Yankee account of the late fight on the Techer.
--
Their Success--The New Orleans
Era of the 19th gives the particulars of the recess of
Gen. Hanks's Teche expedition.
At
Vermillion, on the 16th, the
Confederates made a strong resistance, but finally retired, leaving in the enemy's hands a 32 pounder Parrott gun and a 12 pounder howitzer.
The
Yankees followed the retreating Confederates for two days, during which time they were in range of their guns.
The Confederates than burnt at
Franklin, La, their gunboats
Hart and
Diana, and their steamboats
Gossamer and
Newsboy,
Louisa,
Darby,
Uncle Tommy' and Blue Hammock, and sunk the
Cricket.
The heaviest of the fighting took place at
Irish Bend, three miles west of
Franklin.
The
Era says:
‘
The 25th Con regiment was the first to engage the enemy.
It the centre of the line of battle, having the 26th Maine on the right, and the 13th sotieut on the left, and supported by the 12th Maine.
It was deployed as skirmish are on the left of the road, and thus marched until of the woods.
Then, while under a sharp fire from the enemy the line gradually swung around until it faced the woods letting the enemy get to their rear.
This accomplished, an attempt was made to capture our artillery, without although the regiment gradually fall back until it received support from the New York.
The 25th Comp was ordered into action on the of the
’
They a piece of woods where their artillery was supported by a strong force of infantry and cavalry.
When a charge was ordered, to force the rebels from their position and to take their artillery, the 13th had to charge through a plowed field and over two fences.
Notwithstanding these obstacles this regiment succeeded in capturing two cate horses, two swords, and a splendid silk flag, from the enemy.
The flag was of fine silk, six feet in length, bordered with rich giver tinsel, and bore upon it the inscription--"The Ladies of
Franklin to the
St. Mary's Cannoneers."
Soon after the charge of the 13th the enemy fell back defeated.
The force opposed to us was not large, but had the advantage of position and of making a complete surprise.
The total force of the rebels both here and at the batteries below, did not exceed ten thousand men.
Our loss was considerable, and that of the enemy must have corresponded with ours.
Sibley's brigade was included in this number--two regiments of
Texas cavalry,
Capt. Sime's battery and the Va and Pelican batteries.
The whole force was under the command of
Gen Dick Taylor, son of the late
Zachary Taylor.
At this moment the whole force is retreating from our troops, demoralized and hopeless of their cause.
By the time our troops had a rived at New Iberia, nearly five hundred horses, mules and beef cattle, had been collected, and were placed in kraals along the wayside.
Seven miles west of New Iberia, and near
Vermillion bay, in the middle of a mud lake thick grown with flag and case, rises a ledge of salt rock, the surface and depth of which have not been discovered.
From this mine thousands of dollars' worth of the best of salt have been daily sent away for the use of the rebel army.
Negroes were employed to blast and break it up, none being ground at the time.
It is reported that the rebels paid four and a half cents per pound for what they look away.
The
Yankees claim to have captured about 1,500 prisoners, but the
Era can hear of only £60, who have arrived at New Orleans.
Of these it says:
‘
It was so late when we visited the place that we found it impossible to convert or mix with the prisoners; but they were, taken altogether, a rather fine looking set of fellows much batter clothed and appointed than the previous arrival.
They are principally Texans, and belonged to the cavalry.
One of them informed us that they were surprised by our forces while engaged in that very necessary duty of a soldier — eating their breakfast.
The prisoners had scarcely been lodged in their quarters yesterday, in
Algiers, before the place was invested completely by a mixed assemblage of people, mostly ladies, who had got an inkling of their arrival; and as they appeared at the windows the usual greetings of
pocket handkerchiefs, unties and "thrown kisses" met them.
They gave the guard the usual amount of trouble and annoyance, and we suppose will continue to be a pass so long as there is a gray uniform within reach of their indefatigable efforts to get a sight of the curiosity.
’
