USA > Texas > A comprehensive history of Texas, 1685-1897 > Part 40
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After burying the dead, General Green took up the line of march for Morgan's Ferry, having called in Colonel Gray with Mouton's brigade, and sent Phillips's regiment of cavalry towards Morganza to repulse the Federals should they attempt to advance from that point. The artillery reached the bank of the Atchafalaya at seven o'clock p. M. and commenced crossing. Owing to the muddy state of the banks, and the fact that only one ferry-boat could be used, it was nearly daylight before their crossing was completed. A small steamboat having arrived, was used in crossing the infantry. Many of the dismounted men and the infantry fell by the roadside completely exhausted, but all were crossed safely during the morning of the 30th.
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When the wretched weather is considered, the heavy rains falling and the roads knee-deep in mud, the rapid movements of the Confederate troops and their great enthusiasm and willingness to make an attack and bring on a battle are deserving of great praise. Major H. H. Boone, from his gallantry in this engagement and from the severity of his wounds, which disabled him for the rest of the war, has been called "the Hero of Fordoche."
General Franklin landed at Brashear City on the Ist of October, 1863, with twenty-seven thousand men, and at once began a rapid march up Bayou Têche. His advance reached Vermilionville on the 9th, and was met by the Fourth Texas Cavalry under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hanpton, and a sharp skirmish ensued. The superior numbers of the attacking Federals compelled the Confederates to retire, which they did sullenly and in good order. Hampton fell back slowly, contesting every mile of road, continually checking the vanguard until the main force should arrive, and on the 13th reached the Carrion Crow. Here he found Hardeman and the rest of the brigade, and a desperate engagement ensued, continuing until night closed the conflict. This fighting checked the Federal advance for two days. On the 16th, Colonel H. C. McNeill with the Fifth Texas Cavalry met the Federals in the morning at Mrs. Rogers's plantation. He held them in check until noon, when their reinforcements arriving, McNeill was outnumbered and compelled to retire on the brigade, which, under Colonel Hardeman, had been in line of battle all day. As Hardeman had been waiting for a fight, he got it then and there, and it continued hot and heavy until night dropped the curtain and closed the bloody drama. On the following morning the Confederates retired to Hudson's plantation, where they again awaited the advance of the Federals, and sharp skirmishing ensued, lasting all of the 17th and 18th, the whole division being engaged under the personal command of General Green. But in consequence of the Federals being reinforced in over- whelming numbers, Green was compelled to fall back, fighting as he went. At Opelousas on the 19th the Federals were again checked by the brigade under com- mand of Colonel Bagby. It was here that Franklin first learned of the Confederate victory at Sabine Pass, and in consequence of this news withdrew the main body of his forces to Vermilionville, leaving an outpost more than five thousand strong at Bayou Bourbenx.
On the 20th of October, 1863, Green with his cavalry division retired from Opelousas before the advancing Federals. His forces were disposed on Bayou Bœuf and Big Cane wherever forage could be procured. Resting here a few days, the Federals were found to have fallen back from the vicinity of Opelousas, where they had been encamped in considerable force. Green was then reinforced by three regiments of infantry, two from Walker's and one from Mouton's divisions, and by three sections of artillery. The Confederate forces at Opelousas, on the Ist of November, 1863, consisted of the following troops : Ist. An improvised brigade of infantry, made up of the Fifteenth Texas, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Harrison, numbering two hundred and seventy-five ; the Eighteenth Texas, com- manded by Colonel W. H. King, numbering three hundred and twenty ; and the Eleventh Texas, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel James H. Jones, numbering three hundred and fifty-five ;- amounting all told to nine hundred and fifty officers and men. Colonel O. M. Roberts, being the senior officer present, was assigned by VOL. II .- 46
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General Green to the command of the infantry brigade. 2d. Bagby's brigade of cavalry, being the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Cavalry and Waller's battalion. Hardeman commanded the Fourth, McNeill the Fifth, and Herbert the Seventh Regiments. 3d. Major's brigade, consisting of three regiments of new troops, called Partisan Rangers. 4th. The artillery, consisting of a section each of the Valverde and Daniel's Batteries, commanded respectively by Lieutenants Hume and Hamilton, both sections for the day under command of Lieutenant Morse. The whole Confederate force under Green did not exceed two thousand five hundred men. The exact numbers are not accessible from any documents at hand.
