Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-18
0Qlurtester, GuesOag MOrnlng, Nub. Is, 1852.
The Engagement and Union Victory at
LabadiervilIc. La.

The Engagement and Union Victory ut
Labadiervillc. La.
The scene of Gen. Wetzeps victory on the
9th and 2Sth of October was on Bayou La
Fourche, some seventy five miles west of
New Orleans. The Delta of date immediate
ly following the occurrence gives the follow
ing interesting particulars of the engage
ment:
THE REGIMENTS ENGAGED.
The brigade of Gen. Weitzel was composed
of the Sth New. Hampshire, 18th and 18th
Connecticut, and 10Th New York regiments,
and LIST Louisiana. On Sunday, 10Th ult., the
whole column took up the line Of march down
the Bayou. All along the march, from the
very beginning, crowds OF negroes, of all
ages and both sexes, came rushing to the
banks to join the column. Many came with
packs of clothing, some with their picanninies,
but most of them empty handed. The wo-
men and children were not permitted to join
at first, as there was no transportation for
them, and they could only go few miles and
then fall by the wayside with fatigue. The
first day passed without encountering the en-
envy. except a few rowing bands, several of
whom were bagged and the army bivouacked
in the open field, at Il point about two miles
dUONG NdpOlGOnflllcs VII NlOnud1
the forces again took up the line Of march,
and had proceeded about five miles when the
Louisiana cavalry, on the left bank of the
bayou, discovered the enemy in some force on
the right bank. Thompson's battery was sent
forward and opened with shot and shell,
which was vigorously replied to by the batter
les below, posted on both sides of the bayou,
the battery on the right bank being the near
est.
THE BATTLE.
Gen. Weitzel soon made his dispositions to
attack the enemy, forming the attacking force
by placing the Sth New Hampshire on the
right, and ordered the 18th and 18th Connec-
ticut to cross over and form in line of battle.
Some artillery was also sent over. The cross
ing was effected under vigorous fire from
the rebel battery, the shells bursting around,
and some solid shot striking here and there.
But the two Connecticut regiments came
along without the least show of tlinching, and
took their places, when the order was given
to the New Hampshire boys to charge the bat
terry. Three of these companies, A, L, and
L, under command of Capts Barrett, War
rem, and Flanders, respectively, had been out
as skirmiShers, and had ascertained. that the
battery had three pieces, with an infantry sup
port. These companies after having fearless
ly secured the woods under heavy fire, were
called to take their places in the regiment,
Co. L having lost its brave Captain Warren,
while skirmishing; and all being ready, Col.
Fearing, ably seconded by Lieut. Col. Lall,
called on his regiment to Ego in," and in they
went, the balls and shells of the enemy flying
around in every direction, dealing death and
trightful wounds to the ranks. Little heed
they paid to that. On they went through the
underbruSh, over fences and bitches, until
they got near enough to deliver their fire,
which was done with such effect as to cause
an immediate stampede of the battery. The
same stampede could have been prevented but
tor the fact that the men were so fatigued with
the charge that they could not follow up. The
18th Connecticut, which formed the left wing,
came up in gallant style, and succeeded in
thanking nearly the whole of the left wing of the
enemy, who were in the woods. This cut off
their retreat and secured them as prisoners.
Ahe manner of surrender is said to have been
somewhat ludicrous. About thirty or forty
of them threw themselves into a wide ditch,
and falling upon their backs and knees, waved
their tattered white handkerchiefs in token of
submission. There were some 1875 prisoners,
rank and file, taken here, besides several Of
fcers. The confederate troops engaged be-
| longed to the 18th Louisiana and Crescent
regiments. The colonel of the latter, j. P.
McPneeters, was killed on the field.
THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY.
| The people are i'll desperate straits in this
region of country. They have no flour, no
shoes, very little salt, no butter, lard, candles
nor soap; IN fact the only things at all plenty
are sugar, corn, negroes, and shinplasters pay
able in confederate notes. They begin to
heartily wish for the restoration of the author
ity of the federal government That govern
ment protects them, feeds them, is like a pa
rent to them. The rebels burn their bridges,
their cotton, their sugar, impress their entire
male population into their half-fed, scantily
| clothed armies, and leave the women and
| children to starve at home.
1t is likely that many of the crops now in
the fields will be lost, as the whites have
| gone with the confederate forces-been COM
| PEELED to go-and the blacks have come with
in our lines. They are great source Of an
| nOyance to our army; but, under the act of
congress, and instructions from the powers
that be, in Washington, they cannot be turned
away. They are good foragers. Nearly every
man in the expedition has servant, even the
pricates. Some ofthe officers hare tl0o ortloree.
They are great foragers.