GEN. BANKS'S POSITION AND FORCE.

327

though considerably cut up, so as to | jumble of grand canal, river, sound, be compelled to run into Kingston, and lagoon, receives the waters of the Jamaica, for repairs, had but one Bayou Teche-each of them heading man wounded. And no wonder; near, and at high water having navi'since the Hatteras's heaviest guns gable connection with, Red river. were 32s, while of the Alabama's (9 South of the railroad and east of the to our 8), one was an 150-pounder on Atchafalaya, the country had already a pivot, another a 68; and she threw been in good part overrun by our 324 pounds of metal at a broadside forces; but our possession of it was to the Hatteras's 94. With such a imperfect and debated. Beyond and disparity of force, the result was in-above, all was Rebel; while fortifievitable. cations at Butte à la Rose, well up the Atchafalaya, and Fort Bisland, at Pattersonville, on the Teche, were intended to bar ingress by our gunboats from Red river or by our land forces from New Orleans. Fort Bisland was flanked by Grand Lake on the right, and by impassable swamps on the left; a Rebel force, estimated [too high] by Gen. Banks at over 12,000 men, held these strong works and the adjacent country; while to hold New Orleans securely, with its many protecting forts and approaches, Key West, Pensacola, Ship Island, &c., with all Texas backing the zealous and active Rebel partisans in Louisiana, who were promptly apprised by their spies of any weak spot in our defenses-to say nothing of the danger of hostile attacks from the side of Alabama and Mississippi

Gen. N. P. Banks, having assumed" command of the Department of the Gulf, found himself at the head of a force about 30,000 strong, which had been officially designated the 'Nineteenth Army Corps.' With this, he was expected, in cöoperation with Grant's efforts up the river, to reopen the Mississippi, expel the Rebels in arms from Louisiana, and take military possession of the Red River country, with a view to the speedy recovery of Texas, whose provisional Governor, Gen. Andrew J. Hamilton, surrounded by hundreds more of Union refugees, was with him at New Orleans, and naturally anxious for an immediate movement upon their State; which they believed ripe for restoration. Their hopes of such a demonstration, however, were soon blasted, as we have seen, by our needless and shameful disasters at Galveston and Sabine Pass. Meantime, Gen. Banks ⚫ had dispatched " Gen. Cuvier Grover, with 10,000 men, to reoccupy Baton Rouge, which had been relinquished to the enemy, and which was now recovered without a struggle.

From New Orleans, a single railroad reaches westward to Brashear City on the Atchafalaya, where that

15 Dec. 11, 1862.

required the larger part of his corps; so that Banks found his disposable force reduced by inevitable details to less than 14,000 men; while the Rebel array in and around Port Hudson was reported by his spies at 18,000; rendering a siege without large rëenforcements impossible. He, therefore, turned his attention first to the line of the Atchafalaya.

An attempt to open the Bayou 14 Dec. 18, 1862.

the more deadly fire of sharp-shooters from rifle-pits; when, at 10 A. M., a bullet through his head struck him dead on the instant.

Plaquemine, connecting with the Atchafalaya near Butte à la Rose, having failed-the bayou being found so choked by three years' accumulation of snags and drift as to be im- By this time, the 8th Vermont had passable by boats-Gen. Weitzel's gained the Rebel rear, and was maforce on Berwick's Bay was increased king a rapid clearance of their rifleto 4,500 men, with a view to an ad- pits; while the batteries of the 1st vance to and operations in the Teche Maine, the 4th and 6th Massachusetts, region. Starting" from Thibodeaux, supported by sharp-shooters from the Gen. Weitzel embarked his infantry 75th and 160th New York, had flanked next day at Brashear, on the gunboats the defenses on the other side, and Calhoun, Diana, Kinsman, and Es- were sweeping the decks of the Cottrella, Com. McKean Buchanan, who ton, whose crew beat a retreat, as did moved slowly up the bayou to Pat- most of the Rebels on land, whereof tersonville; the artillery and cavalry but 40 were taken prisoners. The going by land. Encountering for- Cotton was fired during the ensuing midable obstructions at a place night, and utterly destroyed. The known as Carney's Bridge, a few force here beaten consisted of the miles above, Com. Buchanan, after 28th Louisiana, with Simms's and reconnoitering, dropped down a short the Pelican battery, under Col. Gray distance for the night; returning-in all, but 1,100 men, beside the next morning" to attack; while the crew of the Cotton. Our loss was 8th Vermont was sent around to flank the defenses on the north.

The obstructions were found vexatious rather than formidable: consisting of a steamboat filled with brick and sunk across the channel, with the great iron-clad gunboat Cotton behind it; a battery on either flank, and some torpedoes in the bayou below. One of these was exploded under the Kinsman; lifting her stern into the air, but not crippling her; when she fell back to avoid another just ahead, whereof a negro fugitive from the Cotton gave timely warning. Com. Buchanan, on the Calhoun, either not hearing or despising the caution, at once took the advance, standing on the bow of his vessel, spy-glass in hand, in the midst of a furious cannonade from the Cotton and Rebel batteries, and

7 killed and 27 wounded.

