USA > Louisiana > A history of Louisiana, revised edition > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
After the failure to take the Capital, the Confederates fortified Port Hudson, and the Union soldiers soon after gave up Baton Rouge and retired to New Orleans.
223
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
General Taylor in Southern Louisiana .- Some weeks after the attack on Baton Rouge there arrived at Opelousas one of the most gallant of the Confederate generals. This was General " Dick" Taylor, who had already distinguished him- self in Virginia under Stonewall Jackson, and who was now sent to take command of all the forces in Louisiana. He was a native of the State, and was a son of General Zachary Taylor, who, after his famous campaign in the Mexican war, had been elected President of the United States. Having inherited his father's skill in battle, General "Dick" proved himself a splendid officer. As soon as he arrived, General Taylor, with great energy, under- took the raising of an army to GENERAL RICHARD TAYLOR. defend the State against the ad- vance of the Federals, and to keep open a road for the pas- sage of supplies to the Confederate troops east of the Mis- sissippi. The Governor of Louisiana, Thos. O. Moore, met him at Opelousas and turned over to him a few State troops. To these were soon added some companies from Texas. Great assistance was given by Ex-Governor Mouton, of Lafayette, who was very popular in that portion of the country, and who brought many of the Acadians under the Confederate flag .* Five companies of soldiers from St. Mary parish, under Colonel Fournet, took service, and thus Taylor's little army gradually increased. When he arrived there seemed to be no money and no troops; but he tells us that the brave Creoles of that portion of the State were devoted to the Confederacy, and gave him invaluable help. Very
* See Tavlor's " Destruction and Reconstruction," a work to which we wish to acknowledge our great obligations for the account of the Louisiana campaign.
224
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
soon, also, Taylor was joined by General Alfred Mouton, a son of Governor Mouton. This general served with great gallantry till he met his death at Mansfield.
The Salt Mines .- About this time an important discovery was made on Avery's Island, near New Iberia, a discovery which may best be described in General Taylor's own words. "'Salt wells had long been known to exist on Avery's Island, " and some salt had been boiled there. The want of salt " was severely felt in the Confederacy, our only considerable " source of supply being in Southwestern Virginia, whence " it was not easily obtained. Judge Avery, the owner of " the island, began to boil salt for his neighbors, and desir- "ing to increase the flow of brine by deepening the wells, " came unexpectedly upon a bed of pure rock salt, which "proved to be of immense extent. Intelligence of this "reached me at New Iberia, and induced me to visit the "island. Devoted to our cause, Judge Avery placed the " mine at my disposal for the use of the Government. Many " negroes were assembled to get out salt, and a packing " establishment was organized at New Iberia to cure beef. " During succeeding months large quantities of salt, salt " beef, sugar, and molasses were transported by steamers "to Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and other points east of " the Mississippi. Two companies of infantry and a " section of artillery were posted on the island to preserve "order among the workmen, and to secure it against a "sudden raid of the enemy, who later sent a gunboat . " up the Petite Anse to shell the mine, but the gunboat "became entangled in the marsh, and accomplished " nothing."
Since the war this salt mine has been found to be practi- cally inexhaustible, and it will long continue to be a source of wealth to its owners. At the present day the mine is one of the most remarkable sights in Louisiana. Vast halls adorned with pillars have been cut out of the solid salt, and
225
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
when the whole is illuminated by artificial light, it resem- bles some enchanted subterranean palace.
QUESTIONS.
Tell about the "clearing" of the Mississippi. Tell about the ram Arkansas. Why did the Confederates attack Baton Rouge? Describe the attack. Tell about the hardships of the Southern soldiers. What general now took command of the forces in Louisiana? What troops did he muster? Tell about the discovery of the Avery salt mines.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE WAR IN LOUISIANA - CONTINUED.
Fighting on Bayou Lafourche and the Teche .- General Taylor had not long to wait for the enemy. On the 27th of October, 1862, General Weitzel, with a large body of Fed- eral troops, advanced from Donaldsonville towards Labadie- ville in Assumption parish. The Confederates, under Gen- eral Mouton, were on both sides of Bayou Lafourche, and as there was no bridge, they could not combine against the enemy. At Labadieville, however, Colonel Armant, with about five hundred men and a battery, opposed the advance of Weitzel's army, which numbered four thousand. The contest was brief but sharp. Many were killed on both sides ; but Armant, having used all his ammunition, was forced to retire. General Mouton then fell back with all his troops to Berwick Bay below Morgan City.
