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line of battle about 1000 yards in front.
Right section opened fire and the first charge emptied fifteen saddles.
Their cavalry then charged on our left.
Left section engaged them while we engaged the front.
Cavalry was forced to retreat.
Their artillery having got into position, opened fire on us and did some fine shooting.
Their shells burst all around us plowing the ground and killing some of our infantry, but our men escaped injury.
After two hours fighting the enemy retreated and we returned to camp.
This is called The Artillery Skirmish at Vermillionville.’
On November 16 the entire force started for New Iberia, the battery acting as rear guard and burning the bridge across the river after all were over.
One writes: ‘It was a splendid sight to see the army form,—each part separate, and then unite to form a line and move off over the prairie with bands playing’ The next day New Iberia was reached and preparations were made for the winter.
At the same time skirmishing was going on and many prisoners were taken.
We read: ‘A small rebel force known as Camp Pratt was six miles out. At 1 A. M. the center section started out on one road to get in its rear.
At 4 A. M. the right section with cavalry and part of Cameron's Brigade of the 13th Corps started on another road for the same point.
Arriving at daybreak all made an attack on the camp and captured 175 out of 200—twelve of these being officers.
While marching them into town two bands came to meet us. One was placed in front, the other in the rear of the prisoners, and so we marched through the town to the tune of our national airs.’
About this time Lieutenant Slack of Chelsea of the 13th Massachusetts was placed in command of the left section of the battery in the absence of Lieutenant Snow, who had gone North for recruits.
Christmas Day, by exchange of prisoners, Sergeant Burwell and Private Smith, who had been taken at Grand Coteau November 3 were returned to the
The Rumford Press, Concord, N. H., 1912.
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