CHAPTER VI.
Camp at Opelousas—Cotton versus Potatoes—Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry—Term “boys” not to be used in Third Brigade—Arrival of Grierson’s Cavalry at Baton Rouge—The March resumed—Alexandria—Red River—Start for the Mississippi—Morganza.
Camp at Opelousas—Cotton versus Potatoes—Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry—Term “boys” not to be used in Third Brigade—Arrival of Grierson’s Cavalry at Baton Rouge—The March resumed—Alexandria—Red River—Start for the Mississippi—Morganza.
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TAYLOR’S force had by this time become completely demoralized and broken up, and a portion of it captured; there was no longer any fear of its assuming the offensive; and the army remained in camp until the 5th of May, while plans were being matured for the continuance of the campaign. Great inconvenience was experienced here from the scarcity of wood and water. Beginning with the nearest fences, the cooks and their assistants had gradually laid bare the fields beyond the picket-line. A muddy pond near the camp furnished a portion of the water, until the horses refused to drink it, when the men gave it up, and brought water from the wells, at a great distance. While laying here, long trains of wagons daily passed in sight of the camp, laden with cotton; and many of the volunteers, who had been accustomedto think for themselves, and still held that privilege in reserve, were of the opinion, that if the teams had been employed, under regularly organized fatigue parties, in bringing sweet potatoes and other vegetables into the camps, a more efficient force might have been taken to Port Hudson, and the country better served than in collecting cotton, even for its own benefit.
During the halt at Opelousas, a series of complimentary orders were read to the troops on parade, from Gens. Banks, Emory, and the brigade commander, Col. Gooding, congratulating them on their success, and expressing confidence in the successful prosecution of the campaign.
On the 24th, the division was reviewed by Gens. Banks and Emory. The first brigade (Col. Ingraham’s) had been broken up, and the regiments composing it stationed at the various important posts between Brashear and Opelousas; so that there were present only eleven regiments of infantry, two batteries, and some squadrons of cavalry. The Fourth Wisconsin made its first appearance at this review as cavalry. Mounted on horses and mules of every description, with most primitive and unique equipments, it excited considerable merriment, and gave little promise of thegreat reputation it afterwards attained,—the pride of the Army of the Gulf, and the terror of the rebels of Louisiana.
At this time, an order was issued by the brigade commander, forbidding officers to address the men as “boys,” saying that they were men in every sense of the word, and should be so styled at all times. The “boys” laughed at this new idea: the custom was too deep-seated in the service to be eradicated by a brigade order. The mails did not reach the regiment very often; and there were all kinds of rumors in regard to matters in the world outside. The announcement of the fall of Charleston was received with mingled cheers and expressions of doubt.
Monday night, May 4, an order was read on parade, announcing the arrival at Baton Rouge of a cavalry force under Col. Grierson, after a successful raid through the State of Mississippi. The news of this achievement was received with pleasure by the Army of the Gulf, as showing that the heavy drain on the fighting men of the South had begun to show itself by the defenceless state of that portion of the Confederacy away from the immediate vicinity of the chief rebel armies.
There was but little drilling at Opelousas, the intenseheat during the greater part of the time, making officers and men alike glad to seek the shade. Capt. Doten, of Co. G, resigned his commission at this time, and made a farewell address to the regiment before taking his leave. On the 30th, the regiment was mustered for pay; and Tuesday morning, the 5th of May, found it again on the march. Passing through the little town of Washington, about six miles from Opelousas, the route lay through a rich cotton and sugar section; but the greater portion of the land was now planted with corn, the rebels having learned that Cotton was no longer king. Marching for miles through these immense fields of corn, growing rapidly under the Louisiana sun, the men of the Thirty Eighth were amused at the ponderous articles which occasionally reached them in some of the Northern journals, demonstrating how easy it would be to starve the South into submission.
The roads began to be very dusty, and oftentimes the water was poor and scarce; but the army kept on its way, day after day, the men dragging themselves into camp at night, with blistered feet, and too tired to cook the fresh meat regularly issued. For four days, this forced marching was continued, barely stopping longenough at noon to boil a dipper of coffee. On the 8th of May, when a few miles from Alexandria, news came, that the gun-boats of Admiral Porter had reached that town, and that it was in possession of the navy. After a long halt at noon, the regiments unrolled their flags, the bands uncovered their instruments, and the army marched into the town in good order, to music which had become strange to this portion of the Union, and which was heard by the residents with no emotions of pleasure. The faces of the citizens wore that same expression of mingled bitterness and curiosity that had been noticed in Franklin, Opelousas, and Washington; and even the little children seemed to think it no pageant in which they should take delight. Marching through the town, the brigade went into camp on a level grass-plat, near the banks of the Red River.
By order of Gen. Emory, drills were dispensed with at Alexandria, and “every opportunity given the men to recover from the fatigues of the recent march, and prepare for the active duties still before them.” The river was alive with bathers daily; and its banks were lined with busy washermen. Gun-boats and transports steamed up and down the river, giving a lively appearance to theplace; but business, other than military and naval, was stagnant.
On the 14th, marching orders were received. Thereveilléwas beaten at two o’clock,A. M., the next morning (Friday); but the Thirty Eighth having the position of rear-guard, did not move until daylight. There had been heavy showers the day previous, turning the dust into mud, and the progress was slow. Still twenty miles were made, the army going into camp occupied by them on the upward march, on the banks of a bayou.
The next morning, the third brigade had the centre of the column, and the marching was easier. The old road was followed as far as the village of Cheneyville, when the route changed, and the army turned again toward the Red River. That night, the regiment camped in a cane-field near a large sugar-mill, stored with more than one year’s crop. The troops were liberally supplied with sugar by order of the division commander, the neighboring fields supplied adventurous foragers with new potatoes, and the plantation ditches were full of ripe blackberries; so that, with the fresh meat issued by the quartermaster, the regiment fared unusually well, and long remembered the bivouac by the old mill.
A short march was made the next day, the army going into camp at nine o’clock, near Simmsport, on the Atchafalaya River. There, to the great joy of every one, a large mail, both of letters and papers, was received; and the regiment once more learned how the world outside was moving. Tuesday morning, May 19, the troops were ferried across the Atchafalaya, and encamped on the other side, with the expectation of remaining several days; but Thursday morning saw the inevitable “orderly” ride into camp, and the column was again in motion.
For the past month, the weather had been rapidly growing warmer, the roads more dusty, and the swamp and bayou water on the line of march more unpalatable; and the regiment parted with regret from the clear Atchafalaya, with its green, shady banks, and its beautiful scenery.
A portion of the country in this vicinity having been flooded by breaks in the levee, the progress was slow; the artillery and wagons being obliged to go on top of the embankment raised to keep back the waters of the Old River,—a former bed of the Mississippi. The regiment went into camp about dark, in a woods, beyond a small town, and starting again at daylight, during the forenoonreached the Mississippi, at Morganza Bend. De Soto and his Spaniards greeted the mighty river with no more enthusiasm on its discovery than did the dusty and thirsty Army of the Gulf when it once more came in view. Its muddy waters were eagerly sipped, and the canteens filled for future use.