The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-11-26
Important from Louisiana.

Battle of the Bayou C0tsau--B Bravery Of the
Chic and Indiana Regiments Eagaged-
Their Severe Losses. .--
ICorrespondence OF the New York Herald
New ORLEANS, Nov. 1O-The item of
news in this department next in i'm
portance to the Texas expedition is the
late battle in the Teche country, near
Grand COtean, November 8, 1868.
The following is q sufficient report of
the battle, furnished by the kindness of
an intimate friend:
The Army of the Gulf, consisting of
two divisions of the 10Th army corps, the
first division commanded by gadier-
General Weitzel, the third division by
Brigadier- General Grover; two divisions
of the 18th army corps, under Generals
Washburne and Burbridge, the entire
force under Maior- General franklin,
marched to OpelOusss, sent forward 3
large cavalry force under Brigadier-
General Lee, which drove the enemy
from these points, and then secuted the
country in that vicinity. They overlook
partisan bands of rebel troops, and
they captured, killed and wounded some
of them.
The army remained in camp eight or
ten days, and orders were issued to
march, not forward, but back to Carbon
Crow Bayou and VermiIlion Bayou; the
18th corps to take up quarters at the
former place, the 10Th at the latter.
Burbridge's division, consisting Of the
1st Brigade, under Col. Owen (the two
other brigades having been ordered, one
General Cameron's-to Washburne's
division, the other to New Iberis(, was
ordered to camp ct the edge of the
woods, the right resting on the 0pslousas
Road, with the prairie in front. 1t was
a dangerous position. Washburne's d.
vision being encamped at Carbon Crow
Bayou; three and q halt miles away,
with excellent cover of woods on the
right for the enemy to advance, and
prairie front and rear and around; but
the General posted his pickets strongly,
and placed his artillery in good positions,
and disposal of his cavalry so that they
could act promptly and effectively. The
day following Tuesday, November 81
the enemy's cavalry began skirmishing
with ours, but after short time fell
back. Pickets upon the right were
doubled, and an hour before dag light the
brigade was under arms.
Col. Owen, with his staff, rode to the
front to examine the position Of the enc
my, and remained an hour, during which
time Captain Friedly rode with some
men two miles TO the front of the pickets,
sud shelled the woods with q section of
the 18th Ohio battery, supported by the
SD Ohio regiment, while the 60th Indi-
ana watched the right flank The firing
ceased. A forage train, originally order
ed by Gen. Burbridge TO 90 with an es-
cort at 8 A. NJ, was now started by Or
der of the General, and the SD Ohio was
designated at IL A. N. to go with it
Scarcely had the train emerged from the
wood on our rear, when the pickets on
our right began firing, when Col. Owen
ordered the regiment 10 hold themselves
in readiness, at aud the same time inform
ing Gen. Burbridge. A section of artil-
lery was now ordered to that point. |
supported by the 96th Ohio, and Cob |
Indiana was sent to hold the bridge and I
small bayou in the skirt of the woods, /
and to throw out skirmishers in advance |
to feel for the enemy, his force and Po-
sition. Horse artillery was sent out; I
but our forces in the field were in danger |
of the fire, and it was called in, and /
shelled the woods wherever man show |
ed himself Our cavalry and pickets
now fell into the woods. General Bur-
bridge now ordered the Goth Indiana to
advance. Lieutenant Richardson, acting /
Assistants AdjutAnt General of Col. 0w- I
ems staff, remained with them until his 1
horse was shot under him, r1ilying the |
men, when Gen. Barbridge ordered him
10 bring up the goth Ohio 10 their sup
port, the General brsvely cheering on the
men. The enemy and our own men were
now 50 close together that it was impos-
sible TO use the artillery. Captain Slick,
Brigade Inspector, was 80 place . section
Of the 18th Ohio battery in position On
5 slight eminencs on the pfairis in our
'front.' supported BY the 9Th Indiana.