The Federals under General Burbridge numbered at least five thousand, -being composed of two brigades of infantry of the Thirteenth Army Corps, three regi- ments of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery. These were encamped on Bayou Bourbeux, and constituted the rear-guard of Franklin's army. A much larger force was posted on Carrion Crow Bayou, three miles below, and the main army was encamped at Vermilionville.
The attack was made by Green about ten o'clock A. M., with the infantry on the left, Bagby's brigade in the centre, and Major's on the right. The infantry engaged the Federals first, and drove them steadily, until Bagby with the Fourth and Fifth dismounted and the Seventh and Waller's battalion mounted made a magnificent charge from the centre ; and Major dashing in on them from the right, with his Partisan Rangers on horseback, pressed them back to their camp.
All this while the Federals had been pouring a galling fire into the advancing Confederates from musketry and artillery ; but nothing could check the advance. The small artillery force on the Confederate side also made themselves heard and painfully felt. As soon as the engagement became general the Federal force gave way and fled. The victory was complete. The Federal loss was one hundred killed, one hundred and fifty wounded, and over six hundred prisoners ; total, eight hun- dred and fifty.
There were prisoners from the Sixtieth and Sixty-seventh Indiana, Twenty-third Wisconsin, Eighty-third and Ninety-sixth Ohio, and the First Louisiana (Federal) Cavalry. The Confederates also captured two batteries, besides a large quantity of improved small-arms, which were always accept- able, and accoutrements and camp equipage. which were cagerly appropriated. Most of the Federal artillery horses being killed, only one fine Parrott gun and caisson could be removed from the field. GENERAL X. B. DE BRAY. The Confederate loss was twenty-four killed, one hundred and two wounded, and thirty-eight missing, probably captured during a temporary confusion of the infantry lines on the left. The loss was heaviest among the infantry : they having encountered the main body of the Federals with the artillery half an hour before the cavalry could turn their left flank.
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McLEARY-HISTORY OF GREEN'S BRIGADE.
Two hours after the victory General Weitzel, of the Federal Nineteenth Army Corps, came up with a division of infantry, composed of three brigades, from the Carrion Crow Bayou ; and General Green, being already outnumbered, thought it imprudent to give battle to these fresh troops, more than double his entire force, gradually retired towards Opelousas, and the Federals declined to follow.
This was one of the most brilliant engagements ever fought in Louisiana, and displays the genius of General Green for war, as well as the courage and endurance of the Texas troops, in the brightest colors.
After the battle of Bourbeux, Green with his cavalry took up his position at Carrion Crow Bayou. Here he remained quietly until the morning of the 11th of November, 1863, when the Federal commander determined on a reconnaissance in force, and accordingly advanced. Hardeman, leading his brigade, met him in the prairie with a determined resistance. Having satisfied himself of the Confederate strength, the Federal commander fell back on Vermilionville, and then evacuated that town on the 15th. Having burned the bridge over the bayou, the retreating Federals checked the advance of their pursuers for a few hours until another bridge could be constructed. This delay prevented the Federal pickcts being overtaken again until they came within one mile and a half of New Iberia. The Federals here approaching in force, the Confederates left a strong pieket-guard under Captain Stevenson, of the Fourth Regiment, and retired to Vermilionville. At twelve o'clock on the night of the 20th, Major Hoffman, of the Seventh Regiment, relieved Captain Sievenson on picket. Hoffman placed his pickets on the roads leading from New Iberia as he had been directed. Men from another regiment who were ordered to guard a road on Hoffman's left failed to reach their post, and thus left an avenue unguarded, by which a strong force of Federals marched, arrived and attacked Hoffman in the rear, while the whole army, twenty thousand strong, moved on him from the front. A general rout was the result,-Hoffman's men fled in every direc- tion ; some saved themselves from capture by wading into the water and hiding under the weeds and rushes until the Federals retired. The Confederate loss was one hundred and twenty-nine, mostly prisoners. Notwithstanding this affair, the Confederate pickets were still kept at Camp Pratt, twenty miles from the main force at Vermilion Bayou. Two companies at a time were detailed for outpost duty.
On the 24th of November, Companies A and E, of the Fourth Regiment, were sent out under Captain Long and Lieutenant Roberts. They were to be relieved the next morning by Captain Alexander with Companies C, F, and H of the same regiment. At daybreak on the 25th the Federals advanced in force.
