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IPERATf iEFORE PORT HUDSON.lundreds o^JJpontrabands and Millions of Dollars \Vortl* ol Property Taken by the Union Forces—The Two Unsuccessful Attempts to Take the Fort —The Tosses in the Regiment —A Targe Train of Wagons Taken, and Recaptured by the 00th—Provisions Short in Port Hudson—What a Rebel Deserter Says, etc*[Special Correspondence of the Eagle.]Bkfoke Port IIcdson, June 23,1SG3.We left Key West on the 3d of April for New Orleans, jut when within thirty miles of the city we received a elegram to go to Berwick, which is in the south-western ari of the State of Louisiana. After remaining there tbout a week we started for Burre Landing, which is iboul one hundred and fifty miles north of Brashear. We vent up the Bayou Tee he in an apology for a steam-mat, and we had a very- pleasant trip going up, but ;oming back it was not quite so pleasant, as we had to narch the whole way. 1 will give you a description of mr march back. On leaving Burre Landing, in company with three other regiments, we had to take charge ;f a train of wagons laden with provisions. We also md about three thousand negroes and fifteen hundred bead of cattle. This we thought a pretty good train, but after we had started we picked up all we could on cur road, and the third day out our train reached eight miles. We had eight thousand negroes, men,- women and children. We picked up everything that we could lay our bands on. I had a beautiful horse that I captured which I rode to Brashear City. When about half-way from Burre Landing, at a very pretty little town called Franklin, our rear guard was attacked by a party of guerillas. They wounded two and captured two of our party, who very foolishly left their companions to get a drink at the hotel. The country that we passed through is one of the finest lever saw. The crops all looked beautiful, and the sugar houses are all well stored. I was in about a dozen and they are all full to overflowing. There being no transportation for their sugar the planters cannot get rid of it, and as cotton pays us heller, wo leave ibe sugar and take it, uutil some future time, when we will make another raid through that section of the country. General Banks has captured enough property to pay the expenses of this department for the next year. When we were in Brashear there was more cotton and sugar than they could send away in a month. The railroad trains left several times a* day loaded with cotton and sugar, and | every boat they could get was loaded and sent off, and boats were arriving and leaving daily. Had great difficulty in getting a train to bring over our regiment and two* others to New Orleans. They wanted us to march eighty miles, os they think a heap more of a bale of cotton than they do of a man’s life. We left Brashear five weeks ago to-day, and we have been living in the woods ever since, without even a tent to shelter us from the rain and dew. Our men have nothing with them but a rubber blanket and the clothes on their backs. When night comes we encamp where we happen to be. We spread our rubber blankets on the ground, lie down and sleep as soundly as if we were in a feather bed.'We have made two unsuccessful attempts to take Port Hudson. The first ou the night of the 10th, when we were ordered to take some rifle pits from the enemy. Being in command of the right company, I was ordered to deploy my command as skirmishers and draw the enemy's fire. It being very dark, and not knowing where I was going, we arrived within fifty feet of the enemy before they opened fire on us. which was most terrific. We were so near that they did not do us much harm,only wound-ing three of my company and those but slight. Our loss in the regiment was ten; one poor fellow lost his left !eg and arm, and several were badly wounded, llow it happened that my whole company and mvself escaped is a miracle. It was so dark they fired over our heads. We had to retreat about daylight, not being supported by any other regiment. Our next attempt was more serious. On the 14th about ten thousand troops was ordered to attack and stercn the fort, which is one of the strongest fortified places I ever saw. It is situated on a high hill, and to reach it von have to go up and down throe hills anti cross several ravines before reaching the breastworks of the fort; and in each of these ravines the enemy had cut all the trees down and left trees and brushwood there. So you can imagine what a difficult path we have had to go through, and at the same time the rebels pouring terrible fire of grape, cannister and musket shot at us, it appeared that not one of us would escape, they having so much the advantage of us in possession and protected by breastworks of cotton bales and sand bags. Our loss in the regiment is fifty-one killed and wounded. In my company I lost four killed and five wounded. My orderly sergeant and one of my men jpwere shot down by my side, and how it happened that I and number of others escaped, is a miracle, as bullets fell around me by peck.June 23d.—I have just returned from an expedition up the country, to Jackson. Our pickets brought news that the rebels hud attacked a train of our wagons and had captured all of them, seventy in all. and three hundred of our men. We started after them at 12 o’clock at night on the I9ih. Our cavalry caught up to them and had .a skirmish with them and re-captured our wagon train and men; we also took a few prisoners. While we were in camp near Jackson, Captain S my the went to a planter's house for the purpose of getting some water. While there he got in conversation with some ladies (reba of course) and they informed him that Gen. Gardner, commander at Port Hudson, would soon have to surrender, as they were short of provisions and could not hold out much longer. One of the ladies said that she was very sorry to hear it and hoped that when their provisions gave out that the “Lord would feed them with manna from Heaven.” I hare just seen a deserter from Port Hudson. lie came through my line of pickets and informed me that unless Gen. Gardner was re-inforced and provisions sent him he would be compelled to surrender, as the men had dealt out to them every day four ears of corn on the eob and half pound of beef.’ The corn they parch and pound up. We have destroyed all of their mills, even the hand nulls. I am writing this with my back against a tree within one hundred yards of the rebel pickets, and every few Seconds a bullet cornea whistling over my head. My company has been on picket for the last ten days within talking distance of the rebel rifle pits. I have my men now well protected. We dig a trench so that a man may not expose himself more than his head, and every rebel picket that happens to show himself is shot at, and they do the same to us. You may think this brutal, but we have got tired of coaxing, and we are going to try what virtue there is in bullets. We are preparing for another attack on Port Hudson; I suppose it will be on Friday next. I believe that we will make the attack at four different places at once. After the battle, if I am alive, I will give you a full description of the Fort and battle.1clt;ciwtlbii1tlt;nI:r:flt;Csitlanaatlt;tlvt:ba11]l3*«ceafctFROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
Newspaper Details
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Brooklyn, New York, US
Thu, Jul 09, 1863
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USA 31 Oct 2021
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