[289] watching the scene. As the tug ranged alongside, he drew his revolver, and springing to her deck, where the crowd was thickest and most threatening, he shouted ‘Silence!’ threatening to shoot the first man who dared to open his lips or disobey an order; and the sudden hush that followed sufficiently attested their belief in his truth. They were afterwards heard to remark that the Major was the only man who could have cowed them. In different detachments and under divers experiences, the regiment reached New Orleans about February, 1863, and was soon sent up to Baton Rouge, being assigned to General Dudley's brigade, Augur's division. It accompanied General Banks in his first advance to Port Hudson, and after returning from this expedition remained at Baton Rouge until arrangements had been perfected for the siege of Port Hudson. An officer of the regiment says:—
We arrived at Baton Rouge at nine A. M., and were ordered into a field for rest. The storm had ceased, and the heat of the sun was intense. While here, I had occasion to consult with the Major, but he was not to be found. We were wondering where he could be, when he hove in sight, dashing with his usual headlong speed down the road and into our midst. Unnoticed by us, on our arrival there, without even dismounting, he had ridden back to Montecino Bayou and obtained a bag with some coffee in one end, and some hard-tack in the other, and returned to us again. Calling the officers around him, he ordered them to see that every man had his share of the food. I have thus particularly related this incident, at the request of some men who were members of my company, and were present at the time, in order to show the selfsacrificing care he manifested toward his men. As in this instance, without thought for himself, after having passed two nights and nearly two days of exposure, fatigue, and hardship, without rest or sleep, he flew to minister to the wants of his command. Our division, being nearest the scene of operations, was the first to invest the place. We left Baton Rouge, May 4th, for the front, and were first assigned the defence of a bridge upon one of the principal roads leading to Port Hudson, and thus protecting the rear of our army. The night before the assault, on the 27th of May, we marched to Port Hudson, and at daylight were assigned to support
