perhaps as " Cane River Crossing." The stream runs here between steep banks, some forty feet high, and perhaps a hundred yards apart. The river itself varies in width according to the season. At this time it was about a hundred feet wide. It was shallow but not easily fordable, except at the point where the Alexandria road crosses it. Here, if anywhere, the enemy would make a stand.

At night we lay on our arms while the brigades in our rear, and the wagon trains, were arriving. The situation was rather serious. A heavy force of rebel cavalry with artillery was posted in our front,, prepared to dispute the passage of the stream. A like force of unknown numbers was pressing our rear. They were elated by their splendid victory of Sabine Cross Roads, and our hasty retreat from the impregnable stronghold of Grand Ecore. Our troops were sulky but full of fight, only asking a chance to meet the enemy on equal terms.

The morning of Saturday, April 28, 1864, opened with a slight rain. A heavy cannonade commenced directly in front. The enemy's artillery, advantageously posted to sweep the ford and all approaches, opened a vigorous fire of shell on our advancing columns. Our own artillery quickly responded, and the frequent cheers from the gunners told how well it was served.

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The Thirteenth moved at six o'clock, advancing a short distance and then awaiting orders, while the reconnoitering and the artillery duel went on. The men were clamorous to be led to the charge ; for, ugly as the place looked, it was far better than Port Hudson. If we could once get at them with the bayonet, we felt that all would be well.

To avoid the needless effusion of blood, and gain possession of the ford with the least loss of life, it was decided to send a strong detachment across the stream a mile or two further up, and by a circuitous route take the enemy in flank or rear, General Birge was selected to lead the detachment. He moved the Thirteenth Connecticut, followed by the First Louisiana, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, One Hundred Twenty-eighth, One Hundred Sixty-fifth, and One Hundred Seventy-third, New York, Thirteenth Maine, and other regiments, a mile back. A negro woman point-ed out the best place for crossing. The Thirteenth first waded the stream, the water being waist deep. Some non-commissioned officers who tried to cross dry shod in a canoe, were capsized in the middle of the stream, to the great amusement of the other soldiers Forming line the Thirteenth moved up the precipitous bank. Throwing out skirmishers and flankers, we penetrated the woods and advanced slowly in line with caution and silence, about a mile over the un-known ground. Occasionally, in this forest, to avoid obstacles, we passed into a flank movement by the right of companies, but immediately came again into line. The mounted men of the Thirteenth accompanied us, as a sort of body guard to General Birge, under command of Lieut. Meissner; Captain Cornwell

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having remained at Alexandria, distributing commissary stores to the destitute and starving citizens.

Emerging from the woods we saw across a wide field what first appeared to be earthworks. As we drew nearer, it proved to be the red soil to ploughed ground. Penetrating another hilly forest, the regiment followed a winding path, until our skirmishers came upon the enemy's pickets. Sharp fighting en-sued which developed the rebel position. It was the crest of a well-wooded, rocky, precipitous ridge, quarter of a mile from the ridge on which our skirmishers now took post in front. The Union regiments In the rear of our skirmishers were out of view of the rebels, whose bullets, however, were dropping among us, occasionally hitting a man. Between us and the enemy were a few acres of smooth cleared land.

The troops were formed in two lines; the first containing the First Louisiana on the right, and the Thirteenth Connecticut on the left. Colonel Fiske, out-ranking Colonel Blinn, commanded this line. Behind us were the New York regiments and the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts. At some distance on our right was the brigade of the gallant Fessenden, which was to advance on the enemy's left, while we charged the centre.

All arrangements having been completed, Colonel Fisk commanded, "Battalions! Forward! March!" General Birge's instructions were to descend the wooded slope, cross the open ground, fire not a shot, but cany the rebel position with the bayonet. The line moved forward with great regularity in quick time. Lieutenant Kinney shouted, " Come on, boys! The paymaster is on the other side of the hill!" Up

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 we went over the hill where our skirmishers stood. Detecting the movement the enemy commenced a furious discharge of small arms and artillery, more noisy than destructive. The line, not at all disconcerted, moved steadily forward without returning it, though anxious to be doing execution with their beautiful rifled muskets, A heavy fire on our right told us that Fessenden was hotly engaged.

