[
399]
Almost contemporary with these disastrous events was a remarkable episode of success in the lower country of the Trans-
Mississippi, which had, at one time, kindled in the
South the hope of the recapture of New Orleans, but finally came to naught on account of insufficient forces.
In tile latter part of June,
Gen. “
Dick”
Taylor, who commanded in
Lower Louisiana, organized an expedition upon
Brashear City and its forts.
Col. Majors, who commanded a brigade of cavalry on the
Atchafalaya, was ordered to open communication by way of the lakes with
Gens. Mouton and
Green, who were to co-operate in front of the enemy's position.
The junction having been made by
Majors, after a successful campaign through the Lafourche country, a combined attack was made on
Brashear City on the 22d June, and the forts taken at the point of the bayonet.
Eighteen hundred prisoners were captured, nearly five million dollars worth of stores, and a position occupied that was the key to
Louisiana and
Texas.
It was thought that the capture of
Brashear City might force the enemy to raise the siege of
Port Hudson, and that
Banks would be driven to the choice of abandoning his operations against this place or losing New Orleans.
But these expectations failed; the second diversion to relieve
Vicksburg and
Port Hudson was too late; and
Gen. Taylor, learning of the fall of these strongholds and the consequent release of
Banks' forces,
