Union Raid on French Settlement, Livingston Parish, Louisiana Regimental Papers of the 31st Massachusetts Infantry File prepared by D.N. Pardue ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From the French Settlement Historical Register, published by the French Settlement Historical Society, French Settlement, Louisiana 70733. The LaGenWeb Archives thanks them for contributing this information. Vol. 5, December 1980 Originally submitted to the FSHR by Clark Forrest, Jr. and Gloria Kerns Headquarters 31st Mass. Vol. Mtd, Infantry Donaldsonville, La. February 4, 1865 Hermitage Plantation Captain Frederic Speed Asst. Adj. General Defences New Orleans Sir, I have the honor to submit the following report of a scout just made by this command. I had for some time been in possession of information that a number of rebel soldiers could always be found in the "French Settlement", a small town just across Amite River and about six miles below Scivique's Ferry. From this safe retreat, they were said to come out at times and raid along New River and the coast plantations below me. The place has never been visited by Federal scouting parties and I determined to clear it out. I selected 140 of the best mounted men of the command and early in the morning of January 31 sent a sufficient number in advance to make a rapid march to the Amite River, take possession of all the lower ferries and pre- vent any information of our movements from crossing. This duty was performed by Lieut. Lee and so well, that the appearance of our column across the river was a complete surprise. I camped that night near the river and commenced crossing at daylight the next morning at an unfriguented place three miles below Scivique's Ferry. The crossing was difficult as the river was very full and it required five (5) hours to swim seventy (70) horses across. The rest of the force I sent to hold the crossing at Scivique's Ferry and cover my return. Aiming at French Settlement about 2 o'clock PM I sent one company to make the circuit of the town and pick up those who might attempt to escape to the woods, while Capt. Bond's company charged through the town and took possession of every house. It is a straggling settlement of about fifty (50) houses scattered along some two miles of straight road. Every man in the town was brought in to me, and among them I found fifteen (15) rebel soldiers, the majority of whom were from Doyal's and Gonzales's companies. They were as completely surprised that no resistance was attempted. A number of arms, McClellan saddles, and horses were found, none of these servicable except a few horses which I have ordered to be taken up and issued. Wishing next to attack Doyal in his main camp, which I know to be a few miles back in the country from Scivique's Ferry, I made a circuit of fifteen (15) miles back into the country, passed around the head of Bayou Colhiel (Colyell?) and got in rear of his position at 10 o'clock that night. Here I learned that he had started only two days before for Clinton, after having occupied for nearly two weeks the very position at which I had aimed. The people report that he had been ordered to Summit (or places on the Jackson R.R.) and will be relieved here by an Arkansas Regiment. I camped here for the night, and hearing where King with a small squad of his men had stopped the night before, sent Lieut. Langendorph at daylight to hunt him up. He found him alone, following up our trail, and captured him. My instructions were always to shoot this man at sight, and Lt. Lagendorph tried often enough but failed to hit him. The man has been a terror to the whole coast here for nearly two years, and has been hunted constantly by every command stationed at this point. He has the reputation of being a "bushwhacker" attached to no command and is said to have killed nine (9) of our men. Among others Capt. Halleck of the 11th N.Y. Cavalry, who was shot last July while riding at the head of his column along New River. These crimes I thought would justify me in shoot- ing him, even after his capture and I accordingly gave him a drum-head court- martial at once. He established his claim very well to being a member of Doyal's company and as the officers present were not unanimous in sentincing him to be shot, I thought it best to bring him in as a prisoner of war. The command recross- ed the river at Scivique's Ferry in a flatboat which I had brought down from a ferry on Bayou Colhiel, and reached camp at 12 o'clock that night. I regret to report the following casualties. One man severily wounded by the accidental discharge of his piece, and one man drowned, by his own carelessness, in crossing the river the first time. I estimate the number of miles travelled at one hundred (100). The number of prisoners captured was eighteen (18). I am Sir, very respectfully Your obdt. Servant, W.I. ALLEN Capt. Commanding **************************************************************************************** New Orleans, La. February 9, 1865 Capt. F. Speed A.A. General Sir, I have the honor to make the following statement. On the 4th Inst. as I was proceeding with my Company to New Orleans on board the "Ohio Belle", we landed at Hermitage Plantation a few miles below Donaldsonville for the purpose of taking on board some Rebel Prisoners, guarded by a detachment of the 31st Mass. Mtd. Infantry. Prominent among the prisoners was a noted desperado and guerilla named King. The coporal in command of the guards had particular orders to watch closely the motions of King as he was known to be a desperate character. One who would shrink from no danger to effect an escape. On account of the heavy fog that prevailed we were compeled to lay over at "College Point" during the night. At fifteen minutes past 12 on the morning of the 5th Inst. King attempted to wrest the gun from the hands of a sentinel (Private John White, Co. E., 31st Mass. Mtd. Infantry). Private White immediately fired upon King, killing him almost instantly. At the time of this occurance I was asleep in my state room, and the Capt. of the "Ohio Belle" in the absence of any commissionied Oficer, ordered Private White under arrest. As soon as the Corporal Commanding the detachment informed me of what occured, I took the responsibility after hearing the evidence of the other sentinels on duty at the time the affair occurred, of releasing Private White from arrest, as he only obeyed orders and discharged faithfully his duty. I being ranking Officer on board the boat, felt justification in releasing him from arrest. At "Twelve Mile Point" our boat sunk and were were obliged to wait for another boat. Corporal Exford commanding the detachment of the 31st Mtd. Mass. Infantry proceeded with the other prisoners on the first boat to New Orleans where he delivered them safely. We buried King at "Twelve Mile Point". I make this statement at the suggestion of Corporal Exford, commanding the guard that escorted the prisoners. Both the Corporal and his men are worthy of praise for the creditable manner in which they performed their duty in the face of danger when the "Ohio Belle" sank. No blame can be attached to any one for the shooting of Kinga as he would have made desperate attempts to escape and would probably have succeeded but for the vigelance of the guard. I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your obt. Servant WILLIAM BOUGH Capt. Co. "C" 1st Ind. Arty. ************************************************************************************** NOTE: These two letters were typed from Xeroxed copies of the original letters taken from the files of the "Regimental Papers" of the 31st Massachusetts Infantry on file at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.