Descending into the open field our ranks were disarranged by a rail fence and an irregular gully. Hastily passing these and reforming line without halting, the Thirteenth pressed forward in beautiful style, with perfect confidence and steadiness. On our right the boundary of the open field in front of the First Louisiana, was such as to continually force them to the left, crowding and doubling their ranks upon the Thirteenth, and compelling us to move obliquely to the left. " Give way to the left! Take room to "the left! Touch lightly to the right!" resounded along the whole line, and finally, " Left oblique! March !" amid the stunning roar of musketry and cannon. This noise was stimulating rather than intimidating; our forty-four days under fire at Port Hudson having taught us a contempt for the mere thunder of battle.

Reaching the foot of the ridge from which the enemy were pouring down their bullets, we found another rail fence and gully ! This would have been a little discouraging, had not the hostile tire perceptibly slackened before our determined onset. We heard a clatter and. rattle as of steel in front. Were they fixing bayonets ? Up the hill we started, our pace quickening almost to a run, as we clambered up

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 the steeps, laying hold of the bushes, and finally scaling the summit. Notwithstanding the advantage of the rebel position, we captured several prisoners ; one of whom, a handsome Texan youth of seventeen summers, protested that he had been conscripted and that he served most unwillingly. A few dead arid wounded lay here and there, victims of our skirmish fire, for in our charge and assault we had rigidly en-forced the order not to fire a shot. Neither in this nor in any other battle did any of the Thirteenth kill a man with the bayonet, the enemy always giving way before it became a hand-to-hand fight.

The Thirteenth and the First Louisiana, having reached this position with ranks broken and disordered by the nature of the ground, but not in the slightest demoralized, formed line for another advance. Total strangers to the locality and liable to be am-bushed, we waited till the lines in our rear came in sight, when the order, " Forward-March !" was again given. We moved among the trees down the opposite slope and in the direction the enemy had fled. General Birge with a few staff officers and Meissner's cavalry, passed to the front on our right. We had thus advanced in line thirty or forty rods down the slope, and were just on the point of reaching the edge of the wood, Here was an irregular ravine ten or a dozen feet deep, with a rivulet in its bed and a bridge across it on the right of our regimental line. A rail fence was on its bank next the woods, and a little cleared land in front. Suddenly the thousand-fold rattle of musketry and rapid discharges of artillery, the foe being invisible and yet apparently within touching distance, struck a momentary

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 consternation into our ranks. They halted as If paralyzed, The moment was a trying one. We had been ambushed, and were completely taken by surprise. A Braddock's defeat stared us in the face. There was no time for deliberation, We could not stand under that withering fire, and we would not retreat, " The Thirteenth never retreats!" we shouted, and " Forward ! Forward ! At them with the bayonet!" We leaped over the fence, into and out of the ravine, one or two companies on the right dashing across the narrow bridge. Plaiting an instant, and partially reforming line without delay, and shouting "Forward! For-ward !" we rushed rapidly towards the rifle smoke and flash. Sooner than it can be told a great com-motion occurred on the right of our regiment and the left of the first Louisiana. Some twenty of Meissner's cavalry came dashing pell-mell back through the ranks. Many of them were covered with blood; horses and riders were falling, Meissner himself shot through and through, General. Birge borne along hat-less by the tide, Captain Young of Banks' staff with limbs horribly mangled by a shell, eighteen of the thirty troopers being killed or wounded, the whole scene tending to strike a panic into the two regiments, Many of the men fell flat on their faces to escape the storm of shot; some started to retreat. The voice of Colonel Fiske was heard above the din exclaiming, " Stand up ! For God's sake, stand up like men ! Stand up and do your duty like men." Most of the officers joined in the same commands and a universal shout of " Forward ! Forward !" again rose. The two regiments wavered but a moment, and then plunged wildly on towards the enemy. A crooked ravine running diagonally across the field, and filled

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with interlacing vines, brambles and trees, arrested our disorderly advance and afforded cover. For ten or fifteen minutes the firing continued. The writer being the only mounted officer present, found it expedient to make frequent " changes of base " by gal-loping from one end of the line to the other, the bullets singing in his ears like a swarm of angry bees ! A most unmelodious sound ; and yet the advantages of ubiquity, of correct observation, of a husbanding of strength, and of a good example, more than compensate for the additional danger arising from being on horseback. Soon the fiery rain ceased. Our second line was in sight. The enemy appeared to occupy another ridge fifteen or twenty rods in front, similar to the first, and like that covered with trees and a thick undergrowth of brush, the usual gully and rail fence being at its base. While preparations were going on for a third advance, we busied ourselves in ministering to the wounded and dying.

