A Wisconsin Yankee in Confederate Bayou Country: The Civil War Reminiscences of a Union General

7. Sundry Operations and the Teche Campaign

Sundry Operations and the Teche Campaign 117 Headquarters Department of the Gulf New Orleans, August 23, 1862 Colonel Paine, Commanding 4th Wisconsin Regt. Sir: —The Commanding General has directed me to send you the accompanying sword, with his compliments. The sword is the first weapon which has been confiscated, under General Order No. 60. The sword was found hidden between two feather beds, where it had been placed by its rebel owner. The information which led to its seizure was given by a young Mulatto woman, a slave. Under the spirit of that order she was emancipated being the first. This sword has therefore some little historical worth. I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant Wm. H. Wiegel 1st Lt. & A.D.C. Headquarters Department of the Gulf New Orleans, Sept. 4th, 1862 Col. And Acting Brig.-Gen. Paine In Camp, near Carrollton Sir: The outposts and a train of the 8th Vermont have been attacked. Some 30 or 40 men of this regiment were lost. The outpost at Bayou des Allemands is in danger. You will please therefore order the 21st Indiana (being acquainted with the country) with two of their pieces of artillery, to move with a proper supply of rations to Bonnet Carré point, to cooperate with the 8th Vermont in dispersing this force, supposed to be guerrillas, to the number of 600 or 700 (reported) and to relieve the outpost at Bayou des Allemands. The steamboat will be ordered to report to Col. McMillan, at Carrollton. Col. Thomas will send an officer to confer with Col. McMillan. I am Sir very respectfully R. S. Davis Capt. & A.A.A.G. P.S. Col. McMillan will land at any point that may be agreed upon with Col. Thomas. 118 A Wisconsin Yankee in Confederate Bayou Country Headquarters Dept. of the Gulf New Orleans, Sept. 6th, ’62 Col. & Acting Brig.-Gen. Paine Sir: There is a camp of guerrillas sixteen miles in rear of Donaldsonville. The force is about 700. A deserter has just arrived from there. He will act as guide. He will be found at Gen. Guvicuria’s office, No. 82, Poydras St. The General commanding desires you to send the 21st Indiana and the 4th Wisconsin up to capture this camp, if possible. It is supposed that the Vermont prisoners are there. Celerity is the greatest requisite for the expedition. Let the men be in light marching order, and time the expedition so as to arrive at the camp early in the morning. This deserter says that upon the first intimation of the approach of your force, one company of the guerrillas will revolt and assist in the capture of the rest. He has been delegated by that company so to report. There will be two boats at Carrollton for the expedition. I am Sir most resply Your Obt. Servt. R. S. Davis Capt. & A.A.A.G. Headquarters Department of the Gulf New Orleans, Sept. 7th, 1862 Sir: You will take the 9th Conn. And the 14th Maine, put them on board boats that will be sent up to you; put a section of Thompson’s battery on each boat; start up the river at about 12 tonight, land a little above St. Charles Court House, and march down to cooperate with Col. McMillan. Time your operations so as if possible to enclose the rebels and clean them out. By order Maj.-Gen. Butler R. S. Davis Capt. & A.A.A.G. Carrollton, September 9th, 1862 Captain R. S. Davis Assistant Adjutant General Sir: The expedition has been successful; Col. Waller’s regiment of Texas Cavalry routed; eight reported killed, two wounded; thirty prisoners; three hundred of their Sundry Operations and the Teche Campaign 119 horses and a large quantity of arms captured; officers and men all killed, captured or driven into the swamp; our loss two wounded. Your Obedient Servant Halbert E. Paine Col. Commdg Brigade The men and horses were driven into a cypress swamp. Many horses sinking down in the swamp, were impaled on cypress knees and killed. Others, which had settled down so that only their heads and a few inches of their hind quarters were visible above the mud, were rescued by our men. Observing two soldiers astride a beautifully formed animal almost entirely covered with mud, I gave them twenty dollars to dismount and put him in my possession. Upon his appraisal I purchased him from the Government for $125.00 and rode him until I...