Finding here that Federal gunboats were preparing to come up from Atchafalaya Bay, he retreated along the Teche. Weitzel followed slowly, and there were a number of skirmishes. In one of these the Federal gunboats attacked the Cotton, a river steamer which the Confederates had
226
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
armed, and forced her commander, Captain Fuller, to burn her in the Teche. Weitzel seems now to have been content with his success, for he remained quiet during several months at Berwick Bay.
In the month of April, 1863, he was reinforced by large bodies of troops until the Federal army numbered 16,000 men. The officer in command was General N. P. Banks, who had succeeded General Butler in New Orleans. Though Tay- lor's entire force was only 3000 men, he felt that some effort must be made to resist the enemy, and he determined to throw up breastworks at Bisland, between Franklin and Morgan City. Here the Contederates made a magnificent stand for two days, but finding that a portion of the Federal army was trying to cut them off in the rear, they were forced to retreat. As the Confederates fell back, the Union army advanced northwards through Louisiana until it reached Alexandria on Red river, while General Taylor stationed himself at Natchitoches .*
Trans-Mississippi Department .- In March of this year (1863) Lieutenant-General E. Kirby Smitht had been sent by President Davis to take charge of the whole Trans-Mis- sissippi department, which consisted of Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and some of the Territories. Great powers were given to the new commander; he was to conduct the campaign as he thought best, and all the other generals west of the Mississippi, including General Taylor, were to obey his orders. His headquarters were at Shreveport on Red river.
Port Hudson and Vicksburg .- After remaining some weeks at Alexandria, General Banks retired from Louisiana, and crossing the Mississippi laid siege to Port Hudson,
* On the 20th of April Fort Butte à la Rose had fallen into the hands of the enemy. This httle fort had been established on the Atchafalaya, not very far dis- tant from St. Martinsville. With four guns and a garrison of only sixty men, it had bravely defended the Atchafalaya and driven off some of the enemy's gunboats ; but it was finally captured by a superior force of Federals.
t After the war General Smith became a professor at Sewanee, Tenn., where he died in 1893.
227
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
which, as we have seen, was held by the Confederates. At this time Vicksburg, also, was undergoing the horrors of a siege. General Grant had shut up there the Confederate army under General Pemberton,- and with the assistance of a fleet, he was bombarding the city. If Vicksburg and Port Hudson fell, the Mississippi would be in the power of the Federals, and the prospects of Louisiana would be indeed gloomy.
Taylor at Berwick Bay .- When the enemy retired across the Mississippi, General Taylor determined to return to Southern Louisiana and attack a body of Federals that had been left at
LIEUT. GEN. E. KIRBY SMITHI. (Taken in 1893.)
Berwick Bay. His expedition was planned with great skill and was entirely successful. The forces under General Thos. Green and General Mouton, who were then about one hundred miles apart, were ordered to meet at the Bay on the 23d of June. They arrived on time, and General Green planted a battery on the west side of the Bay. His object was to drive off a Federal gunboat, which had been left there to protect the camp of the enemy on the east bank. General Taylor then ordered Major Hunter with a body of Texas troops to await the opening of Green's guns, and then dash in upon the enemy from the rear. All this was well executed. Before the astonished Fed- erals could arouse themselves, Green had charged with his Texans and captured the whole camp, with the exception of a few men who escaped on a railroad train. General Taylor describes the scene as one of great .excitement and confusion. Seventeen hundred prisoners were taken, but three-fourths of them were wounded and convalescents left by
228
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
General Banks. These were cared for, and as many as possible were sent to New Orleans with their surgeons. The spoils found in the camp were immense. They consisted of _ twelve cannon, many small arms, and a great quantity of ammunition, provisions, and medicines. So much rich booty the poor Confederates had not seen for a long time, and during several months they lacked nothing that was necessary for their comfort.
Fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson-Taylor's Re- treat .- After this successful expedition, General Taylor marched over to the Mississippi, and placed a battery of twelve guns on the river, with the hope of cutting off the Federal communication between Port Hudson and New Or- leans. In about a week, however, sad news reached him. On the 4th of July, 1863, Vicksburg had surrendered to General Grant. Five days later Port Hudson, finding fur- ther resistance useless, had capitulated to General Banks .* Thus at last the Mississippi was wholly in the power of the North; the Confederacy was split into two parts, which could no longer communicate with each other. As we shall see, however, General Taylor did not despair of holding Western Louisiana.
Having accomplished their object on the east bank of the river, the Federals under General Weitzel-six thousand strong-crossed over to Donaldsonville. Taylor, who had a force of only three thousand men, and who feared that the enemy might come down the Atchafalaya and cut him off, retired with his little army to Berwick Bay. This he crossed, carrying with him the rich plunder which he had captured. During the next few months there was lively skirmishing in the country between Opelousas and New Iberia. The only considerable engagement was at Bayou Bourbeau near Ope-
* The defence of Port Hudson by Louisiana troops under General Gardner who was ably seconded by his chief of artillery, Col. Marshall J. Smith, was one of the most gallant that were made during the war.
229
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
lousas, where the Federals were defeated by General Green and six hundred prisoners taken.
Southern Losses in 1863 .- During the rest of the year 1863, and the first months of 1864, there was no fighting of importance in Louisiana. But the year 1863 had been marked by great misfortunes for the Confederates. On the Ist of January President Lincoln had issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, by which he declared all the slaves to be free. Many of them still remained faithful to their old masters ; but some ran away from the South and enlisted in the Northern armies. Moreover, not only had Vicksburg fallen and the Mississippi passed into the hands of the Federals; but on the 3d of July, General Lee had been defeated at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with a loss of 21,000 men. This was a series of disasters from which the South could never entirely recover. Her means of carrying on the war were diminishing every day, while the North seemed to be as rich as ever. Still many brilliant victories were yet to be won by Southern leaders, espec- ially by Lee in Virginia; and the war was to last nearly one and a half years longer.
QUESTIONS.
Tell something about the fighting around Bayou Lafourche. Where are Bayou Lafourche, the Teche, Berwick Bay? What power was given to General Kirby Smith? Who was in charge of the Union army? Tell about the seige of Vicksburg. Taylor at Berwick Bay. . Fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Tell about the Southern losses in 1863.
-
230
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.
Banks' Raid ; the Federals Attempt to Occupy West- ern Louisiana .- In the spring of the year 1864, the Fed- erals seemed determined to crush all opposition in Louisiana. On the 12th of March seventeen gunboats under the com- mand of Admiral Porter entered the mouth of Red river. This fleet protected 10,000 men under General A. J. Smith. The troops landed at Simmsport on the Atchafalaya, and marching forward the next day, reached De Russey, a little fort on the Red. As the fortifications here had not been completed, there could be no successful resistance, and the enemy seized the garrison and ten guns. Another Federal army of 18,000 men, under General Franklin, now marched up the Teche to join Smith at Alexandria. Thus the force that was intended to overwhelm Louisiana consisted of 28,000 men and a strong fleet of gunboats. The commander-in-chief of the expedition was General N. P. Banks, who had occupied Alexandria the year before. Be- sides his present army, Banks was informed that General Steele, with 7000 men, would march down from Arkansas and join him at Shreveport.
Taylor's Retreat to Pleasant Hill and Mansfield .- General Taylor had been warned of the arrival of this great force, and he had fallen back towards Pleasant Hill and Mansfield. General Kirby Smith, who had fortified himself at Shreveport, thought it unwise for Taylor to try to make a stand against so large an army. But Taylor determined to risk a battle as soon as he saw a good opportunity. His army had been reinforced, and he had under him some excellent soldiers, and several distinguished officers. The chief of these were General Mouton, General Thos. Green, and Gen- eral Charles Polignac. The last was a French Prince, who
231
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
had come over to America to fight for the South. He had charge of a Texas Brigade, who did not at first like to be commanded by a Frenchman, but Polignac soon proved him- self so brave and so skilful that his men regarded him with admiration and affection.
