Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-06-22

10Th, at IL P. NJ, and at A. NJ
again ordered to march. My men were NJ
tatlgued, having had but little sleer, and -.--
snort ratlons; tney,< however, .marcbad
with alacrity. Gen. Smiths army nov out
rear guard to Gen. Banks army. was
We marched by daylight six miles =
MarksylHe, where Gen. Banks artiIlerv ~
engaging the enemy in our front Co..
Smiths army deploying to the right, nv reci.
ment was the extreme left one. Our brigade
was now advanced in column by batts7io-
we advanced three miles, in this name -
Mansurura, where the enemy made stan
W e had an open prairie, three miles wide -
advance over. The enemy opened on Us a.
we advanced, with heavy and light pieces 81
artillery, giving US canister and snbericaI
case. Our brigade was now advanced =
echetoR This order was continued a hale
mile farther, when the brigade was forma4
in line, my regiment upon the left. Musker
ry was now freely showered upon us. Gu,
brigade charged forward upon his guns, but
he succeeded in imbering up aud rettipg
them off by way of a by-road that we were
not aware of. He left his dead and wounded
on the field. Ny shcmishers captured some
prisoners. My regiment in this action had
s severely wounded and 20 slightly WOUNDED
This action as one of the worst and most
continuous artillery fires my command we're
ever under-Nicksburg and Corinth not ex-
cepted. We advanced for five miles over an
open plain, and after We had succeeded in
gaining the woods, charged the enemy's lines
and guns and drove him off ignominiously;
had it not been for the bye road in his rear
as before mentioned, which was unknown to
us we should have captured his guns.
On the morning of the 18th at Calnan plan
tation, and the same evening at Bayou de
Glaise, our brigade and the Sd brigade OF our
division lay in ambush with II pieces of ar
tillery awaited the approach OF the enemy,
and upon each occasion, when he came up
punished him severely. His loss was great
| was much panied at the severe wound lu
the head) of Capt. King, Co. :" g." Early Oh
the morning of the 18th the rear cavalry was
pressed in upon our rear skirmishers. Co.
| d." under command of Lieut. Mcclure, Of
| Co. "F," was deployed from my regiment
| and our skirmishers having repulsed then
we were moved within four miles of SHINE
port, our original point of debarkation in
March last.
Gen. Banks army and most of our train.
having nearly completed the crossing of the
Atchatalaya,--we crossed on our pontoou Of
boats-Gen. Smith decided to give battle. a
portion of his army was put in motion TO the
rear Co d, and the whole line of skirmisl.-
! ers advanced, covering the line. A short but
| terrible conflict Immediately took place. We
had thirty pieces of artillery engaged on Gun
! side. and L presume the enemy had as Biany
| They were repulsed and driven three miles
| Gen Smiths loss was 200 killed and wound
/ ed The enemy lost 325 killed and wounded,
| and $50 prisoners. Ny Co. d lost four
wounded, and Lit Mcclure, morta!ly He ez-
| PRED the following day, The next day, We
| crossed the Atchaialaya, and reached tar
mouth OF the river on the Mississippi.
| The campaign having closed, our army is
| embarking TO move up the Mississippi River
! This campaign has been one of the most az
duous, fatiguing, and the most continuous
! fghting-for - days-that my regiment has
ever before been engaged in. Half the time
| my men have been on short rations, and ~
! opportunity have l had to get clothing for
| them in the past three months, My noble
| soldiers are barefooted and in rags, neyerthe-
! less the health and efficiency Of the men
never was better The campaign has been
! a failure, but in every instance that our army
| (Smith's) has had occasion to fight the enc
| my, we have whipped him and drove him In
| disorder: and / am thankful that my casual
ties are no greater. (They are less than
| some other battalions) The regiment has
been among the first to the front, and the
last to leave it, of many of the conflicts wg
have had during the expedition.
| | am sir, with high regard,
Your ob'd't servant,
j. w. JEFFERSON,
| IT TnInuoI Com. OH ". V. Inf Vols