Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1863-07-15
THE BATTLE AT BERwICK's BYA, Ia.
special Dispatches from Beaumont 10 the Houston Telegraph
ALENANpRIA, June 30

You may remember that two or three weeks since
predicted that young StonewAl, Gen. Dick Taylor,
would In few days astonish the entire Confederaey
by his acts. The following record, gathered chiefly
from the columns Of the Louisiana Democrat published
to-day which has had an opportunity Of gaining OH.
eial Information, speaks for itself: .t..4t
Gen Taylor with Wal er's division fought the cne-
my At Ashland, in North louisiana, on the 7th Inst,
Before starting on this espedtion he had dispatched
OF his staff officers Southwest Louisiana, 20 keep
him advised Of matters in tina, direction. 80 II,
Information he received about this time determined
him make the movement which has resulted SO gori
oasly to our In half hour he in the sad.
de In this way and in ambulance he travelled
through from Richmond, La, TO Alexandria in three
days, hardly pausing 10 rest pushed on with relays OF
horses, overlook Col Majors, commanding brigade Of
cavalry on the A,chafaaya, and instantly unolded &c
him his plan Of campaign in which that gallant young
officer was TO play such conspicuous part. Majors
was 10 push boldly through the Crosse Te,c, Marigny
aud la Fourche country Donagdsonville, thence TO
the Thibodcaux, or the railroad and telegraph
mun!Cauon, then push rapidly to the Boeuf river in
the rear Of Brashear City, and ut the first sound Of
Moutons and Green's guns, attack at that place. Az
ter seeing Col. Majors well his way. Gen. Taylor
returned, vn Washington, TO Opelousas, and pushed
on rapidly Gems. Mouton and Green's headquarters
to superintend in person The attack Brashear City
and its forts
| Orders had already been given them to make this
attack in advance of Majors movements and dircc-
tions open communications with him, via the Lakes
so that they could make combined movement. Two
of Gen. Tayors staff had been urging on preparations
for crossing the troops over the Bay. Lieut. Henry,
particularly had used every exertion, under directions
of Brig Gen Green in the construction of skfs and
fats Mai. Gen. Taylor arrived at Gen. Moutons
headquarters the morning of the 2lst Gems. Mou-
ton and Green had not been idle in carrying out their
ordera For the few days previous they had organized
the different corps and their positions in the mpend
ing attack.
Shortly after Gen Taylors arrival at headquarters,
one of his staff brought up from Gen. Green's head
quarters dispatch at II NJ, the previous day, from
Col Majors That daring commander had already at
| IoIp rtnr riu nj
| whole La Fourche, had captured Plaquemne with one
hundred and fifty prisoners destroyed three large sea
going vessels loaded with valuable stores; had taken
Donaldsonyille with its garrison had attacked that
same day the enemy at Thibadoux; driven him with
Pyron's Texas infantry at the point of the bayonet
from his strong position had charged and routed his
cavalry by charging him with Lanes Stones and
Phillips Texas cavalry and was now ready to coope'
rate with us in our movements of tho morrow.
AT 81, the evening Of the 2lst, forlorn hope,
composed Of volunteers from the different regiments
embarked in the sfs and and sugar coolers prepared
for them. Theirs was the proud privilege of stormng
the almost mpregnable fort the opposite side of the
bay dawn the following morning, while Gen. Green
and Gen. Mouton occupied them at different points in
tiuir front II was composed before remarked, Oi
volunteers from the 5th Texas, Greens old regimcnt)
2nd Louisiana Cavalry, WOllers Battalion, and Ind
regiment Arizona Brigade all under command Of the
gallant Major Hunter of the latter
| 1t hazardous mission to cross the Lake L.
miles in these fral barks to land at midnight on the
cnemys side in an almost impenetrablc swamp, and
await inc GAVIN OF 10 make the desperate attempt
which would insure them victory or soldiers death
but they seemed to treat it holiday frolc they
were rowing away waving their hats to Gen. Tayloi
and Gen. Mouton, who werc on the banks watching
| their departure. The boat expedition having left
Gems. Taylor and Mouton proceeded to Patersonvile
to arrange for the other movement. Mouton with the
7th Texas 4th Texas and End Arizona Regiments stood
post at Gibbons Point on an Island Of that name and
Immediately opposite Fort Buchanan. From this place,
his Sharpshooers could sweep the gunners from their
positions in the fort. Gen. Green with his old regi'
| 1Ia,fa D.,.,1 D,,xl
Val Verde and Nichols batteries, took position just be-
! fore day in Berwick city, ready to open on all their
camp, which extended up and down the opposite bank
for two miles also to keep in check their gun boats.
Every matter Of Importance being now ready Major
General Taylor waited with confidence for the boom Of
Green's artillery, which was to be the signal Tor attack
Immediately after daylight Gen. Green fired the first
gun from the Val Verde Battery, at gunboat of the
enemy, which was seaming up tho bay in the dircc-
ton of the upper Fort Buchanan Instantly the whole
bay was in blaze All of our guns first played upon
the immense line Of tents Of the enemy, which were
occupied by about thousand Yankees-They were
completely surprised. They had not imagined az
enemy in twenty miles of them this side Of the bay
Their prisoners admit this. Their heavy guns from
the three forts opened on Green; at the mo
ment the sharp crack Of Moutons thousand Enfield
rifles are heard continually from Gibbons Point sweep
ing their gunners from their places, like whirlwno
would sweep the desert All are anxious TO hear the
roar Of Majors guns. The worthy pupil Of old Stone
wall strains his for the signal If Majors has ar
rived at The Beuf Crossing, we have bagged them
All still We do not hear them, although the can
nonading has been going on without intermisson 70
| one hour and half What has become Of the stornn
party7 They have not yet attacked. There is
sign of them.
! Presently we hear one, two and three the long di
ant sound OF artillery from the Beuf-Maors is ther
Their communication is cut off completely. Just
this moment, TO add TO the enemies confusion and d
aser the long looked-for forlorn hope made it's
uearnoe in the edge Of the woods With real Tex
veil they at once dashed with bayonets fixed, and p
tolls drawn full at the threatening walls Of the pro
| Fort--In twenty minutes they had climbed the wal
dispersed its garrison down the stars and sriI
and hoised the bonnie blue Aag its ranparts.
Leaving small band to take Of the Fort, I
gallant Hunter rushed TO the camps below the t.
fighted enemy throwing down their arms and SURE
dering ndiscriminately until he had swept the wht
place Green in the meantime had engaged their gu
boats with the Val Verde and Nichols Batteries,
after hot contested duel Of half hour, drove
shamefully away. In half an hour Gems. Taylor, Nc
ton ana Green, with their respective STATE, had tn
headquarters in the city of Brashear
The result--capured eighteen hundred prisoners A.
three commissioned officers three millions commissa
stores one million Eve hundred thousand quarterms
er's stores two hundred and fifty thousand ordnan
stores one hundred thousand medical st5res tven
three garrison and regmentsl aags one thousand ten