The outpost under Lieutenant Roberts quickly fell back on the main guard under Captain Long, and they in turn were driven into the reserve under Captain Alexander, who as ranking officer took command. A line of battle was quickly formed, but to no purpose. The Federals with overwhelming numbers advanced with great gallantry and determination, and the Confederates were unable to check them. There were three columns, one in front of Alexander's men and one on each flank. There was nothing left to him but flight, death, or capture ; so they all put spurs to their horses and retired in more haste than order. A long chase was had of twelve miles to the main camp ou Bayou Vermilion. The Confederate
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loss was one man killed and fifty-six prisoners, of whom many were wounded. The Texas cavalry in these movements made the serious mistake of undervaluing their adversaries. Many victories had made them over-confident, and they had to pay the penalty for these errors.
On the 29th of November an exchange of prisoners was effected between Generals Green and Franklin. As the Confederates had the larger number by more than seven hundred, it was agreed that these should be paroled, and in turn all the prisoners in New Orleans belonging to the Trans-Mississippi Department should be released. But the latter part of the bargain, for some unknown reason, was never carried out, and some of the best men in Green's brigade suffered a long and pain- ful imprisonment in the Crescent City.
In the mean time Banks was organizing another expedition to make a descent upon the Texas coast. In order to meet and repel it General Magruder asked for reinforcements, and especially requested General E. Kirby Smith to send him Green with his brigade. Accordingly, on the 14th of December, 1863, Green and his mounted men took up the line of march for Houston, where they arrived, the advance on Christmas morning and the rear-guard a few days later. The weather at this time was very severe, wet and cold, and, as usual, the brigade was without tents, and sought shelter in the pine groves, where they constructed rude huts of pine boughs and such other materials as chance afforded. The whole country was inundated, ice formed on all the puddles and ponds two inches thick, and it was difficult to find dry spots enough to build camp-fires upon. Several of the men's feet were frozen and their toe-nails dropped off, but there was very little murmuring, and all stood by their colors.
The 9th of January, 1864, found Green's brigade at Sandy Point, in Brazoria County ; here they remained about ten days, and started again for Hempstead to occupy, as they thought, their old quarters at Camp Groce. But not so ; having left their horses on the Brazos, they took the train for Houston and thence to Virginia Point, where they remained a month. Then, on the 19th of February, they again went by rail to Columbia and remained a few days, after which they reached their horses once more at Hempstead.
This occasioned great rejoicing, for, although this brigade often dismounted to make a charge or to receive an attack on the battle-field, they never relished the idea of marching except on horseback. Their favorite appellation among them- selves was Texas Mounted Volunteers. But the men were not allowed to remain long enjoying inglorious ease. It soon became evident that Banks did not really intend making a descent upon the Texas coast, but rather to attack that State by way of Louisiana. So Green's brigade, with other Texas troops, was ordered to reinforce General Taylor as rapidly as possible, and on the morning of the 15th of February, 1864, the advance under Colonel Waller set out for Louisiana. On the following day the Fifth Regiment marched, closely followed by the Fourth and Seventh Regiments. The fatigues and hardships of this forced march to Mansfield were so usual in the experience of these brave men that little record has been left of the incidents of their journey. No time was lost, for every soldier knew that there was bloody work awaiting their arrival at Taylor's head- quarters.
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On the 30th of March, 1864, Colonel McNeill with his regiment, the Fifth Texas Cavalry, reached Natchitoches, being in the advance of Green's brigade, and the first reinforcements received by General Taylor this year from Texas. He was ordered to fall back slowly towards Pleasant Hill, which he did, being joined en route by the other regiments of the brigade and other Texas troops. At the double bridges a brisk skirmish took place, in which the gallant Major Hoffman, of the Fourth Texas Cavalry, received a wound in the forehead, and, what grieved him more, had one of his spurs shot away. General Banks was advancing with his whole force, amounting to over twenty-five thousand men, in the direction of Shreve- port, and was supported by Admiral Porter with a large fleet of gunboats in Red River. General Kirby Smith, commanding the Trans-Mississippi Department, on the part of the Confederates, was seeking to concentrate a large force at Shreveport and await an attack there. General Taylor, getting in all the troops he could from Texas and elsewhere, was looking out for a favorable position to make a stand, placed General Green in command of all the cavalry, and assigned him to the post of honor immediately in front of the advancing Federals. Green with his cavalry was able to check the advance of Banks, and give time for Major and Buchel to bring their Texans from Logansport to Mansfield.
