Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[174] horses, overtook Colonel Majors, commanding a brigade of cavalry, on the Atchafalaya, and instantly unfolded to him his plan of campaign, in which that gallant young officer was to play such a conspicuous part. Majors was to push boldly through the Grosse Tete, Marangoin, and Lafourche country, to Donaldsonville, thence to Thibodeaux, cut off the railroad and telegraph communication, then push rapidly to the Boeuf River, in the rear of Brashear City, and at the first sound of Mouton's and Green's guns, attack them at that place.

After seeing Colonel Majors well on his way, General Taylor returned via Washington and Opelousas, and pushed on rapidly to General Mouton and Green's headquarters, to superintend in person the attack on Brashear City and its forts. Orders had been already given them to make this attack. Advice of Majors's movements, and directions to open communication with him via the lakes, so that they could make a combined movement.

Two of General Taylor's staff had been urging on preparations for crossing the troops over the bay. Lieutenant Avery particularly had used every exertion, under direction of Brigadier-General Green, in the construction of skiffs and flats. Major-General Taylor arrived at General Mouton's headquarters on the morning of the twenty-first. Generals Mouton and Green had not been idle in carrying out their orders.

For a few days previous they had organized the different corps and their positions in the impending attack. Shortly after General Taylor's arrival at Mouton's headquarters, one of his staff brought up from General Green's headquarters a despatch of twelve M. the previous day, from Colonel Majors; that daring commander had already arrived at Thibodeaux, after a triumphant campaign throughout the whole Lafourche —— had captured Plaquemine, with one hundred and fifty prisoners, destroyed three large sea-going vessels loaded with valuable stores — had taken Donaldsonville with its garrison — had attacked that same day the enemy at Thibodeaux, driven him with Pyron's Texan infantry, at the point of the bayonet, from his strong position — had charged and routed his cavalry by charging him with Lane's, Stone's, and Phillips's Texan cavalry, and was now ready to cooperate with us in our movement of to-morrow.

At six P. M. on the evening of the twenty-first, a “forlorn hope,” composed of volunteers from the different regiments, embarked in the skiffs and sugar-coolers prepared for them. Theirs was the proud privilege of storming the almost impregnable fort on the opposite side of the bay at dawn the following morning, while Generals Green and Mouton occupied them at different points in their front.

It was a hazardous mission to cross that Lake (twelve miles) in these frail barks — to land at midnight on the enemy's side, in an almost impenetrable swamp, and await the dawn of day to make the desperate attempt which would insure them victory or a soldier's death; but they seemed to treat it as a holiday frolic as they were rowing away, waving their hats to General Taylor and General Mouton, who were on the bank watching their departure.

The boat expedition having left, Generals Taylor and Mouton proceeded below Pattersonville, to arrange for the other movements. Mouton, with the Seventh Texas, Fourth Texas, and Second Arizona regiments, stood post at Gibbons Point, on the island of the name, and immediately opposite Fort Buchanan. From this place his sharp-shooters could sweep the gunners from their positions at the heavy guns in the Fort. General Green with his old regiment, (Fifth Texas,) Walker's battalion, Second Louisiana cavalry, Valverde and Nichols's batteries, took position just before day in Berwick City, ready to open on all their camp, (which extended up and down the opposite bank for two miles,) also to keep in check their gunboats. Every matter of importance being now ready, Major-General Taylor waited with confidence for the boom of Green's artillery, which was to be the signal of attack.

Immediately after daylight General Green fired the first gun from the Valverde battery at a gunboat of the enemy which was standing up the bay in the direction of the upper fort, (Buchanan.) Instantly the whole bay was in a blaze; all of our guns first played upon the immense line of tents of the enemy, which were occupied by about one thousand Yankees. They were completely surprised — they had not imagined an enemy in twenty miles of them on this side of the bay, (their prisoners admit this.) Their heavy guns from the three forts now opened on Green, at the same moment the sharp crack of Mouton's thousand Enfield rifles is heard continually from Gibbons Point, sweeping their gunners from their places like a whirlwind would dash the sand of the desert; all are anxious to hear the roar of Majors's guns. The worthy pupil of old Stonewall strains his ear for the signal. If Majors has arrived at the Boeuf crossing, we have bagged them all; still we do not hear them, although the cannonade has been going on without intermission for one and a half hours. What has become of the storming party? They have not yet attacked; there is no sign of them; presently we hear one, two, and then the long, distant sound of artillery from the Boeuf. Majors is there! Their communication is cut off completely. Just at this moment, to add to the enemy's confusion and disaster, the long looked — for “forlorn hope” made its appearance in the edge of the woods; with a real Texas yell they dashed at once, with bayonets fixed and pistols drawn, full at the threatening walls of the proud forts. In twenty minutes they had climbed its walls, dispersed its garrison, torn down the stars and stripes, and hoisted the “bonnie blue flag” over its ramparts. Leaving a small band to take care of the Fort, the gallant Hunter rushed on to the camps below, the affrighted enemy throwing down their arms and surrendering indiscriminately, until he had swept the whole place. Green, in the mean time, had engaged their gunboat with the Valverde and