The plan adopted was for the second line, now comparatively fresh and a short distance in our rear, to rush to the fence and tear-it down. The Thirteenth Connecticut and First Louisiana were to follow closely, charge over the other line and then carry the place with the bayonet. As before, not a shot was to be fired. We could not afford the time. A brief death-grapple was to decide the conflict. No skirmishers.

The movement commenced. The second line moved silently forward. The Thirteenth advanced quickly about five rods in rear of the other line, eager to make the final spring and finish the struggle. But not a shot greeted us ! The enemy had vanished !

Thenceforward our progress to Alexandria could

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 hardly he seriously impeded. Flushed with victory the Thirteenth marched with streaming banners to Cane River Crossing.

In this battle the Thirteenth lost hut one officer and twenty-four enlisted men killed and wounded. The whole Union loss was hut about two hundred. Our experience here and in other battles proved that the bravest policy is the safest ; and the number of killed and wounded is no criterion whatever of the gallantry of a regiment. On the contrary, a large list of killed and wounded often er indicates the opposite. For nothing is so fatal as retreating. It is while turning the back to the enemy, or running away helpless and defenseless, that the severest losses are suffered, and not while marching straight into the face of the foe giving blows as well as taking them. So true is the advice of Napoleon : " Boys, you must not fear death ! When -soldiers are not afraid of Death, they drive /um-, into the enemy'' s ranks !"

Yet in this sharp conflict we • lost some true men, Meissner, Reynolds, Matthews, Britz, Garcia and Gunter, were among the bravest of the brave, and gallantly upheld their country's flag. They died victorious, while their comrades' tears mingled with huzzahs; and long as life lasts, will their memories be cherished and revered.

April 24, at ten A. M,, we marched away from Gaue River Crossing. The sun was very hot and the road dusty. We moved slowly till three or four P.M., forming; line of battle twice in expectation of an engagement. At four o'clock we commenced marching fast. We entered an extensive forest of large pine trees, the passage through which occupied us nearly

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 four hours. Near eight o'clock we issued from the forest arid marched two hours in the darkness in a southerly direction. This journey was very fatiguing. Heavy artillery firing at intervals during the day told us that the gallant hero of Fort De Hussy, was covering our retreat, and hurling defiance at the rebels in our rear.

With sorrow and shame it must be recorded that our march was lit up at night with the conflagration of buildings burnt by our stragglers. Large rewards were offered by General Banks for the conviction of the perpetrators of these outrages.

April 25, at nine A. M., we started again. A. heavy rebel force was reported pressing our rear guard, and the cannon of old A. J. Smith, who seemed the very incarnation of war, thundered all day. At one time, the firing waxing hot, General Banks is said to have sent back a courier to inquire if he needed assistance, to which Smith is said to have responded, " Go to ----! I've just whipped three thousand and I can whip thirty thousand !"

Endless rumors, all false, reached us, of the capture of Alexandria, of the destruction of our fleet, of A. J. Smith trapping the pursuing enemy by thousands, of the advance of the rebels on New Orleans, and the like.

The wounded officers and men occupying the ambulances and wagons, the sick and the exhausted were obliged to drag along their limbs as best they might. Some of our men were killed by hard marching. This was the case with Corporal. James Malone, Company H, one of the most faithful and uncomplaining of

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all. He sank rapidly, and died a few days after reaching Alexandria.

We marched fifteen or twenty miles that day, the latter portion along the Bayou Rapides, and. reached Alexandria at nine P. M. Here we groped a longtime in the intense darkness endeavoring to find, our old camp ground. Few of us will ever forget the weary hour we were led back and forth, around and around, to our final place of bivouac, after the tiresome work of the four or five days past. We were too much worn out to enjoy the grand scene of the shelling of the woods opposite Alexandria by the gunboats, the extreme darkness lending vividness to the meteoric shower that streaked, flashed and thundered till near midnight.

April 26, we rested and were broiled in the sun without shade or shelter. Frequent heavy firing announced the activity of General Smith or the gun-boats above us on the river ; we knew not which. The whole rebel army was reported arriving to give us battle. Alexandria was fortified with breastworks, redoubts and abattis, the streets were barricaded, and everything appeared to indicate an approaching en- gagement.

April 27, the cannonade 'was continued all the morning, and appeared to be coming nearer. April 28, the arrival of General McClernand was reported. Dr. Clary received orders from the Medical Director to take possession of the Ice-House Hotel, and pre-pare it for the reception of a thousand wounded.

