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The ladies of the town proposed to make and present a flag to us; and on the morning we were leaving there, we were marched into the residence portion of town, halted in front of a nice home, and a little lady came out, and with a pretty little speech, presented us a beautiful flag. Lieut. Col. [Benjamin W.] Watson, although a gallant soldier, and a fine officer, was illiterate. He received it, and thanked the ladies. Maj. [Thomas R.] Bonner, however, came to his relief, and made an appropriate reply.Col. O. M. Roberts here made an effort to have the three Infantry Reg'ts. detached finally from Gen. Walker's Division, and attached to the Cavalry Division, which he would have accomplished, had it not been for Col. King and [Col. James Edward] Harrison, who opposed it. Col. King made application immediately for a few days permit -- he started off with "Boys, I'll have you all at the Division, in a few days." Accordingly, in a few days, we took up the march and rejoined the Command at Simsport, La. [Simmesport, LA], on the Atchafalya Bayou. We remained a few days at this place, then crossed the bayou upon a pontoon bridge, constructed of a number of skiffs upon each side at proper intervals, and the bridge built upon them -- there were two of this kind. When the army was crossing, it looked at a distance, precisely like they were marching upon the surface of the water.
A few days before our arrival at this place, one of these bridges gave way while a Battery was crossing, and all went into the water; luckily, however, it came unlimbered, and the horses swam out with the fore wheels. The gun and remainder of the carriage were gotten in a few days.
We went about four miles on the south side of the bayou, to Black Lake, and remained several days -- the Reg't. taking it by relief picketing with the gunboats, in the Mississippi River. Our Reg't. however, was excused from this duty, on account of our late expedition and fighting. After a short stay at this place, we took up the march down the Mississippi River, our object being to attack a place on the river, called Plaquemine, where the enemy had considerable quartermaster commissary stores and some force. We traveled several days in that direction, through low, black, stiff, mud country, very rich land, much of which had been in a high state of cultivation, but was now almost entirely deserted. While spending a night at a vacated Negro quarter, one of the houses caught fire, and burned down, in spite of all our efforts to extinguish the flames. The quarters here were as nice as our country villages.
After some days marching, we suddenly changed our course, the why and the whyfore were something the common soldier knew little about. We soon learned, however, that the bayou was rising rapidly, and it was with difficulty, they could splice the pontoon bridge fast as it rose. We hastened day and night to Morgan's ferry, it being the nearest point. We arrived there, some time after dark. The army made no halt, only as the bridges needed lengthening. We succeeded in crossing everything that night -- remained a few days on this bank.
Our exact track from here, for a few days, I do not now remember, but suffice it to say, in a few days we were in the vicinity of Sunport, on
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Yellow Bayou, throwing up fortifications and felling timber in front of them. One day, while on duty here, I was very feeble, came near having a chill, though it wore away, and my usual health returned.While at this camp, we spent Christmas, 1863, and many of the soldiers got drunk, and with shame, I confess that I was among the number, and again I confess, it was not by accident. I had seen many drunk men, and I had curiosity to know if drunken men knew what they were about, or if they were as crazy as they feigned to be, so I began early in the morning and in a few hours, I had experienced fully the effect of Louisiana run. I was very mirthful, and I will here record, that a drunk man's acts are a sober man's thoughts.
In the first days of the year 1864, we left Yellow Bayou, in route for Marksville -- on the way we passed through a town called Monsier [Mansura, LA]. Here is the nicest cemetery I have ever seen, mostly Catholic, most every grave had a cross over it. Here, also that sect have a convent. I was on guard the day we passed through this place. Something impeded the progress of the army, and we were halted in front of the convent, which was picketed extremely high. Soon, I noticed someone had gotten the gate open, of the picket fence, and as soldiers did not wait for a very pressing invitation, I went in with the rest. On entering, I found myself among four score, or more, of the most beautiful young ladies I had ever seen, and two aged ones. They were singing in French, I suppose (could not understand a word) and playing on their pianos, seemed very much interested, so much so, that they did not appear to notice us at all.
