New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-17

the commanding GenerAl:
IiKaDQUARTERs RESERVE BRIGADE. }
BAYOU LAFouhcnE, NEAR lnlbobh4 ~, q Id
N,Jor: have the honor TO report that this morn.
inc at 6 o'clock dispatched Col. Brge, in command
of his REGIMENT fthe 18Th Connectcutl, Barnett
Cavalry and one section OF Carruhs Battery, down
the Bayou Lafourche, TO open communication WIN
the city. / have just received dispatch from nm
from Raceland Station in which be gays that be mas
communicated with Col Thomas, who 10 ono mile
and half from him. lie found at the station three
freight cars one passenger car, two bar6ete guns,
rpiaed (32 pourdersl, two l2pOund iron howiizcrs
in good order, and guns, equipments ~c'' scattered
along the road.
therefore nropose now TO give you more de-
tailed report Of my operations since left Donald
sonyie. ] left this place az o'clock on sunday
morning last, aud marched Oh the left bank until
was within one mile Of NapoleOnyiile, where d.
vouacked in line Of battle Believing that the enemy
wonld, by means OF the numerous iatboat ferries
which knew were In the bayou, probably cross
from one side Of tie bayou to the other, took IN
tow natboat bridge and carried 1t with mo all tie
way and have Il with me now. destroyed every
boat passed as a prudential military measure. /,
has proved OF invaluable service 10 me.
moved on the first day with but one company OF
the 9Th New-Uanp hire on the right bank. The
enemys scouts were continually in sight Of ny nd
vanced guard Of cavalry and Just before gong nto
camp one Captain OF the enemy was killed by my
advanced guard and three prisoners were taken.
Infe NfIIClF NliefNAfu one Oi tue OH ftf-ittAii-
shire pryaies On the light bank was taken prisoner
by the enemy.
/ / sialted on Monday morning again % 6 o'clock,
but feeling thgt the enemy was IN some force On INC
right baus, threw over the whole Of the 5in New
/ Hampshire and PERKINS, Cavalry by means Of ny
floating bridge, and IN this order moved down the
bayou.
! AZ II O'Clock, when was about two miles above
] iabldevillc, / received tie report that the enemy
was IN force about one nile ahead on the lelt bank
ana that they had six pieces OF artillery. immedi-
ately ordered four pieces Of Caruths Battery M,
/ two pieces were with tho rea7 guard aud Iuomp.
ron o was already ahead, and formed tue ljh Con-
nechrut and 18Th New-l0rk IN line Of battle TO sup
port Thompson.
Thee two regiments formed erlendidly, and
| moved % once forward % the attack, through q
dense c.nc-hei1. 4 moved on with them, and aitar
emerging fiom tho cano-held | received tho repor.
/ ihat the enemy Was IN Iosiuon on the night
bank Il % aad that he bad four pieces OF artillery
on chat side 40 The same time L received tue rc-
port that the eucmy's cavalry was in reer Of my
rear Guard. Iimmc lately sEung NY bridge across
/ tie bayou, ordered eight companies OF The l.th
Connecticut over 90 support the oh New-Hamp-
rhirc Leaving two companies Of tits regiment, one
section OF Cauu'hs Rsitery and williamson 3
cavalry q guard The rear. | immediately ordered,
al.o that q road be cut up the steep bank on bolh
sdos Of Tie bayou for the passage o. artillery and
nv TRAN. | found soou that the enemy on tho loit
bank after delivering only the fire OF iis advanced
! guard. Which Killed one Of my cavalry, and
wounded another, and killed two hortes, hsd dis-
appeared for some uDaccOuntahle reason. Fearing
sone ruse, uleiiaiey ordered tho i3.h C0nre't-
4 icut acrDral tie bayou TO support the sth New
| Hampshire nld tie l2ih Connecticut, Thompson s
Battery 90 play upon the enemy's artillery On the
night bank which was hnrg s?lendldly upon our
forces and ny bridge ordered Carruth 70 cross
over with his two advanced sections, ard the 15lh
| Ncw-lork 10 support Ih0mpE0nand guard the head
Of the bridge hnd the front OF tue Tram.