This day the greater portion of the army was drawn up in two vast lines of battle in concentric semi-circles half a mile apart, with reserves in town. Cavalry and

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 infantry pickets and scouts were on every side. The Thirteenth was near the center of the second line. The level plains in rear of the town gave us a fine view of the lines. "We were never in higher spirits than this day, when we hoped the enemy would attack us in force. We did not ask for odds; but wished that, once for all, they would meet us on the open field. Hour after hour we awaited their attack ; but in vain.

They chose rather to blockade the river below Alexandria and cut off our supplies. At night the great sugar mill and adjoining buildings on the Bayou Rapides, nearly a mile from Red River and a mile from town, were set on fire. The flames lit up Alexandria, and seemed to make what a rebel paper termed Harriet Beecher Stowe, a " pandemonium."

This day Captain Wells was sent with fifteen men of Company I to conduct a hundred rebel prisoners on the steamer Sallie Robinson to New Orleans. Expecting to be attacked as usual by guerillas, Wells paced the rebels conspicuously on the hurricane deck, making a sort of breast-work of the " grey-backs !" He was not fired on ! Returning, he reached Fort DeBussy, Here authentic reports came of the blockade above, and fragments of gunboats drifted down to confirm it. He declined to advance further, but soon joined us at Simsport.

April 29, we received orders to cross the river on the pontoons to Pineville, which had been so thoroughly shelled a few evenings before. We passed over after dark with the One hundred Fifty-ninth New York, First Louisiana, Cornwell's Cavalry and a section of a battery. Colonel Molineux, being in command of the

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 whole, sent the writer at ten o'clock P, M. to post a large picket around the brigade; a work which required some hours, the night being exceedingly dark, and the woods an intricate maze of lanes, thickets, marshes and hillocks, the locality utterly unknown and the enemy near. Next clay we threw up strong works.

Every morning we turned out under arms, half an hour before light, in readiness for an attack.

Within two miles of us was the State Military Academy, of which General William T, Sherman was Principal at the breaking out of the war.

We lay for some time at Pineville, awaiting the completion of the great dam which floated off the gun-boats. The plan of a dam to raise the water so that Porter's fleet could pass over the rapids was discussed weeks before it was attempted. The writer recollects that before we left-Alexandria for Grand Ecore, an "intelligent contraband" suggested almost the precise mode that was afterwards adopted. The river was made to pass through a narrow space between the two ends of the dam. On the eighth of May two Monitors floated through. That night, or early the next morning, it broke, and several days were required to re-build it.

May 1, Lieut Kinney was detailed as Acting Signal Officer.

May 4, heavy firing was heard. Fighting was vaguely reported on the' Bayou Rapides, May 5, rapid and continuous artillery discharges were heard down the river. At night ten or a dozen persons arrived at our camp, who had escaped from the gunboat Coving-ton and the steamer John Warner, which had that morning been captured and destroyed by the rebels

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 twenty or thirty miles below Alexandria. Some of them were wounded. Dr. Clark supplied them with refreshments and surgical treatment. General Nickerson, who had started with Ms brigade to march down the bank of the stream, returned on learning of the disaster.

The situation began to be interesting if not alarming. The river was completely blockaded by the rebels, who sunk steamers in such a way as to obstruct the channel, and erected batteries to throw plunging shot down through the decks. A large force was known to be concentrating between us and the Mississippi. We had no doubt we could cut our way through, "but we did not like to have our enemies stop our supplies and force us into action prematurely.

Being short of forage, orders were issued that the horses should be supplied, as far as practicable, by pasturage. Alexandria was fortified. We were curious to know whether it would be retained or abandon-ed. If not worth keeping, why should we have captured it ?

May 9, Bank's purpose became evident. All the gunboats were to be got below [the dam, and the whole army and navy were to move. Orders came to hold the Thirteenth ready to march at two hours' notice. No baggage in wagon was to be allowed.

May 10, Col. Fisk, Col. Sprague and other field officers were ordered to remove all cotton from trans-port steamers, and load them with army stores ; an order that brought many a worshiper of the " southern king" to grief! General Millan was in command of this working party. His instructions were explicit: "Fling overboard every d-- pound of

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 cotton, and fling the d-- proprietors over after it!" Till past midnight we labored, throwing off the regal fabric and loading with army stores the "Ginnie Hopkins" " Silver Wave" and other steamboats.