The Battle of Mansfield, April 8, 1864 .- When Taylor had collected his troops at Pleasant Hill and Mansfield, he discovered that Banks was following him. Banks' army, however, was divided into large bodies, which were sepa- rated from one another by considerable distances. Taylor immediately decided to attack each body in turn, and thus try to rout the whole army. On the 8th of April he drew up his forces at Sabine Cross Roads, three miles in front of Mansfield. He had 8800 men-5000 horse, 500 artillerymen, and 3300 infantry. Of Banks' large army only 5000 were in sight, but more troops were rapidly coming up. When the advance columns of the enemy appeared, it was im- possible to restrain the Louisiana troops, for they felt that they were defending their native soil. Rushing for- ward under General Mouton they carried everything be- fore them. The other brigades were equally successful ; but as the Louisianians approached the Federal lines, they had to meet a deadly fire from the enemy's artillery. One of the first to fall was the brave Mouton. It is said that he stopped to protect some Federal soldiers who had thrown down their arms and surrendered. While he sat upon his horse, waving to his men not to fire, some of the Federals picked up the guns they had thrown down and shot their protector through the breast. Not one of them, how- ever, survived this act of treachery. Polignac quickly took Mouton's place, and the Confederates pressed on, routing each new body of Federal troops as it was met. The pur- suit was stopped only by the darkness. "The fruits of the victory of Mansfield," says Taylor, " were twenty-five hun- " dred prisoners, twenty pieces of artillery, several stands of
232
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
" colors, many thousands of small arms, and two hundred "and fifty wagons." It is estimated that Banks' force en- gaged in this battle amounted to about 13,000 men.
Pleasant Hill, April 9 .- To complete his victory by at- tacking Banks on the following morning was Taylor's im- mediate decision. By that time, however, the enemy had taken a strong position at Pleasant Hill, and being reinforced by fresh troops, had in line about 18,000 men. Taylor, therefore, waited till he could be joined by General Churchill, who was coming up with several brigades com- posed of Arkansas and Missouri troops. With the addition of these, his army amounted to 12,500, but the new men were so wearied from a long march that the at- tack on the Federal lines. could not be made before 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Churchill's troops were ordered by Taylor to march around through some woods and "turn the enemy's left." Having passed through the woods, the Missouri troops charged with great bravery, but unfortunately they made a mistake in choosing the point of attack, and were finally forced to retreat. Polignac's division, however, and General Green's dismounted horsemen drove back the enemy on their front, and at nightfall the Confederates were in possession of the field. Under cover of the darkness the Federals retreated as fast as possible to Grand Ecore on Red river. Banks afterwards claimed a victory at Pleasant Hill, and declared that he retired because his army lacked water and provisions ; but Admiral Porter, in his report, describes the whole expedition up the Red river as a complete failure. The Confederates, on their side, considered that they had won the day, and General Smith issued the following general orders :
" Shreveport, La., April 19, 1864: God has blessed our " arms with signal victories at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. " The General commanding finds it an appropriate occasion " to pay a well merited tribute to the endurance and valor
233
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
" of the troops engaged in these battles. Collected from re- " mote points-from Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and " Texas-after long and tedious marches, their combined " courage has gained on the soil of Louisiana the patriot sol- " dier's highest reward, victory. In the name of " a grateful people I thank them for this splendid result. " While we mourn for the glorious dead and sympathize " with the heroic wounded, let us take courage for the
1 " future. * * The names of Mansfield and Pleasant " Hill will be inscribed on the colors of the regiments en- " gaged in these battles. By. command of General E. " Kirby Smith."
The Pursuit of Banks .- General Kirby Smith and Gen- eral Taylor did not agree as to the best manner of conducting the campaign after the battle of Pleasant Hill. Taylor thought that Banks should be pursued with all the available forces, and every effort made to destroy his army. General Smith feared that General Steele with 7000 Federals would advance to attack Shreveport, and taking a por- tion of Taylor's iufantry, he set out to meet Steele. The latter retired into Arkansas, and as Smith pursued him, Tay- lor was left without sufficient force to do more than worry Banks on his retreat. Taylor thought that he had been badly treated by his commanding officer ; but it was simply an hon- est difference of opinion as to what was the best course to pursue.
