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during the whole term of their detached service.
Captain Leonard was ordered to organize, from among the contrabands then at work, a regiment of engineers, to be known as the First Louisiana Engineers.
The regiment consisted of twelve companies, of one hundred men each, and was commanded by Colonel Justin Hodge, U. S. A. It was ordered to Port Hudson, where it took an important part in the subsequent siege of that place.
On the 24th of January, Captain Davis and Lieutenant Duncan were detached from the regiment, and ordered to report to the Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Gulf, where they met with marked success, and were honorably spoken of by the general in command.
Quartermaster Burrill was detached to serve as brigade-quartermaster, and attached to the staff, where he served with entire satisfaction, until Colonel Farr was relieved of the command of the brigade.
On the 26th of January, five companies, then at ‘Camp Mansfield,’ were ordered to take post at a point on the Ponchartrain Railroad, known as Bayou Gentilly.
Feb. 16.—A company, under command of First-Lieutenant Harding, was attached to the Engineer Department of the Nineteenth Corps, as pontoniers.
On the 10th of March, the company moved, via Baton Rouge, to Bayou Monticeno, where they laid a bridge one hundred feet long.
On the 13th, the army commenced crossing, and advanced on the Port Hudson road.
On the 15th, the army recrossed; the company took up the bridge, and returned to Baton Rouge.
On the 6th of April, they moved to Brashear City, and laid a bridge three hundred feet long on Bayou Boeuf; on the 12th, they swung a bridge across Bayou Teche, and proceeded to remove obstructions, torpedoes, &c., in the stream.
Moving with the advance of the army, on the 26th they reached Sandy Creek, near Port Hudson, and laid a bridge two hundred and eighty feet long, under a hot fire from the guns of the fort and the rebel sharpshooters.
After the occupation of Port Hudson, they proceeded to Donaldsville in an expedition under General Grover, where they laid a bridge two hundred and eighty feet long across Bayou Lafourche.
1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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