May 11, the regiment marched with the First Louisiana and One hundred Fifty-ninth New York, under Colonel Molineux, seven miles along the right bank. As. we halted, General Grover and staff came riding up at considerable speed. He ordered us to return three miles. At three o'clock next morning we were under arms in line of battle. Lord Byron sat up all night to see the sun rise 1 There were good reasons why we should not wish to be caught napping. At seven o'clock this P. M. the " long roll," as potent if not as sweet as the music of Orpheus, brought the brigade in a twinkling into line of battle. Our pickets exchanged shots With the enemy. Orders came to move at seven next morning.

May 13, we moved at nine, and marched slowly seven or eight miles along the river. The day was sultry. Cannonading was heard in the distance. The rear of the army left Alexandria. That portion of the town next the river was fired by some such vandals as disgrace every army, and a terrible conflagration ensued.

At six A. M., May 14, we resumed our march. Heavy skirmishing went on the first hour in front and on the right flank, as indicated by the incessant rattle and smoke of small arms. We made fifteen miles, holding ourselves in readiness to form line at any moment. Before dark we arrived at the point where the Confederates had destroyed and sunk several of our gunboats and transports across the channel. Articles innumerable had been brought ashore and scattered

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 every where along the banks. Among other things were the remnants of a large mail we had sent a few days before. Capt. McCord found his Ordnance Re-turns. Several soldiers recovered letters they had written home. The writer looked in vain among the scattered documents for an account of the battle of Cane River, which he had sent a few days before for a Connecticut newspaper, and which was probably, at that time edifying a select circle of rebels. Here were gun-carriages burning; and rifle-pits, limes and breast-works. Here, too, were fresh camps-fires, where the "Johnnies" had roasted their meat and baked their inevitable cornbread.

At eight o'clock next morning, Sunday, we left Red River, and marched southeast two or three miles through the woods to a little bayou, where we halt-ed an hour till a pontoon bridge was thrown across, when we passed over, and continued our advance. Hot skirmishing soon commenced. We moved slowly and cautiously several miles through a forest, and reached an extensive open plain skirted with woodland. Here we formed line of battle, our brigade immediately supporting the cavalry, who were skirmishing heavily in full view of us. As the brigades successively arrived, they formed on the colors to right and left. The batteries moved at a gallop and threw themselves into position, while the squadrons of cavalry hovered lightly to and fro as if on wings. The scene was one of extraordinary beauty. There was ceaseless clatter of musketry like the pop-ping of corn when a thousand kernels burst into whiteness. The far-stretching cloud of smoke in front of us, and anon the heavy round-shot falling like

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 the first big drops of a summer shower, gave indication of an approaching storm.

The enemy largely outnumbered us in cavalry. Prisoners and deserters reported .that they had fifteen pieces of artillery, twenty-five hundred infantry, twenty-two regiments of cavalry ; the last under command of the celebrated Prince Polignac.

When our dispositions were completed, we made a general advance in line of battle, The sight inspired us with the feeling of irresistible strength.

"The host moves like the deep sea wave, Where rise no rocks its pride to brave; High-swelling, dark and slow."

The enemy prudently declined a pitched battle, but retired, obstinately skirmishing, knowing their superiority in mounted troops.

We drove them through Marksville. Our cavalry occupied the town just before sunset, the infantry halting half an hour before dusk in the suburbs. We improved the time by attempting to replenish our canteens. The soldiers began to boil a little coffee. They had suffered severely, the black muddy water of the occasional shallow circular pools seeming to aggravate rather than allay thirst. General Grover, commanding our division, had placed a squad of guards over the large rain-water cistern nearest us in the edge of the village at a house he had just selected as his head-quarters. Our men were swearing lustily at being deprived of the precious beverage, which the writer and other officers were endeavoring to procure for them, when up rode Captain Finley, Co. G, then on Grover's staff as Division Mustering Officer. He

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communicated orders to Col. Molineux to move his the second, brigade instantly with all speed to the front, for the enemy were driving our cavalry back. "I asked the General," said Finley, "if I should not bring the first brigade, as it lay nearer," He answer-" ed, "No; the first brigade is too small, too d---. small I 1 want the second brigade,"

"Fall in! Fall in!" echoed instantly along the Brigade line. Leaving the steaming coffee, we were off without a moment's delay. By the right flank at a double-quick we penetrated the town, traversed the length of the main street, more than two miles through choking dust. " File right!" and out into the open plain we rushed, guns on the right shoulder, at the same rapid pace. Winding along like a huge serpent with glittering scales and the banners of the Thirteenth for his crest, we moved parallel to our cavalry line which was just ahead of us and actively engaged. The enemy shelled us. " Halt! Front! Fix bayonets I" rang out the stentorian voice of Col. Molineux. Grover came up at the instant. " Boys,'7 said he, " very likely the cavalry will charge, you. If they do, take it cool. Fire by rank. Remember the rear rank fires first." The Thirteenth answered with a tremendous hurrah, which our cavalry caught up and repeat-ed. The enemy replied with one of their .peculiar yells, like the screech of a thousand wildcats.

