Military Records: War Reports Submitted by: Mark Baggett of Florence, MS. overload55@mail.iolms.com ************************************************************* ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ ************************************************************* War Reports These reports were provided by Mark Baggett, of Florence, Mississippi, overload55@mail.iolms.com. His ancestor, Thomas J. Baggett, was in this company. Sources used: Booth, Andrew B., Record of La. Confederate Soldiers and La. Confederate Commanders, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1920, Volumes I, II, and III; and The War of the Rebellion, a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Prepared under the direction of the Secretary of War, by Robert N. Scott, Washington, Govt. Print. Office, 1880-1900. July 8, 1862 Sept. 21, 1862 Nov. 4, 1862 April 23, 1863 Oct. 4, 1863 Oct. 22, 1863 March 22, 1864 From: The War of the Rebellion , Chap. XXVIL, pages 773-774. Contributed by Mark Baggett, Florence, MS. Headquarters Louisiana Militia Opelousas, July 8, 1862 ( Received July 29.) George W. Randolph, Secretary of War, Richmond: Sir: I sent you a list of persons by letter of June 13th to whom I had granted authorizations to raise companies of Partisan Rangers. None have succeeded except the following, who have reported, viz: James A. McWaters, company; S.D. Ashe, company; W. W. Breazeale, battalion of three companies; W. H. Bayliss, two companies; L. M. Nutt, company; James [M.] Thompson, company. The first named is already in service. I have not received one of my guns yet. I have agents over the Mississippi River charged with the transportation of my State property, but they are seized by General Forney, and when released by him then by Van Dorn, and afterward by every petty colonel or captain who under plea of excessive vigilance manages to abstract for himself and his command whatever they may need or their fancy may suggest as agreeable. I do not wish to complain unnecessarily, but it does appear to me that while the Confederate Government have withdrawn every one of their officers and soldiers from this State, and have never yet sent a musket or rifle to us, it is the smallest justice they can do to permit me to use what my own State money has bought and what the Confederate Government has not in any manner helped me to get. How much longer is Louisiana to be considered without the protection or beneath the consideration of the Confederate Government? When am I to have a general, as long ago promised? I forbear to express all that I feel on this matter, but there are interests at stake independent of any considerations of State defense. The Army of the Mississippi Valley is wholly dependent for supplies on keeping open our communication with Texas. A few troops thrown out by Butler, by extending from New Iberia to Alexandria, would completely block us off from our supplies for that army. Yet, although such immense results hang on that contingency, nothing has been done to prevent it, and nothing has prevented it but the daring act of a single company of my State Militia. The whole army of Beauregard dependent for their supplies of beef on the activity and vigilance of a company of ragged and half-armed militia! All Louisiana south of Red River has been attached to Texas, and General He'bert placed in command. In what respect does that better our condition? I have begged for an officer, and the Government answers me by attaching one part of my State to the command of a general whose headquarters are in Texas, another part to another general whose headquarters are in Little Rock, and another to a general whose headquarters are in Jackson. This last, however, is right, because the Mississippi River completely severs the State, but as for the other two I have no more facility of communication than I have with Richmond. I have not even been informed that General Hindman has any command over any portion of my State. The only notice I have had of his pretending to exercise any authority here is the visit of a Captian Taylor, with a party of armed men, about the 24th of last month, who came to Alexandria, south of Red River, and seized private property, entered houses of private citizens, brutally practiced extortion and outrage, and with bullying and threatening language and manner spread terror among the people and disgraced the service upon whose errand he came. Mark you, no public necessity justified this conduct. The pretense was to get provisions for Hindman's army but if you will look at the map you will see the distance puts that out of the question. Besides they came from Shreveport, and both at that point and Marshall there are collected large stores for the Arkansas army. Nothing prevented our citizens from resisting this man but the desire of our people now and at all times to pay due respect to the authority of our Government, even through it should be represented by such a man as this Taylor. I do not believe General Hindman knew anything of these outrages. Taylor was sent by one Colonel Wilkes, and I have asked of General Hindman, as I now ask of you, their dismissal from the service. While I ask this punishment of these officers I have taken measures to protect my people from a repetition of such raids. With Butler below and Hindman above, each by his officers committing the same outrages, I am