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Companies E, F, and G were advanced as skirmishers, and approached within speaking distance of the enemy's intrenchments.
They were actively engaged during the whole afternoon with very apparent effect.
All our casualties occurred during this engagement.
The battle was continued till some time after dark, when we bivouacked upon the field in line of battle.
During the night the enemy's works were evacuated.
On the fourteenth we marched in pursuit through Franklin.
On the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth, we marched through Jeanerets, New-Iberia, and St. Martinsville, without special incident.
On the eighteenth we rested near Vermilionville.
On the nineteenth, renewed our march for Opelousas, where we arrived on Monday morning, the twentieth.
We are distant from New-Orleans one hundred and eighty miles, and from Alexandria, on the Red River, about seventy-five miles.
The patient endurance of the men of the regiment, of the fatigues and privations of the long march, in their eagerness to overtake and again engage the routed enemy, deserves the highest praise.
Captains Grannis and Brennan, with their companies, as skirmishers on the eleventh and twelfth, did most creditable service.
The coolness and pertinacity with which the companies of Captains Braley and Byxbee annoyed the gunners of the enemy during the entire afternoon of the thirteenth, under a fire of grape and canister and repeated volleys of musketry, reflect the highest credit upon the courage and skill of the officers and soldiers of those companies present.
I take pleasure in mentioning the efficient support of Major Lewis during the progress of the expedition.
Our wounded were promptly cared for by Doctor Cummings, Acting Surgeon. Chaplain Bradford is deserving of great praise for the fearless activity with which he ministered to the suffering during the battle and the night following.
I inclose a list of the killed and wounded.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Frank H. Peck, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding Twelfth Connecticut Vols.
P. S.--Lieutenant Francis, who was wounded and captured on the Diana on the twenty-eighth of March, was recaptured at Franklin, where he now remains in hospital, receiving all possible attention. F. H. P.