On the 7th of April the advancing Federals attacked Green's rear-guard north of Pleasant Hill, and ground was won and lost several times in the sharp skirmish- ing which ensued. Towards evening the Federals, being largely reinforced, pressed the Confederate rear-guard back on Bayou du Paul, which is a clear, running stream, and the first water north of Pleasant Hill. General Green, being at Mans- field, and hearing the sound of artillery in the direction of the rear, rode down towards Pleasant Hill, accompanied by General Taylor, who embraced the oppor- tunity on the way of definitely locating the battle-field for the general engagement which was to occur on the morrow. General Taylor, after selecting his ground, returned to Mansfield, and Green rode on in the direction of the firing, and met the Confederates retreating at Robertson's Mill on Bayou du Paul. Here, finding Colonel Walter P. Lane in command, he placed his troops, now reinforced till they numbered about three thousand, in line of battle. Shortly after he was attacked with vigor by the Federal advance, six thousand strong, and a furious contest raged until sunset, the waters of Bayou du Paul being the immediate prize to be lost or won. Green held the water-line and sent to Taylor for reinforcements of infantry, requesting Mouton's division ; but Taylor ordered him to fall back during the night to the place selected, promising to deliver battle in the morning. Green fell back as directed to Moore's Farm, three miles from Mansfield, and held his ground until Taylor was ready to receive Banks in battle array. General Taylor, after consulting with Green and Mouton, selected his ground and determined to deliver battle on the Sth. The place selected was a large field lying across the main road from Pleasant Hill to Mansfield, three miles south of the latter village. In the mean time Banks had set out from Grand Ecore with his army, and Porter, with six gunboats and twenty transports, had left the same point and was working his way up Red River. Taylor concentrated his forces, composed of Churchill's division from Missouri, Walker's division from Texas, and Mouton's division from Louisiana, all infantry, and of Green's division of mounted men, composed of his
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old brigade under Bagby and of two other brigades commanded respectively by Bee and Major. These, with several batteries of artillery, constituted the Confed- erate available fighting force.
General Taylor gives his numbers on the morning of the 8th of April, 1864, as follows : " I had on the field five thousand three hundred infantry, three thousand horse, and five hundred artillerymen, -in all eight thousand eight hundred men, a very full estimate. They were disposed for battle as follows : on the right of the main road, Walker's infantry division, composed of three brigades with two bat- teries ; on the left of the main road, Mouton's infantry division, composed of two brigades and two batteries. As Green's men came in from the front they were arranged in a position, dismounted, on the left of Mouton. A regiment of mounted men was placed on each of the roads running parallel with the main road, and De Bray's cavalry regiment with McMahon's battery was held in reserve on the main road. It so happened, from the configuration of the ground, that McMahon's battery was the only artillery which was able to do much service, but these brave artillerists acquitted themselves handsomely. During the forenoon the Federals having advanced and poured a heavy fire into Mouton's men, and showing them- selves in an effort to turn the Confederate left flank, Randall's brigade was moved from Walker's line on the right of the main road to strengthen Mouton's on the left. The Federals were driven back with heavy loss, and, after twice more endeavoring to outflank the Confederates, made no forward movement again during the fore- noon. About four o'clock in the afternoon, the Federals showing no disposition to advance, Tay- lor ordered a general forward movement along the whole Confederate line. Mouton's men ad- vanced under a heavy fire across the field and into the woods beyond. Here the Confederate loss was severe. General Mouton and several of his colonels and other officers and many of his brave men laid down their lives for the Southern cause. Polignac's brigade of Texans suffered greatly, losing Colonel Noble with many others. Captain Chauncey B. Shepard was killed, and Major Joseph D. Sayers, who was fighting on crutches, was again severely wounded. On GENERAL WILLIAM R. SCURRY. the right of the road, Walker with Waul's and Scurry's brigades drove everything before him, turned the Federal left flank, and greatly aided in the general rout which followed.