forced to self-protection. I have ordered a force of militia at Alexandria to prevent any similar raid. I have directed that any similar expedition shall not only be stopped, but the whole party to be arrested, and if their boat will not stop I have cannon planted to fire into her and sink her. I have selected men to command this force who are fully impressed with the indignities we have suffered and who will carry out my orders. Large quantities of Confederate property collected at Alexandria by the energy of Major McKee from Mexico were also taken by this man and incalculable injury has been done. You can refuse to dismiss them (the captain and the colonel), but my marksmen may save you the trouble if they come again. There is a point to which patient endurance can extend no further. I learn that General Price is coming here instead of General Magruder. I care not who it is you send, so he be a general to command in this State of Louisiana whose headquarters will be accessible to me. Very respectfully, Tho. O. Moore, Governor. From: War of the Rebellion , Chap. XXVII, pages 141-142. September 21-25, 1862. Expedition from Carrollton to Donaldsonville, La, and skirmish. Report of Col. James W. McMillan, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry. Camp Carrollton, September 25, 1862. Sir: In the execution of your order to go to Donaldsonville with my regiment I was compelled to go to Baton Rouge to find a gunboat, the Sciota, Itasca, and Katahdin having gone up to that place on Saturday morning early. I gave the commanding officer the order from Commodore Morris, and was accompanied to near Donaldsonville by all of them, the Sciota going to anchor a few miles above, for the protection of the steamboat Iberville, loading with sugar on the west bank of the river. The Katahdin and Itasca anchored opposite Donaldsonville. It being dark when we arrived I deemed it prudent to wait until morning before landing. Early Monday morning I landed my command, and , finding the rebel pickets in the village, I followed them closely nearly 4 miles down the bayou to where they were encamped in sugar-houses. On our approach they scattered among the cane and ran to the woods. Finding I could effect nothing, I returned to the town with a few blankets, left in the precipitancy of the flight of the rebles. I learned their provisions were on the opposite side of the bayou, where they have a small fortification and five or six guns, and use the sugar warehouses of Aro & Cox as barracks. On yesterday ( Wednesday) I determined to see what was the strength of their works and forces, having had so many conflicting statements in regard to their numbers, varying from 1,000 to 2,500. I was met by them with one 6-pounder gun within 1 1/2 miles of the river, but I only allowed them one shot by pushing on so rapidly as to compel a hasty retreat to save their gun. They opened on us once more, when I brought two of my guns into battery and soon drove them to their fortifications, pushing them rapidly. When within 700 yards of their fortifications they opened a well-directed fire on us with five guns - one 12-pounder, one 8-pounder, three 6-pounders, and perhaps one 5-pounder. I immediately ordered my guns into battery and returned their fire briskly, but finding my guns overmatched I determined to charge their fortifications; but while my officers were making the necessary arrangements for carrying the order out I discovered their cavalry, under command of Major McWaters, about half a mile distant, passing rapidly along a road cut through the woods, back of the fields, parallel to the one leading to the river, and down which I had marched. I immediately countermanded the order to charge and retraced my steps, when in less than 1 1/2 miles from the river the rebel cavalry commenced making its appearance, having emerged from the woods, but too late to ambuscade us. They pushed on and got between me and the river, but only to lose several of their number and be driven back at double the speed they came up. I then returned to the river bank, with my command completely exhaused by the long march and constant skirmishing, frequently going at double-quick. I was compelled to halt three or four times on my return to enable the men to rest. We took one prisoner in arms and the town assessor and brought a few of the citizens as refugees. I found it out of my power to effect anything. Force and transportation insufficient to follow on down the bayou to Napoleonville, Thibodeaux, Terre Bonne, &c., and as I learned that the Spanish refugees preferred remaining and fighting the rebels a' la mode Seminole, I resolved to return to this camp. My loss was one (Lieutenant Harding) missing and one artillerist slightly wounded. Reble loss could not have been less than 30 or 40. Some of the citizens reported it much greater. I captured a few horses only, there being but few left by the rebels. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Jas. W. McMillan, Colonel Twenty-first Indiana Volunteers. Maj. George C. Strong, A. A. G.l, Dept. of the Gulf. From: Chap. XXVIL, page 176 Report of Brig. Gen. Alfred Mouton, C.S. Army At Mrs. Meade's November 4, 1862. Sir: I have the honor of submitting the following report of the movements prededing and following the engagement of the 27th October, 1862, and details relative thereto. Late on the 25th of October, 1862, I received information that the gunboats abnd transports of the enemy were moving up the river slowly and cautiously, and that in all likelihood they would soon be at Donaldsonville. They arrived there on the evening of the 25th and commenced landing troops, completing the landing on the 26th. Immediately I moved to Donaldsonville, and found that our troops at the point had fallen back, under command of Colonel [W.G.] Vincent, to the Tacconici, in the parish of Assumption, about 12 miles from Donaldsonville. Colonel Vincent informed me that from all the information he had obtained the enemy numbered from 2,500 to 3,000 infantry, 250 cavalry, and two batteries of field artillery. To oppose this force, which was mainly on the left descending bank of La Fourche, Colonel Vincent had only 600 infantry and about 250 calvalry, with Semmes' field battery. The disparity was so great that I deemed it my duty still to recede until the re-enforcements I had ordered up arived, and accordingly fell back to the plantation of Mr. Winn, 2 miles above Labadieville, where the Eighteenth and Crescent Regiments and Ralston's battery reached me at about 2 p.m., coming in from Berwick Bay and Bayou Boeuf, where they were stationed. I had also ordered the Terre Bonne Regiment militia forward, and they arrived at about 8 a.m. On the 27th Faries' battery was ordered up, but it reached me only on the morning of the 28th. The columns of the enemy were advancing on both banks in about equal force, and in consequence, to prevent being outflanked, it became necessary to hold positions on both sides of the bayou. The Eighteenth and Crescent, supported by Ralston's battery, were placed on the right descending bank, and the Terre Bonne regiment moved over to the left bank. Thus to oppose the enemy on the right bank I had, according to returns made, viz: Eighteenth Regiment..............................................240 Crescent Regiment................................................135 Ralston's battery.................................................64 Detachment of cavalry............................................100 ____ 539 And on the left bank, viz: Thirty-third Regiment............................................594 Terre Bonne regiment..............................................34 Semmes' battery...................................................75 Second Louisiana Cavalry.........................................150 ____ 853 ______ 1,392 Hdqrs. Dept. of the Gulf, Nineteenth Army Corps, Opelousas, La., April 23, 1863 Admiral Farragut, Flay-Ship Hartford: My Dear Admiral: Accept my thanks for your dispatch of April 6, which I received on the 21st instant with the dispatches of General Grant. Accept my congratulations upon your success in controlling the open sea between Vicksburg and Port Hudson. The blockade of the Red River is a most important affair to our arms. We have now achieved the freedom of the Atchafalaya, of which we have spoken so much together, and I hope at no distant time to communicate with you through that route. The gunboats under command of Lieutenant Cooke captured Butte-a'-la-Rose on the 20th instant. You have doubtless had a full report of this affair. The engagement was short, but decisive. We captured their guns, consideraable ammunition, the commander of the post, and 60 prisoners. This gives us the entire control of the Atchafalaya and the Red River. Since we parted at Baton Rouge I have accomplished the design which was interrupted by your enterprise for passing the batteries. Immediately upon the achievement of that distinguished success by your own ship and the Albatross we recommenced our undertaking. On the 12th of April we were before the fortifications at Camp Bisland, where we commenced an engagement with the enemy which lasted two days. Our men behaved splendidly and have achieved at every point a complete success. The works would have been assaulted on the morning of their evacuation. They commenced their retreat at about 12 o'clock at night, and we followed them at 3 o'clock in the morning. Grover's division had landed near Indian Bend with the intention of intercepting their retreat at Franklin, but the difficulties of transportation and landing prevented his reaching that point within a few hours, and the enemy escaped with his artillery and cavalry. The infantry has been almost entirely dispersed. We have captured nearly 2,000 prisoners, more than 1,000 stand of small arms, twenty siege guns, including one field gun, considerable ammunition, and the chiefs of the arms of the rebel service: Captain Fuller, commanding the fleet; Captain Semmes, commanding the artillery; and Colonel Vincent, commanding the cavalry. We compelled them to destroy the Diana and Hart, and the fleet commanded by Lieutenant Cooke sunk the Queen of the West in the contest for the possession of Butte-a'-la-Rose, on Grand Lake. We have captured more than 10,000 head of cattle, and horses and mule sufficient for the entire service of the army. It will be impossible for the enemy to reorganize his forces in this department at present. We are anxiously waiting to hear from General Grant. With the force. . . . . . . . I am, very truly, your obedient servant, N.P. Banks Major-General, Commanding. Report of Brig. gen. Alfred Mouton, C. S. Army, commanding Sub-District of Southwestern Louisiana, of affair at Nelson's Bridge, &c. Camp