then creased over, ordered The S,h New-IIamp-
Shire 10 form 10 line of battle across the road ito
I9.h Connecticut 10 form on It's right and ordered
thetc forward 90 attack 90 They had scarcely
I commenced moving wien the 18Th Connecticut al
rived III double quick from aCross the bayou. inn
nodaiely ordered this IN reserve. Subsequently, az
N. center gu dee Of the sh Newlismpshire eud tie
18Th Connecticut moved IN different lines Oi diroc-
tiou tloy became Sufficiently sepamtcd to allow me
10 throw the 18Th Connecticut on the line between
tue two. ordered this regiment forward ia line Of
battle. The limo thus formed advanced steadily at
my command forward. In a very short time the
enemy battery re4eatcd, aud litC the infantry sup
rort The gat did not last long. 1 found that the
enemy had four pieces OF artillery IN the road. IL
was Counor's battery, Company A, Wiiher's Light
Artillery, commanded BY Capt. j. Ra,slon who was
wounded aud is low paFoled pnsJnef. This bat
terry WAS supported by the remnants o. the IL j
Louisiana and the Crescent City regiments, number
ing toget aer about 500 men. They were lying down
in ditch on the lower eide OF plantation road IN
the edge OF woods ut Georgia Landing, and luline-
dately on the lclt OF the battery.
\ o.dere1 Ckirnishers "a, once IN the woods 20 Pc
cure pri.oners. Cauuth arrived about this time and
/ cent him with ole section and Perkinss Cavalry
ia pursuit. They purued about four miles, Carruth
firing upon tho reTeGng forces on both sides OF the
bayou. ! have since learned that Simmsa Battery
OF dix pieces, supported by Col. Clarks the SD
Regiment Of Louisiana Volunteers. was in front on
/ the lei, bank.
/ loot n Killed and II wounded. Lieut.. Francis,
Of the 18th Connecticut, was taken prisoner before
the light. We have buried five OF the enemy, aud
Lave Il wounded IA our hospital but h.ye proof
that their loss was greater. / took lGS Of the
enemy prisoners the day of battle, and ~ of them
smce-tOtal pos: released them all on parole The
commanding officer OF the enemy, Col j. l.. Nc
/ pnecters, was killed. delivered his body 10 some
Of BIS brother officers who were prisoner aad he
was d,csntly buried near the battle field the Chap
laia OF the 5lh Newliaml shire officiating. One OF
tine pieces OF the enemys artillery broke down iu
the retreat. We secured il a. have il now in onr
! possession. an " my command did very well both
oficers and men. Tie Sth New hnmps hire advanced
steadily in iront Of the enemy's battery. Tie i2'h
and 18Th Connecticut crossed the bridge formed in
line of battle ualcr tie very accurate and splcndd
fire of tue eneiAy artillery, without seeming 20 no.
tee it NJ all. My cavalry has been of invaluable
service 10 me- 10th officers and men haze done
ap.end.dly. / wish had four times the number.
Tue ssnal corps, also, has been OF great advantage
! 10 M.
Icrossed over my rain and encamped on the battle.
! field; had my own and the enemy wounded put IN
Il house which 1 took "a hospital. | went into
camp the next morning tyeaterdayl | moved ou
down the riqht bank Of the bayou, throwing over
The Sjlh HewNoik and williamson Cavalry Oh The
lott bauk. 1 left about thirty wounded Of NY own,
! who could not DO moved, ana tho enemy wounded,
! in charge Of Surgeon i. ". Cummings. OF tho l3th
Connecticut, and leis with him proyisoua money
and supplies for their care. ! entered Thibodcaux
at 3 O'Clock T.. NJ. without opposition.
! certainly expected fight at this place. Wien [
arrived short distance from it, found from the
smoke Of burning bridges that they were retraatne