Admiral David D. Porter, The Naval History of the Civil War.

The Eastport was much more shattered by the explosion than had been imagined. Lieutenant-Commander Phelps and his officers worked with a will to save this valuable vessel, and more energy and determination were never evinced. Phelps was satisfied, if time were allowed, that the Eastport would be floated off all right. As the Admiral had so far met with no mishaps, he did not wish to resort to blowing up the Eastport, to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy.

On his return to Grand Ecore he found the army quite excited at the news that they were going back to Alexandria, though the different divisions were ordered “to be in readiness to march against the enemy!”

At noon of the 20th, General A. J. Smith's division marched out on the road to Nachitoches, and were kept for some time under arms.

All kinds of rumors were flying about: first that the cavalry had been driven in; then that the Confederates were advancing on Banks' position with 40,000 men, when everybody must have known that they could not assemble 16,000.

Every one was now convinced that Banks had not the slightest intention of advancing, and was planning a retreat, calling forth all the objections to an advance that he could in order to justify his course, and to say that his desire to advance on the enemy was overruled!

Admiral Porter had already told him that he could not now advance, if he depended on the gun-boats and transports; but he never advised him to leave Grand Ecore.

General A. J. Smith's division was advanced four miles towards the enemy, who seemed to be in force, and, although not strong enough to attack the Union position, would, in a retreat, no doubt, harass the rear. In fact, it shortly appeared that A. J. Smith's “ragged guerillas,” as Banks had called them, were now to have the honor of protecting the General in his retreat.

Seeing that some move was in contemplation, the Admiral sent an officer to General Banks to ask if the report was true that he was going to move to Alexandria. If so, he requested one more day in which to float the Eastport. To this message, the General sent a reply that he had no idea of moving.

The Admiral then called on General Franklin--sick in his cot — who asked if Banks had notified the Navy that he was going to retreat. The Admiral said “No,” but that he had noticed that all the transports were moving down river, and that one of the largest gun-boats was aground below.

Franklin then assured him that he had orders to move at a moment's warning, and that Banks did not wish any one to know he was going, as he wanted the largest gun-boats kept at Grand Ecore, so that they could cover his rear as he moved off.

At first the Admiral thought that Franklin was prejudiced against Banks and misjudged him, knowing there was no cordiality between those officers; but on a subsequent interview Franklin gave such assurances that Banks intended to leave him, and urged him so strongly to look out for himself, that the Admiral determined to follow his advice.

The gun-boats could take care of themselves; but the condition of the Eastport was a great cause of uneasiness; so the Admiral proceeded at once to that vessel and informed her commander that he must get away from the vicinity of Grand Ecore at all hazards, as the Confederates would occupy it immediately on the departure of the Union forces, and be able to concentrate a heavy artillery fire on him while working.

The leak in the Eastport had been so far overcome that steam was raised and the vessel only rested slightly on the bottom.

The Admiral returned to Grand Ecore and found that Banks had left with the advance of the army in the night for Alexandria, leaving General Franklin in command of the main body, with orders to follow him. So that Franklin was virtually in command until the army reached Cane River.

The evacuation left Grand Ecore in the solitude of a wilderness. A. J. Smith's division marched at 7 A. M., on the 22d, so hastily that they left behind a quantity of stores and some siege-guns, which were brought down by the fleet.

All the transports were gone, and the flag-ship Cricket and another small gun-boat were all that was left after the departure of the Grand Army, which had entered the Red River country so joyfully and was now retreating before an inferior force.

We do not think the enemy knew of the departure of the Union Army until a considerable time had elapsed, as there were no signs of them at Grand Ecore, not even a musket was fired at the army as it marched. The Admiral had had an interview with General Banks in relation to General Steele, in which he reminded the former that this was intended as a co-operative movement between the two armies; that Steele, advancing in confidence to meet Banks and not hearing of the latter's return, would fall into a trap, as the Confederates could concentrate all their forces against him and perhaps defeat his army.

Banks' army was over a hundred miles