But they did not charge. It was getting dark. Our cavalry knowing they were now supported, plied their Spencer carbines with unwonted vigor. The batteries on both sides got at work; the vivid, uninterrupted sparkle and infinite roll of fire-arms, and

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 the shouting of the combatants, clearly revealing the hostile position in the deepening darkness.

At ten o'clock the battle ceased. We lay on our muskets in line, utterly exhausted by the severe or-deal. A long march without dinner or supper had been followed by three miles at a double-quick, while the men's feet were raw with blisters, their tongues parched with thirst, their throats and nostrils filled with stifling dust. Yet hardly a man of the Thirteenth had fallen behind, though the extraordinary haste of the movement betokened savage work ahead, and the rebel artillery sent us its howling defiance. We sank to sleep, and never was rest sweeter.

Morning came, beautifully clear and sunny. The enemy had retired a mile or two, and were drawn tip to give us battle on Mansura Plains. We moved at once. As on the day before, the cavalry preceded, and our brigade led the infantry. Arriving in sight of the enemy, Grover's division was deployed in two lines. General A. J. Smith, looking like the very god of war, was sent to make a detour to the right. The rest of the infantry was drawn up in successive and massed columns. The plain was immense; slightly rolling and fringed with trees on three sides, fences obstructing our advance, Grover commanded, " By the right of regiments to the front;" and the line immediately broke into beautiful moving parallels, which advanced steadily under an artillery fire from the front and right. Reaching ground that permitted it, the regiments again came into a magnificent line of battle." The artillery duel waxing warm, Grover's line was halted. Fox's battery on the right, of the Thirteenth, and a section of Rogers' on the left,

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maintained a steady cannonade. Our regiment was mostly in rear of a rail fence, which stood on a bent of earth a foot high. This afforded protection to those who preferred to lie down, as most of us did, while the rifled projectiles were screaming and bursting, A considerable number, however, mounted the fence, unable to restrain their curiosity to gaze on the truly sublime display. Glancing back, almost the whole army was seen, resplendent in steel and brass ; miles of lines and columns; the cavalry gliding over the ground in the distance with a delicate, nimble light-ness of innumerable twinkling feet; a few batteries enveloped in smoke and incessantly thundering, others dashing swiftly to salient positions ; division and corps commanders with their staff officers clustering about them, watching through their glasses the hostile army; couriers riding swiftly from wing to wing; everywhere the beautiful silken flags; and the scene ever changing with the involutions and evolutions of the vast host!

"'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life, One glance at their array !"

To us the spectacle was thrilling and glorious: to the enemy it must have given point to the scripture simile, "terrible as an army with banners."

While we were impatiently awaiting the order to charge, there were many narrow escapes from death, the enemy having a cross lire on us. But no man of the Thirteenth was seriously injured that day. In the midst of the battle General Grover rode rapidly straight out in front of the Thirteenth some fifty rods, Halting on a little knoll in full view of both armies,

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 he raised his glass to his eyes and looked long and steadily at the rebel position, heedless of the hissing of bombs. Making a signal, Fox's battery galloped to the spot, and immediately opened a fire of spherical case. At the same instant, far to the right, we recognized the familiar sound of A, J. Smith's cannon, always rapid and tremendous. Grower's division now rushed to the charge. The enemy wavered, broke, and we saw them in rapid retreat. We followed them closely four miles, but their preponderance of cavalry enabled them to make good their escape without heavy loss. Prisoners reported the celebrated Polignac among the wounded.

After the battle we marched leisurely to Bayou Rouge, and thence to Bayou de Glaze, on the bank of which we encamped, six or eight miles from Simsport.

Next morning, May 17,1804, we marched at seven o'clock, reaching Simsport at noon, it was along this identical bayou that we had marched exactly one year before, on our way to Port Hudson. A mile from Simsport, we passed sonic new and strong fortifications on Yellow Bayou, the principal of which was called Fort Lafayette. The rebels evacuated them at our approach.

