Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

I had been there but a short time when I received an order from General Emory to attack a light battery of the enemy, which was throwing grape into General Paine's brigade, on the opposite shore of the bayou, and which was supposed to be in position outside of the enemy's works, on the left bank of the bayou, just above a sugar-house, but was ordered not to storm the enemy's works.

I made my dispositions for the attack, advanced my skirmishers beyond the sugar-house, in plain view of the works, and discovered that there was no light battery outside the same.

The Thirty-first Massachusetts volunteers composed my line of skirmishers, supported by the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Rodman.

The advance of my skirmishers was hotly contested by the enemy, who was driven before them. A skirmish fight on the right of my line, in and near the woods, was kept up till about half-past 2 P. M.

The ammunition of the Thirty-first Massachusetts being expended, it was relieved by the Thirty-eighth.

At this time I was reenforced by the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers, and the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers, and the remaining two sections of the First Maine battery.

In accordance with orders from Generals Banks and Emory, I made my dispositions and immediately moved on the enemy's works. My dispositions were as follows:

Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers in advance, deployed as skirmishers.

Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers about one hundred and fifty yards in rear of the Thirty-eighth, and deployed as skirmishers.

Two sections of the First Maine battery, under command of Lieutenants Haley and Morton, on parallel plantation roads leading to the enemy's works, and immediately in rear of the second line of skirmishers, the remaining section in reserve.

One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New-York volunteers in reserve immediately to the left and rear of the left section of the battery.

Thirty-first Massachusetts volunteers immediately to the right and rear of the right section of the battery.

One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers in the woods on the extreme right, having been sent to turn the enemy's left flank.

Detachments of cavalry posted in reserve some distance in rear of my right.

These dispositions being made, at a quarter-past three P. M., I ordered an advance of the whole. My advance was met by a brisk fire from the artillery and musketry of the enemy, who was driven into his works about five P. M.; the ammunition of the Thirty-eighth Massachusetts having been expended, it was relieved by the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers.

At about the same time, having learned that the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers had a superior force to contend with on the right, I ordered the Thirty-first Massachusetts to go to its support. The Thirty-first having arrived to its support, a short time afterward, the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York volunteers, Lieut.-Colonel Sharpe, supported by the Thirty-first Massachusetts, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Hopkins, charged and carried a breastwork of the enemy in the woods in front of our right, killing many of the enemy and capturing eighty-six prisoners, among whom are two lieutenants, one of the Seventh Texas cavalry, and one of the Eighteenth Louisiana infantry.

The fight was continued in front by the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers and the artillery, and by the Thirty-first Massachusetts and One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New-York in the woods on the right, until darkness put a close to it; the troops having advanced to within two hundred yards of the enemy's works, which line they held notwithstanding repeated efforts of the enemy to drive them back. This line was held during the night.

In my judgment, two hours more of daylight would have enabled me to turn the enemy's left flank and witnessed the triumphant entry of my troops into his works.

At half-past 5 A. M., of the fourteenth, the Fifty-third Massachusetts volunteers, commanded by Colonel Kimball, entered the enemy's works, and at the same time company D, of the Thirty-first Massachusetts volunteers, under the command of Captain W. J. Allen, who had deployed his company as skirmishers in the woods, entered the fort on the extreme left of the enemy's position, it having been evacuated by the enemy during the night.

The loss in my brigade during the entire engagement was fifteen (15) killed and fifty-seven (57) wounded.

Among the killed were the gallant Captain Gault, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers, and Lieutenants Nutting and Frees of the Fifty-third Massachusetts and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New-York volunteers, who lost their lives while nobly battling for their country.

About one hundred and thirty prisoners were captured, one hundred and fifty stands of arms, and thirty cavalry horses, with all their equipments.

Lieut.-Colonel Rodman, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers, mentions a case of marked coolness and bravery on the part of private Patrick Smith company, D, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts volunteers, who, coming suddenly upon three rebels, shot one of them and compelled the other two to surrender, bringing them both in as prisoners.

My entire command, officers and men, behaved with marked coolness and courage throughout the entire engagement, proving themselves true men and brave soldiers.

I have to speak in the highest praise of all the members of my staff, who were necessarily