Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-15
Correspondence of the Worcester Daily spy.
Letter from the Banks EXpeditiOn-Par-
ticulors ofthe Fighting Ou the T+che.

Letter from the kSdnAS
ticSilars ofthe Fighting On the T"che.
HEADQUARTERS 3lst NJ. V.
Third Brigade, Sd Division 18Th Army UrPs
UPELOUsAs, La. April p. 1868
Again have we changed our position, and
again have we the pleasure of dating our let
tiers from new place. | wrote you think,
last from Alsiers where we stopped for sever
al days. From there we went, per ''Opelousas
and G. w. Il. r. Co." to Brashear city,
about eighty miles. We crossed Berwicks
bay the same night. occupying ground from
which Gen. Weitzel had driven the rebel pick
cts in the early morning. Here we Joined
Gen. WeitzePs brigade and Gen. Grover,
with his diyison) who arrived by way of
Donaldsonville. On the morning of the 18th
inst, we left Berwick city, Gen. Weitzel in
the advance, followed by Gen. Emory, (com-
handing the third diyision,) Gen. Grover
with his command being left behind. Gen.
Banks had command in person.
The rebels fell back before our advance I'M
til the morning ofthe 18th, when Gen. Weitz-
ell became engaged in Il very brisk skirmish
s just above Pottersvle The enemy were re-
phAoSu' al lillS liIOlllGul lllc received Or
ders to cross the Teche to the assistance of
the l45th New York, who were hotly engaged
upon that side OF the Bayou. Crhe I45th be-
longing to our brigade, had been detailed
the day previous to skirmish along the oppo-
site side Of the Bayou.) We crossed by the
pOntOun bridges accompanied by the LIST
Maine battery. We advanced rapidly for
few miles, the l45th skrmishing through the
canes and the 3lst marching forward as a re-
serve, until filing through a magnificent row
of catalpa trees Separating the two cane
felds) we entered the field fronting upon the
rebel earthwOrks.
About third of the way to the Notifications
was large sugar house and just beyond Il
long row of negro huts which the rebels in
their retreat had fired.
The New York men CALAMITY skirmished
through the cane until just beyond the sugar
house, when the rebels opened upon them with
shell from their batteries. Our two guns now
advanced and opened fire upon the rebels
During this time Gen. Weitze had not been
Idle. The stronger of the Notifications were
evidently upon the opposite side and our adj
vance had received serious check. Our guns
were quickly planted III position and the play
commenced. The roar of artillery soon rang
upon the air with quicker and quicker sue
ceedng crash, the answering notes from the
iNbNl DdttCllco anu lilC SunDOut l)ldnd (Dul
recently captured by them) booming forth in
rapid succession. This lasted for about three
quarters of an hour when we received orders
to retire into the field just passed through.
Thus was the 3lSt first baptised in fire. Dur
ing the night we slept on the banks of the
Bayou opposite an old bridge which was being
repaired to afford communication across the
Bayou. The 3lst threw out pickets around
our position. These were engaged in Skin
mshing with the rebel scouts all night. They
killed several during the night as the dead
bodies found in the cane the following morn
ing testified.
The early morning was occupied i'll replen-
ishing ammunition and rationS, both of which
were nearly if not quite out, by way of the
bridge which had been sufficiently repaired to
admit of communication Our batteries re-
manned silent, though the rebels amused
themselves (from the Diana) in endeavoring to
destroy the bridge. About ten O'clock Capt
Goodng, accompanied by the 3Sth Massachu-
sets volunteers, Lieut.. Col. Rodman, came
across the bridge and assumed command
While they were crossing the rebels improv~
ed the practice which they had obtained dur
ing the morning, and threw shot aud shell
with frighttuI precision. Though their guns
were admirably served, and the shot struck all
around the bridge, sometimes rcocheting
Ing them with water they sank with dull
splash beneath the muddy waves of the bayou,
yet, happily, none were hurt. As soon as
Col. GO0ding assumed command two compa-
MES of the 3lst were ordered to skirmish up
the edge of the woods towards the LETT of the
enemy's works. Soon came the order to de-
pl0y the remainder of the battalion as Skin
mishers in a line to extend from the woods to
the shore Of the bayou,and advance to discov-
er battery supposed to be planted just above
the sugar house. Steadily we advanced our
right being strongly opposed by the enemy'S
skrmiShers in the edge of the woods, until
the LETT of our line rested at the sugar house.
In short time the extreme left of our line
was ordered to advance and dislodge from the
remains of the hutS burned the previous day
any rebels who might be there.
Col. Gooding with his staff now took his
station at the sugar house, while his signal
officer mounted upon the roof to take obser-
vatiOns Of the rebel situation. In this posi-
ton matters remained about two hours, near.
ly the whole length of the line blazing with
fire, as our boys CALAMITY WED with the enc
my for the possession of the ground. About
this time | bethought me it would be grand
thing for me to take observations, too; so in
company with friend, | entered the sugar
house and mounted ladder to gable window
just under the roof After scanning the fOrti-
hcationS as carefully as possible with the ma
ked vision, and verifying observations previ-
oIsly taken from the top of stump, my eye
rested upon spot about a quarter of mile
in advance OF the Notifications, where there
evidently small force Of the enemy.
Wmle endenvoring to ascertain the nature of
their employment. a puff of smoke arose from
the spot, plainly indicating Ii field battery.
Becoming very much interested in the result,
l kept both eyes and ears open, when crash
went the root of the sugar house about ten
feet from and over me; the shot entering the
room aud sending bricks and splinters in ey-
cry direction. Not deeming my presence in
that very position a positive benefit to the
public service, | Immediately evacuated the
premises, and once more betook myself to
the line of skirmishers
About one o'clock in the afternoon our reg
iment was relieved by the 3Sth Massachusetts
volunteers, and we retired to replenish am
muniton. In the meantime we had been re-
inforced by the remainder Of the third brig
AIDE, (the ODD Massachusetts and the l56tl
New York.
Orders now came to advance to the final at
tack. The order of combat was as follows -
the l56th New Y ork on the right of the line
the 3Sth Massachusetts, on tile left. The Is
Maine battery was stationed one section abou
midway OF the right, and the other section oc
cupying the same relation to the left of the
line The 3lst and sd Massachusetts, anC
l45th New York volunteers werein position a;
81 -. rlt Lac