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on the right and a short distance in advance of the
Confederate States gunboat
J. A. Cotton (four guns), commanding the
obstructions at the bridge just below that place; opened fire about 4 o'clock on the four gunboats of the enemy then approaching, engaging three boats following each other in succession, for about thirty minutes, under a severe fire from their heavy guns,
at short range and unsupported, but in battery with a section of
Capt. O. J. Semmes's battery, consisting of two James Rifles (bronze twelve-pounders), under
First Lieut. J. A. A. West.
Both sections then fell back to the
Bayou Teche road, in the rear of and above their first position, where after firing ten to fifteen minutes, retired in good order and returned to this camp.
The nature of the ground and cover in our out-front (guns being in battery among a number of large live oak trees) prevented the effect of all the shots being observed, it has been ascertained, however, and believed that two of the gunboats retired badly crippled, and from the cries heard on board, a number of the enemy must have been wounded.
Being the
first engagement for this section and for most of the men, all behaved well under fire.
The horses for new ones were remarkably quiet.
I have no casualties to report.
The distance fired from the first position was about 300 yards. The number of shell (fuse) fired by this section was fifty-eight.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
The C. S. S.
was armed with one thirty-two pounder, smooth bore, and two twenty-four pounders, smooth bore,