Gen. Banks being still intent on opening the Atchafalaya by the meditated advance through the Bayou Plaquemine to the capture of Butte à la Rose, the next month was wasted on this enterprise; and the success at Carney's Bridge was not otherwise improved. Meantime, some 200 Western boys defeated" a like number of the 3d Louisiana cavalry at Old River; losing 12 men, killing 4, wounding 7, and taking 26 pris- · oners.

Admiral Farragut, having heard of our loss of the Queen of the West and De Soto" below Vicksburg, decided that it was his duty to run the Rebel batteries at Port Hudson, in order to recover the command of the river above; so he called on Gen. Banks for cöoperation. Hereupon,

FARRAGUT PASSES PORT HUDSON.

329

our forces were hastily recalled from | thick with sulphurous smoke that the Atchafalaya and concentrated at great care was needfully exercised Baton Rouge; where they crossed by our commanders to avoid firing and advanced," about 12,000 strong, into each other; our aim being now driving in the Rebel pickets, to the directed by the flashes of the enerear of the Port; Farragut having my's guns; which, changing from intended, under cover of a land at- shell to grape as our vessels came tack on that side, to run the batteries within musket and pistol-shot, swept early next morning. He judged best, our decks by murderous discharges; however, to anticipate Gen. Banks's some of their batteries being placed attack, the night being intensely on bluffs so high that they could not dark; so, in his stout flag-ship Hart- be harmed by our shots; while the ford, lashed side to side with the Al- crescent shape of the defenses, folbatross, he led the perilous adven-lowing the curve of the channel, enature; arriving abreast of the Rebel batteries a little before midnight.

bled them to rake each vessel as it approached, and again as it receded. The greatest care was requisite to avoid grounding or colliding in the dense darkness which followed the burning out of the Rebel bonfire; and there were several narrow escapes from these ever imminent disasters. It was 11 P. M. when the first gun spoke and by 1 the fight was virtually over-the Hartford and the Albatross having passed; while most of their consorts had failed, and dropped down to their anchorage below-when a fresh blaze told of a heavy loss. The Mississippi had run aground directly abreast of the heaviest and most central battery; where she was soon discovered and became a target for them all. Here Capt. Melancthon Smith fought her nearly half an hour, till she was completely riddled; when he ordered her set on fire and abandoned; and she was; burning aground till she was so lightened that she floated; when she drifted down the river a blazing ruin, exploding, several miles below, when the fire had reached her magazine. Of her 233 officers and men, but 29 SO were missing at roll-call next day.

If he had counted on passing unobserved, or shrouded in darkness, he was much mistaken. Hardly was he within range of the nearest Rebel guns, when signal-lights were seen flashing from every direction, including the opposite shore; and, directly, the flames of a vast bonfire in front of the heaviest batteries shot up into the sky, lighting the entire breadth of the river as though it were midday. Rockets were soon streaming in the air; now a gun from the west bank saluted the Hartford, which instantly returned the compliment; and the next moment the earth trembled to the roar of all the Rebel batteries; whereupon our mortar-boats below began firing 13-inch shell at the enemy; and the frigates Hartford, Mississippi, Richmond, and Monongahela, and gunboats Albatross, Genesee, Kineo, Essex, and Sachem, as they severally came within range, fired broadside after broadside; the brass howitzers in their tops and the heavy pivot guns at the bow and stern being industriously worked; while the atmosphere was soon

March 13-14.

The Richmond had been stopped | unwilling conscripts, who improved

on her course by a shot through her steam-drum, and lost 8 killed and 7 wounded. The Kineo was disabled by a shot through her rudder; Capt. McKinstry, of the Monongahela, was badly wounded. Several of our vessels carried ugly marks thereafter; but the loss of the Mississippi, with her splendid armament of 21 large guns and 2 howitzers, was our principal disaster.

20

every opportunity to escape and return to their homes. Taylor reports his men at but 4,000 in all, and blames his subordinate, Gen. Sibley, for persistent disobedience of orders and other unsoldierly conduct. During his retreat, the famous Queen of the West was assailed by our gunboats in Grand Lake, whither she had worked her way down the Atchafalaya from Red river, and destroyed; her crew being made prisoners.