Pratt, La., October 4, 1863, - 7:30p.m. General: I have the honor to report the enemy at New Iberia. We left the town at sundown. Colonel Vincent ambuscaded them at Nelson's Bridge, and their advance driven in, leaving the road full of dead and wounded. I will move this command, say about 250 men, beyone the Vermillion after midnight to-night, leaving only men enough to observe and get on their flank, so as to find out thier exact strength. They are in large force. Colonel Major cannot reach the Vermillion before to-morrow night. I have sent him orders to cut across the country, and cross the Vermillion at Mouton's Bridge, 6 miles above the public bridge. I cannot do anything except watch their movements and ascertain their force. A prisoner taken this evening states the enemy have seven regiments cavalry, a very large quantity of artillery, among them the siege Parrotts. He says he has always heard there were 75,000 men under General Franklin; they are going to Texas. The expedition by water was give up. General Banks is in New Orleans. General Grant, he says, is expected, having gone to Mobile. He says their camps extended from near Berwick Bay to near Franklin, showing these by their force. The prisoner is an American, rather intelligent, and gave the names and numbers of the cavalry regiments, and was made to repeat them, so as to see whether he was telling the truth. His statement was consistent in every instance. I hope to meet Colonel Major to-morow, before the enemy reaches that point. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Alfr. Mouton, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor, Commanding District of Western Louisiana. Headquarters District of Western Louisiana, Washington, October 22, 1863. General: I have the honor to report that, on yesterday morning, the advance of the enemy along his whole line compelled me to withdraw from Opelousas. The enemy's advance of some 5,000 up the Teche road turned our position at Opelousas. This I was prepared to expect. After some skirmishing in front of Opelousas, in which we lost 2 killed, General Green withdrew to Washington, inflicting some loss on the enemy. The expedition sent by General Green, under Colonel [W.G.] Vincent, Second Louisiana, to the enemy's rear, on the 13th, returned last night, bringing 1 lieutenant and 7 men of the signal corps, captured near Vermillion. the lieutenant had on him a signal book, with copies of many important dispatches between Franklin, Ord, and Banks. The latter was with the enemy on the 8th instant, but subsequently returned to New Orleans. It appears from these dispatches that one thousand wagons crossed Berwick Bay; that the reserve artillery at Baton Rouge has been ordered tothe army; that the enemy are increasing their cavalry. The last dispatch from Banks to Franklin, of the 20th, directs him to establish and hold the best line he can, and wait for the Red Chief to arrive. This is a very small, light steamer, that is intended to navigate the Courtableau. I have taken measures to destroy her if she comes up. . . . . . . .[more not included here] Respectfully, your obedient servant, R. Taylor, Major-General. Brig. Gen. W. . Boggs, Chief of Staff. From: War of the Rebellion , Series I, Vol. 34, page 501. Brig. Gen. W. R. Boggs, Chief of Staff; Headquarters District of West Louisiana, Carroll Jones', March 22, 1864. General: I have the honor to report that my little cavalry force, consisting only of one regiment (the Second Louisiana Cavalry), met with a very serious disaster last night. About 9 o'clock its position near Cotile was surrounded, the regiment surprised, and a greater portion of it captured. Colonel Vincent made his escape, but I fear the other field officers were captured. Prisoners brought in this morning report that the enemy's cavalry in very large force forded the bayou to the right of Colonel Vincent's position during the afternoon at a point and advanced by a road unknown to my best scouts. I am satisfied that they were guided by jayhawkers. This disaster leaves me with little or no means of obtaining information in front of a very large force of the enemy's cavalry. I am therefore compelled to fall back behind the Kisatchie and wait until I can effect a junction with General Green, to whom I have sent a courier via the Burr's Ferry road to hasten his movements and notify him of my whereabouts. When communications ceased to arrive from Colonel Vincent last night, suspecting some unusual occurrence, I sent down a staff officer (Captain Elgee), of whom I have not since heard, and much fear he was captured. This regiment was only a few miles in advance of the infantry, and every precaution that suggested itself to my mind had been taken. No blame whatever can attach to the officers and men of this regiment, for I never saw a better. A battery of four guns was captured with the regiment. In order to obtain information from the river I considered the position occupied by Colonel Vincent as of the last importance, and warranted me in incurring more than ordinary risk. To obtain information of the enemy's moving on the river I have now to depend on arrangements previously made at Natchitoches. From that point Captain May, acting assistant adjutant-general, will report what occurs on the river to department headquarters. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. Taylor, Major-General.