Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-05-22
Correspondence. 6
From t,,r Maine a6h Regiment

From the Maine 26ih Regiment
The following account Of the battle in
Louisiana, in which the Maine 18th took
an honorable part, is from the pen of "A
member Of the Ellsworth Company of
said Regiment
Saturday evening April 18th, our rag
ment embarked on board the Laurel Hill
ani on Sunday morning We sailed from
Brashear, the boat was literally GRAINED.
We sailed up the Bayou very cautiously
till Monlay morning, when we came to
the place Of landing which is called In
'lian Bend. Several Companies were at
once landed anil were as soon fired upon.
Then quite severe skirmish ensued l.
The shells from our glnboats were thrown
right over cur transports aud one of the
rebel shells struck about twenty feet from
u. Oar forces LANDED and spent all OF
Monday in skirmishing and reeonnoitcr-
ing. Monday night We formed in line OF
battle anl slept on eur arms. At four
a. ", Tls> lay, our right was ordered in
to line anl fled to the riyht down a
road between which and the woods very
large corn-Ged interviewed. After pass.
ihg along the road for mile or two, Col.
Butgc ordered Us DIVA towards the
y Gods to support the skirmishers. We
had not more than reached our position
and formed into line, our front flcin- the
wools, before they opened upon US with
shot aud shells. We lay fiat down and
awaited orders. The position was any
thug bat pleasant, those eonlounded shells
bursting aud screcehing over cur heads.
1t was bat few minutes, though it
seemed much longer, when one Of our
batteries took position some distance be-
hiid Us aud fired into the woods. The
shells passed directly over US but it sent
thrill Of JOY throughout every heart to
hear them, for we knew they carried ter
ror into the ranks of the rebels. We lay
there perhaps fifteen minutes when Com
manlcr Barge rode up and ordered our
regiment to charge down to the woods and
waste no ammunition. ., We did so and
brave'y did our boys sustain themselves.
Bang-bang-bang, went the rebel artillery,
ticn came perfect rattle Of muskc'ry
and the bullets flew thick and fast while
the gray backs yelled like so many devils.
About this time the order came to lie
down, fire /, load fire. The first man |
saw wouaded was Corporal Warren Call
shot IN the head, then two or three more
were quickly carried to the rear. The
firing ceased little and we were ordered
to advance again. We advanced three
times. The last time the regiment on
our right fell back and the rebels came
out on our right flank, and came right
amongst us. l drew my pistol and shot
twice at them, when We were ordered to
fall back. We did so without panic. |
saw three men fall right around me as we
were commanded to fall back. How es.
capel being hit is a mystery, as | was
nearly the whole length of the line dur
ing the hardest of the fighting.
We were under the fire of the enemy
an hour aud ten minutes. After getting
out from under their fire, we reformed
our line aud received compliment from
General Grover He rode along and
said, "boys you did we'll" After we fell
back, fresh troops advanced, also more
artillery and drove them from the wood.
Our next move was down into the
wood, where we remained in liue of battle
till 6 o'clock p. NJ, while there several
shells from rebel gunboat burst over US.
You will probably see list OF the
killed and wounded in the American
Sylvester Jellson was shot dead from our
company. Ten were wounded quite bad
y anl one or two slightly, all are doing
well. The next day after the battle we
started in pursuit of the enemy, and fol-
lowed them closely till last night. march
ing from fifteen to twenty miles day
We are now encamped about mile from
Opelousas, the rebel capital of the State.
During the igh. Lieutenant Whitcomb