Banks was delayed by Taylor's burning, as he fled, the bridges over the many bayous and sluggish watercourses of this region; but he entered Opelousas in triumph on the same

Gen. Banks returned forthwith to Baton Rouge; his immediate object being accomplished; while he judged the force holding the Port entirely too strong 2 to be besieged by his little army-a point whereon Gen. Halleck deems him in error. Our col-day " that our gunboats, under Lt.umns were again impelled westward Com'g A. P. Cooke, captured Butte à to Brashear City and thence across la Rose, opening the Atchafalaya to Berwick's Bay;" the main body Red river; so that communication moving thence on Franklin, while was reestablished," through the gunGen. Grover's division was sent by boat Arizona, with Admiral Farratransports up the Atchafalaya and gut, at the mouth of that stream. Grand Lake to Irish Bend, above And now a new advance was rapidly Fort Bisland, where he effected a made" by our army to Alexandria; landing with great difficulty-the Taylor, evacuating Fort De Russy, water being shallow for over a mile again retreating on Shreveport withfrom shore, precluding his expected out a fight; while Admiral Porter cöoperation in Gen. Banks's move- came up the river with his fleet, and ment. Here he was soon attacked Louisiana, save its north-west corner, with vigor, but held his ground and was virtually restored, or subjugated, beat off the enemy. Still, the attack as you will. Gen. Banks sent Weitsufficed to keep open the road for zel, with a part of his army, on the Gen. Dick Taylor, who, evacuating track of the flying Rebels, nearly to Fort Bisland, and burning several Grand Ecore; when Taylor's force steamboats, retreated on Opelousas; was so reduced that it did not seem making a brief stand at Vermilion worth farther pursuit; and he was Bayou, and losing heavily, as he re- unable to retake the field for weeks. ports, by desertion and straggling-Banks reports his captures in this much of his force being made up of

20 He says, in his official report, citing Brig. Gen. W. W. R. Beall, of the garrison, as his authority:

"The strength of the enemy at Port Hudson was then believed to be from 18,000 to 20,000.

t

campaign at 2,000 prisoners and 22 It is now known, with absolute certainty, that the garrison, on the night of the 14th of March, 1863, was not less than 16,000 effective troops." 21 April 9-10.

22

24

April 20.
May 5-9.

BANKS INVESTS PORT HUDSON.

331

guns; while he had seized 2 and de- | be in position either to defend New stroyed 8 Rebel steamers, beside three Orleans below, or to rëenforce, in an gunboats. An intercepted letter emergency, or be rëenforced by, showed that Taylor had purposed to Grant above. And Grant, on hearattack Brashear City the day prior ing all the facts as set forth by Gen. to our advance to and attack on Fort Dwight, heartily concurred in this Bisland. decision; offering to send Banks 5,000 men so soon as he could spare them. Gen. Banks, directly after Dwight's return to Alexandria, put " his army

marching by land to Simmsport, where they were with difficulty ferried across the Atchafalaya, and moved down the right bank of the Mississippi till opposite Bayou Sara, where they crossed," and, marching 15 miles next day, proceeded forthwith to invest Port Hudson from the north; while Gen. C. C. Augur, with 3,500 men from Baton Rouge, in like manner invested it on the south.

Gen. Banks had been notified by Admiral Farragut, while at Brashear City, that Gen. Grant-then at his wits' end before Vicksburg-would in motion; sending all he had transspare him 20,000 men for a move-portation for by water; the residue ment on Port Hudson-a proffer which was soon afterward, and most fortunately, retracted. Grant's plan was to join teams and help Banks reduce Port Hudson, when the latter should help him reduce Vicksburg: an arrangement to which Gen. B. very gladly assented. Grant's corps designed to cooperate against Port Hudson was to be at Bayou Sara May 25th; but on the 12th Banks was advised by letter" from Grant that he had crossed the Mississippi in force, and had entered on his campaign which proved so successful. Of course, he had now no corps to spare, but proposed instead that Banks should join him in his movement against Vicksburg. This the latter was obliged to decline, lacking the required transportation, and not daring to leave New Orleans and all we held in Louisiana at the mercy of the strong Rebel garrison of Port Hudson, of whose batteries Farragut had recently had so sore an experience; to say nothing of Dick Taylor's return, strongly rëenforced, from the side of Texas. So Banks, sending Gen. Wm. Dwight to Grant to explain his position, wisely decided to move with all his available force against Port Hudson, where he could May 14-15.

23 Dated the 10th.

26

Gen. Gardner, commanding at Port Hudson, sent Col. Miles to resist their junction behind his fastness by striking Augur on his march; but he was repulsed with a loss of 150 men; while our right wing above, under Gens. Weitzel, Grover, and Dwight, drove the garrison, after a sharp fight, within their outer line of intrenchments. The next day," they joined hands with Augur behind the Rebel works, and the investment of the Port, save on the side of the river, was complete.

Reports being current that the enemy had withdrawn-that there was only a handful of them left behind their works, &c.—Banks, after thorough reconnoissance and giving time for preparation, gave the order for a general assault. That assault

27

Night of May 23.

28

May 25.