So soon as the officers could get us in line, we pursued our march, arrived and camped a mile or so east of Marksville.
I find recorded in my diary that on the night previous to the day I have described that I was sent off on the outpost guard, without any rations, and got a French woman to prepare some supper for me -- it consisted of chicken and "beoff", (as the little boy called it, who brought it) and many other ingredients, apparently, all scrambled up together, and a large pitcher of milk. I ate heartily, and pronounced it very very good.
We will return to our camp at Marksville -- here we were ordered to build winter quarters, which we soon did, in a rude way, and expected to spend the remainder of the winter here. We spent the best weather in drilling, which we followed for some days, when Gen. Walker offered a flag as a praise to the best drilled Reg't. The Reg'ts. were all to drill, and the two best were to be selected by the inspector Gen., as contestants. The 8th Dismounted Cavalry, and 11th Infantry were selected. Before the day for the trial drill, however, the Company to which I belonged, together with one from each Reg't., were detached to constitute a garrison for Ft. DeBusy [Ft. De Russy, northwest of Simmesport, LA], a fort a few miles away, on Red River bank. Taking us out of our winter quarters, after a stay of not more than two weeks, in the dead of winter, on account of the contrariness of one or two individuals. During the absence of Col. [Edward] Clark of the 14th Reg't., who had gone home on
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furlough, Lieut. Col. [William] Byrd of the same Reg't. obtained command of the fort, and upon Col. Clark's return, he found himself subject to Lieut. Col. Byrd. Orders were too humiliating and he would not submit to them, hence the detached Companies from each Reg't.The garrison soon erected other rude winter quarters. In the meantime, about a dozen from the consolidate Reg't, and myself were sent to Madam Divide's Ferry, five miles above on the river, as guard, (I will here state that this is the place called Snaggy Point, in another place in this history) remained a month, during which time, the trial drill came off, spoken of above. I obtained leave of the officers of the guard, and went; the entire army was present, all roaming about at will, except the champion Reg't. Here, among others, I met B. P. Beaty, named before in this history. We walked around and watched the drill, until it was decided that the 8th had carried off the prize. We then bade adieu, and returned to our respective quarters, which proved to be our last meeting.
Soon after this, Capt. Stevens gave me the appointment of 3rd Serg't. of the Company, and ordered me to report to camps, which I did, but did not carry my baggage, hoping to be allowed to decline the position, but the Capt. would hear no excuse, and I entered upon the duties of my office that afternoon, by taking charge of a guard and from then up to the 14th of March 1864, something near a month I suppose. Our guard duty came around about every other night, and in addition, we had fatigue duty, such as mounting and dismounting cannon, the intervening day.
About the night of March 9, 1864, all the men who had long range guns, were ordered to some rifle pits, a mile below on the river, having discovered smoke of the Federal fleet. I was among the number. We remained until the 14th, when we were ordered into the fort. As the enemy was approaching in rear; we went at a double quick step, and just as we entered, the Federals fired the first shot. They continued to fire from that direction for two hours, while they were swinging their wings around in the river, on either side. When they had arranged their line, they made a general charge, and came over the works, as fast as black birds, and deeper than a man could climb out. I supposed they filled the ditch, and the others went over on their shoulders. Our strength was about two hundred strong, and theirs eight to ten thousand.
Allow me a slight digression, and I will tell incidents that happened previously -- when we were ordered to the fort, we also were ordered to burn the building in which we had been quartered, -- a nice frame building, consisting of four rooms, hall and piazza, neatly painted. A sad sight to see it consumed by the flames, and entirely needless.
While out on this duty, we were under command of Capt. Mayberry. On arriving at the fort, I was at a loss, whether to continue with him, or go to my own Company, whereupon I sought Capt. Marole, who commanded the consolidated Reg't. and asked where to go, at which time, the first shot, spoken of above, fired. Capt. Marole, (being a Dutchman, and apparently, not very fond of such racket) tumbled down against the breastworks, as