From Grand Ecore, Banks retired to Alexandria, destroy- ing property as he went ; while the Federal fleet, a part of which had ascended as high as Springfield Landing, about thirty miles below Shreveport, now dropped down the Red to cover Banks' retreat. A small battery of four guns (the Federals maintain that there were eighteen) under Captain Cornay, a brave officer, had been placed by the Confed- erates near the junction of Cane river and Red river. It was supported by two hundred riflemen. As Porter's fleet
234
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
reached this point the little battery opened fire upon his gun- boats. One of them was cut to pieces, while the others suf- fered terribly. Captain Cornay, however, was killed, and Porter succeeded in passing. The battery's fire, Porter after- wards declared, was the heaviest he ever witnessed.
When the Federal fleet reached the Red River Falls, near Alexandria, it was discovered that the water was too low to allow the gunboats to pass. There was a depth of only three feet four inches, while the largest boats required about seven feet. At first it looked as if the fleet must fall into the hands of the Confederates. But finally an engineer, Colonel Joseph Bailey, proposed a plan by which a dam might be built across the river The task was a very difficult one, for at this point the river is seven hundred and fifty-eight feet wide and the current is swift. For eight days, however, sev- eral thousand men worked day and night, and finally the dam was completed. But as a portion of it was carried away by the current, it became necessary to build an additional one above. By means of the two the depth of the water was in- creased sufficiently to allow all the vessels to pass over. This was a splendid piece of engineering work, the remains of which were still visible a few years ago. Colonel Bailey, who planned it, was raised to the rank of brigadier general, and received the thanks of the United States Congress. With the protection of the fleet, Banks now retreated to Simmsport. The Confederates, hanging upon his flanks, succeeded in cutting off many of his men; but on May 20th he crossed the Atchafalaya. Here, as the Mississippi was in the pos- session of the Federals, the Confederates had to give up the pursuit.
End of the War .- From this time on there was no more fighting in Louisiana. Nearly a year later General Robert E. Lee, the great Southern commander-in-chief, surrend- ered to General Grant in Virginia, and thus put an end to the war. The South had fought a noble fight, but it was
235
THE CIVIL WAR-1861-65.
impossible for her to struggle any longer against the over- whelming numbers of the North.
By this terrible contest between the two sections, the ques- tion of secession was settled forever. Perhaps it could not have been settled in any other manner. At the present day" the Southern people, while they still maintain that their in- terpretation of the Constitution was the true one, have ac- cepted " the judgment of war," and are now firm in their loyalty to the Union .*
General H. W. Allen, Governor .- In 1864, while the war was going on, an election for governor was held in Louisiana. In the New Or- leans district, Michael Hahn, a Union man, was chosen ; but his authority was recognized only in that portion of the State which was controlled by the Northern soldiers. The rest of the State chose as gov- ernor General Henry W. Allen, who, though born in Virginia. was an adopted son of Louis. iana. General Allen had been a gallant soldier, and had served under Breckinridge in the famous attack on Baton Rouge. Here he was wounded so desperately that it was thought he must die. Thanks to a good doctor, however, he recovered. As governor he won the love and respect of all Louisianians. Shreveport became the capital of the State, and it was here that Allen resided. The State had been de-
* The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, passed after the war (1868), declares: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This amendment abolishes forever the con- stitutional right of secession. No " citizen of the United States " can take up arms against the General Government.
236
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
vastated by the armies that had occupied it so long ; and at the close of the war the misery and want were such that, in many cases, the inhabitants of the parishes were on the point of starvation. Governor Allen nobly came to their relief. To raise money for the purchase of provisions was almost an impossibility ; but, by his heroic exertions, it was accom- plished. Not only was food sent wherever it was needed, but a great number of the poor were aided in their efforts to begin life anew. Other good deeds of the "War Governor " are held in grateful remembrance. When, however, peace was finally made, Governor Allen, whose health had been shattered by his wounds, retired to Mexico, where he died in 1866. His remains are buried in Baton Rouge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.