The wagon train was attacked this day, to the great discomfort of our new Quartermaster, Bishop; whose strenuous exertions, however, preserved the baggage of the Thirteenth.

A slight rain fell next morning. The weather was hot at "noon, when a very sharp artillery firing was heard, apparently two or three miles west of us, said to be on Yellow .Bayou. Here an attack of the enemy in force was "handsomely repulsed. Our loss was

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 about two hundred killed and wounded ; that of the enemy, much greater.

At one o'clock we moved across the Atchafalaya on a magnificent bridge of twenty large steamboats, lying side by side. Another such bridge this country has rarely if ever seen. We went into camp on precisely the same ground as a year ago that day. At eleven o'clock at night there was an alarm. We " fell in," and were moved two miles up the river bank.

At five o'clock next morning, orders came to march instantly in light order to battle. We proceeded a mile and a half to support our troops in case the at-tack by the enemy should be renewed. In the after-noon we marched two miles above the Sims house and bivouaced.

At six o'clock P. M., May 20, 1864, we were suddenly ordered to fall in to march immediately. We left at seven and a half, and marched till midnight, making about twelve miles towards Morganza,, At eight A. M., next day, we marched again through terrible heat arid dust to a point just above Morganza, on the Mississippi. Several men, one of whom was private Klein, Co. B, were sun-struck. The sight of the great swift-rolling stream was hailed with loud and long-continued shouts. It was like looking on a powerful friend, whose protection we needed and in whom we could perfectly confide, but whose face we had feared we should see no more.

We lay at Morganza several weeks in " a camp chiefly memorable for its dust and intense heat." The army extended several miles along the right bank of the river. The fine penetrating dust by day, and the mosquitoes by night, were two great and constant

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 plagues. The enemy hovered in small parties about our camps, sometimes driving in our pickets.

May 29, a hostile force was reported approaching. The regiment fell in under arms, with orders to be in readiness to march at a moment's notice. No attack was made.

June 1, the regiment received orders to go with the brigade into camp a mile and a half down the river, in a thicket of young willows, poplars, and cotton-woods. Welcome enough was this announcement; for we had lain ten days without much shelter on the scorching sand,, constantly powdered by the fine dust, and amidst the unceasing din and tramp of hundreds of men and animals, A. fatigue party cleared and prepared the narrow regimental streets in the dense growth. The Thirteenth Connecticut, One hundred Fifty-ninth New York, and First Louisiana moved next day to the new grounds on the river bank. The soldiers ingeniously constructed bowers and beds of the slender frees, and enjoyed the delicious shade. The principal draw-back was the swarming insects, to which no language can do justice.

June 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, we had copious showers, A large detachment of the Thirteenth was daily sent on picket duty.

June 6, reports came of fighting between the irregular troops of the enemy and one of our gunboats, above us near Morganza ; an affair of frequent occurrence.

June 8, the Fourteenth New Hampshire arrived, bringing an immense quantity of baggage and nice new clothes. They were brigaded with us; their Colonel, Wilson, assuming command by right of seniority. Their men, who had never seen active service,

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 looked with evident alarm upon the rough veterans of the Thirteenth. They could not believe that just two years before, we were "Butler's dandy regiment," and wore finer clothes, and whiter gloves, and brighter boots than they.

June 10, the Nineteenth Corps was reviewed at four P.M. by General Emory, two and a half miles from our camp. A heavy shower thoroughly drench-ed the army during the parade.

The two great questions with the regiment in these days were : " What will be the success of Grant in Virginia ?" and " When will the Thirteenth receive its Veteran Furlough ?"

June 14, General Sickles reviewed all the troops at Morganza.

June 18, Paymaster, Major Mann, made his wished-for advent. The officers had found it difficult to subsist, prices being enormous and money scarce. Potatoes were sold us by the sutlers at twelve dollars a bushel. Some of our officers pretended to trace the-pedigree of these sharp traders back to the Garden of Eden, quoting, " Now the serpent was more subtler than any beast of the field!"

