[259] Richard Taylor did everything possible on the Louisiana side to make a diversion in favor of Pemberton's beleaguered army, in the course of his operations ordering Gen. Henry E. McCulloch to attack the Union force at Milliken's Bend. Under adverse circumstances McCulloch attacked the Federals, capturing the outer works, and holding the position for some time, notwithstanding the fire of the gunboats. He reported that, βIn their charge Col. Richard Waterhouse with his regiment distinguished themselves particularly, not only by a gallant and desperate charge over the levee, but they drove the enemy (leaving the camp covered with the dead) to the very brink of the river and within short and direct range of the gunboats of the enemy. In fact, from the beginning to the end of the engagement, the colonel behaved in the most gallant manner, and his officers and men seemed to catch the enthusiasm of their commander, and did their duty nobly and gallantly upon every portion of the field.β During the Red river campaign Colonel Waterhouse was in Scurry's brigade, of John G. Walker's division, and participated in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. In describing the fighting at Pleasant Hill, after the wounding of General Walker, General Taylor says: βBrigadier-General Scurry, commanding the right brigade of Walker's division, behaved most nobly, and speaks highly of Colonel Waterhouse, commanding one of his regiments. The efforts of these leaders prevented the confusion on the right from becoming disastrous.β On May 13, 1864, Gen. E. Kirby Smith assigned Col. Richard Waterhouse to duty with the rank of brigadiergen-eral, to date from April 30, 1864, subject to the approval of the President. The faithful military service of General Waterhouse ceased only with the downfall of the Confederacy. Since then he has been a citizen of Texas.
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[259] Richard Taylor did everything possible on the Louisiana side to make a diversion in favor of Pemberton's beleaguered army, in the course of his operations ordering Gen. Henry E. McCulloch to attack the Union force at Milliken's Bend. Under adverse circumstances McCulloch attacked the Federals, capturing the outer works, and holding the position for some time, notwithstanding the fire of the gunboats. He reported that, βIn their charge Col. Richard Waterhouse with his regiment distinguished themselves particularly, not only by a gallant and desperate charge over the levee, but they drove the enemy (leaving the camp covered with the dead) to the very brink of the river and within short and direct range of the gunboats of the enemy. In fact, from the beginning to the end of the engagement, the colonel behaved in the most gallant manner, and his officers and men seemed to catch the enthusiasm of their commander, and did their duty nobly and gallantly upon every portion of the field.β During the Red river campaign Colonel Waterhouse was in Scurry's brigade, of John G. Walker's division, and participated in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. In describing the fighting at Pleasant Hill, after the wounding of General Walker, General Taylor says: βBrigadier-General Scurry, commanding the right brigade of Walker's division, behaved most nobly, and speaks highly of Colonel Waterhouse, commanding one of his regiments. The efforts of these leaders prevented the confusion on the right from becoming disastrous.β On May 13, 1864, Gen. E. Kirby Smith assigned Col. Richard Waterhouse to duty with the rank of brigadiergen-eral, to date from April 30, 1864, subject to the approval of the President. The faithful military service of General Waterhouse ceased only with the downfall of the Confederacy. Since then he has been a citizen of Texas.
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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