General Green, after reconnoitring carefully the Federal position, gave the order to advance, which was heartily obeyed by his cavalry, now dismounted and fighting as infantry. Although retarded by dense woods and resisted by a heavy force in front, Green gradually turned the Federal right flank, and inflicted heavy loss upon them in killed, wounded, and captured, taking a large wagon-train and several pieces of artillery. The Confederate charge was made along the whole line at the same time. It was a grand and imposing spectacle to see the infantry march
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across the field at double-quick, not halting to fire or break their alignment until the southern fence of Moore's farm was reached and crossed, and the Federal forces posted in the woods behind were forced back into the depth of the forest. Here the Confederates renewed the advance, and were stubbornly resisted for a long time by a heavy force of Federals, who were at last compelled to give way with great loss in killed and wounded and artillery and men captured. The first Federal line, con- sisting of all the cavalry and one division of the Thirteenth Army Corps, had already fled, leaving wounded, prisoners, artillery, and wagon-trains in the hands of the victorious Confederates. The advancing columns of the pursuing party after fol- lowing for about two miles came up with the Second Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps, which was soon routed with heavy loss, and, abandoning their artillery and wounded, joined in the general retreat. The Confederates continued their victorious advance for more than four miles, taking prisoners, wagons, and artillery in their way ; and at nearly sunset found the Nineteenth Army Corps, which had yet been engaged, drawn up on a little hill called by General Banks, Pleasant Grove. Here breastworks had been hastily constructed, and the Confederate advance was checked at a small stream in the open pine woods. The fatigued forces of Taylor, somewhat scattered in the pursuit, made another advance on the fresh troops of the Federals posted behind their breastworks on the crest of the hill, but a furious fire covered the little peach orchard on the hill-side with Confederate dead. As the main body of the Federals were in full fliglit, and the Confederates had gained the water and held the battle-field, it was deemed best not to press the pursuit in the darkness which was now coming ou ; so they bivouacked on the field along the banks of the little stream, and waited for the dawn to renew the pursuit. The Confederates secured more than two thousand five hundred prisoners, twenty-two pieces of artil- lery, many thousand stands of small-arms, numerous regimental colors, and a large train, consisting of two hundred and fifty wagons loaded with ammunition, baggage, and supplies. Eight thousand Federals, comprising cavalry and two divisions of infantry, had been utterly routed and disorganized. The loss of the Confederates in killed and wounded was heavy, especially among the officers, who were every- where leading their men, but not near so large in proportion as that of the Federals. Thus ended the battle of Mansfield, and the part that Green's brigade played in it was as glorious as their previous history gave reason to expect of them.
On the morning of the 9th of April, 1864, Green prepared to attack the Nine- teenth Army Corps on the crest of the hill at the peach orchard, but not a soldier was to be seen behind the deserted breastworks. Green pushed on with his cavalry towards Pleasant Hill, fourteen miles away, capturing large numbers of stragglers on the way without firing a gun. As he reached the open ground in front of Pleasant Hill, he saw the last of the Federals just entering the village. Here Banks was reinforced by ten thousand men, chiefly from the Sixteenth Army Corps, under command of General A. J. Smith. These reinforcements swelled his effective force, notwithstanding his losses at Mansfield, to more than eighteen thousand men. The village of Pleasant Hill is situated on a table-land rising along the Mansfield and Fort Jessup Road, a mile or more from east to west. On the western margin rises College Hill, where the road from the Sabine enters the hamlet. Blair's Landing lies on Red River, sixteen miles east, and Natchitoches and Grand Ecore are
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thirty-six miles away. The Federal fleet, supported by land forces, was on the 9th above Blair's Landing, forty-five miles by the river from Grand Ecore. The reconnaissance made by Green as soon as he reached the field showed the Federals to be posted on the edge of an old clearing partly grown up with young pines. The Federal right rested on a deep ravine, and extended to the left along the edge of the clearing and down a ravine to the edge of the rising ground, and thence with the acclivity back to the College Hill, where the left wing rested. The whole Federal line was thus concealed from sight. The main line with the artillery occupied the plateau. Green with his cavalry dismounted kept the Federals busy until the Con- federate infantry could arrive. Shortly after noon Churchill's division came up, being the first to arrive. They were so much jaded from long marching that they were ordered to lie down and rest for two hours. Then came Walker's and Po- lignac's divisions later, and they received similar orders. When the whole Confed- erate force had reached the field there were not more than twelve thousand effective men. At three o'clock P. M. Churchill was ordered, with his division and three regi- ments of cavalry and two batteries of artillery, to move to the right across the Sabine Road and turn the Federal left flank and make a vigorous attack ; a like attack was to be made by Major on the Federal right, and by turning this flank Major was to reach the rear of Banks and cut off his retreat to Grand Ecore. At half-past four
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