June 19, the enemy were reported in force at Tunica Bend and old Fort Adams. We moved up to give them battle. The Thirteenth embarked at ten P. M. on the steamer Ohio Belle, with the One hundred Fifty-ninth New York, and a detachment of cavalry, Several transports and gunboats accompanied us, all being loaded with troops. We steamed up the Mississippi to Tunica Bend, where, next day, we sent a detachment ashore. They encountered a small party of guerillas, and made a few prisoners. At night we

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 moved up to Port Adams, where we disembarked at six A. M., June 21, and sent scouts in different directions. The enemy had fled. No trace of them could be seen from the summit of the hill, several hundred feet high, on the slope of which the old fort stands. The officers who climbed to the top gained an extensive and enchanting prospect of the surrounding country.

At five P. M. we re-entered the steamer and quickly returned to our camp near Morganza. We reached it at ten p. M., pretty thoroughly baked by the heat; for a Mississippi steamer, crowded with troops at this season, is an oven.

June 26, the Second Division was brigaded anew; the Second Brigade comprising the Thirteenth Con-necticut, One hundred Thirty-first New York, One hundred Fifty-ninth New York, First Louisiana, and Third Massachusetts Cavalry.

July 2, orders came for our brigade to be in readiness to go at an hour's notice on board steamer for New Orleans. At ten P. M. the Thirteenth embarked on the large new boat, Mollie Able. The sick of the division were left in care of Dr. Clark at Morganza. It will be recollected that in the haste of departure the Dr.'s celebrated mule disappeared; also Col. Sprague's famous high-spirited sorrel mare, with sore back; a loss that nearly broke Noah's heart!

That night and all next day we glided down the river, reaching New Orleans at ten P. M., July 3. Next day at ten we went into camp in Algiers.

Great dissatisfaction existing because our veteran volunteers were not allowed the promised furlough of thirty days in Connecticut, though six months had

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elapsed since re-enlistment, and some had been killed in battle and others had died in hospital, the writer, upon the solicitation of several officers, drew up an earnest petition that the furlough might be granted forthwith. This application, at first opposed by several officers, was finally signed by all. It was granted.

Accordingly, July 18, orders came for the veteran volunteers, and a portion of the non-veterans to em-bark on the screw steamer Cumbria, Captain. Blanchard, with sealed orders. At noon, July 14, we went on board; leaving a hundred and fifty non-veterans at Algiers under Capt. Wells. The captain was him-self a veteran, but had been in the North much of the time for a year before.

These non-veterans remained a week in Algiers, They then went aboard the Karnak for Fortress Monroe, and thence to Washington. They proceeded to Tenallytown where they remained two or three days; thence to Washington, where they took the cars for Monocacy Junction. Here they joined the Twelfth Connecticut, and remained about a week. Thence they went by rail to Harpers Ferry, and lay one night on Maryland Heights. Thence they advanced to Halltown, where they remained some days; thence to Cedar Creek ; thence back to Winchester ; thence again to Berryville. Much of the time they were in presence of the enemy, and are said to have behaved well. Private Reltrath was captured. They finally re-joined the veterans early in September near Berryville.

At two P. M., July 14, we bade a final adieu to Mew Orleans. The paymaster paid the men on board, and accompanied us as far as Quarantine. At dawn, July 15, we passed the bar at the mouth of the river,

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 and the regiment saw the receding shores of Louisiana for the last time. The sealed orders, when opened, were found to command Colonel Blinn to leave the non-veterans at Fortress Monroe, and proceed with the veterans to Hartford.

Our progress on the Cumbria was slow. July 23, we readied Fortress Monroe at eight A. M. Here the non-veterans, about sixty in number, were left under command of Lieutenants Miner and Squires. They soon joined the Twelfth Connecticut for temporary duty. At ten P. M, we steamed away from Fortress Monroe. July 25, we came in sight of the heights of Neversink. Soon the machinery, which had been several times out of working order, broke down altogether, and we were obliged to rely wholly upon sails. A tug finally towed us in, A refreshing supply of coffee and soft bread was brought to the soldiers by the efficient State Agent, Colonel J. H. Almy, while we lay at anchor. The regiment was transferred to the Sound steamer Elm Oily, and arrived at the New Haven landing before light, July 27.

A cordial reception was tendered by the citizens of New Haven, and the veterans inarched through: the streets to the sound of music, bells and cannon, under the escort of the Governor's Horse-Guards and other local military companies. At the State House, where a bountiful collation had been provided us by the beauty and patriotism of New Haven, eloquent speeches of welcome were made by Governor Buckingham, Mayor Tyler and others. The arms and accoutrements were stored in the State House, and the veterans dispersed under orders to re-assemble at the recruiting rendezvous in Fair Haven, on the twenty-seventh of August, 1864.