Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-06-25

18th, at IL P. B., and at / A. NJ. va.
again ordered TO march. My men were rnncb
fatigued, having had but little sleep and ver-
short rations; they, however, marched on
with alacrity. Gen. Smiths army now WAS
rear guard TO Ger. Ranks' army.
We marche1 by daylight six miles IN
Marksville, where Gen. Banks artillery was
engaging the enemy in our front. Gen
Smiths army deploying to the right, nv rep
ment was the extreme left one. Our brigade
was now advanced in column by battalion
We advanced three miles, in this manner. 10
Mansurura, where the enemy made a stand
We had an open prairie, three miles wide. 10
advance over. The enemy opened on US. a.
we advanced, with heavy and light pieces Of
artillery, giving US canister and spherical
case. Our brigade was now advanced q
echelon. This order was continued a half
mile farther, when the brigade was formed
in line, my regiment upon the left. Musket
~ was now freely sbowered upon us. Our
brigade charged forward upon his guns, bu,
he succeeded in limbering up and getting
them off by way of a by-road that we wers
not aware of. He left his dead and wounded
on the field. My skirmishers captured some
prisoners. My regiment in this action had
s severely wounded and % slightly wounded
"
continuous artillery fires my command were
ever fredericksburg 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 Calhan 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.
tilIery 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 lin
the head) of Capt. King, Co. &C." Early on
the morning of the 10th the rear cavalry was
pressed in upon our rear skirmishers. Co.
"D,n under command of Lieut.. Mcclure, Of
Co. Of" was deployed from my regiment,
and our skirmishers having repulsed them,
we were moved within four miles of Simme.,
port, our original point of debarkatiOn in
March last.
Gen. Banks army and most of our train,
I, having nearly completed the crossing of the
Atchafalaya,-w crossed on our pOntOOn 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 skirmish.
ers advanced, covering the line. A short but
terrible conflict Immediately took place. We
had thirty pieces of artillery engaged on our
side, and presume the enemy had as many
They were repulsed and driven three miles
| Gen. Smiths loss was goo killed and wound.
ed. The enemy lost 325 killed and wounded
and $50 prisoners. My Co. d lost -four
wounded, and Lit. Mcclure, MORALLY. He ex-
PRED the following day The next day, We
crossed the Atchafalaya, and reached the
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 eontinuOu:
| 6ghting-for 81 days-that my regiment has
ever before been engaged in. Half the time
my men have been on short rations, and no
opportunity have l had to get clothing for
them in the past three months. My noble
soldiers are barefooted and in rags, neverthe
less the health and efficiency of the men
never was better. The campaign has been
failure, but in every instance that our arm!
| (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 We
have had during the expedition.
am sir, with high regard,
Your ob'dt servant,
j. w. JEFFERSON,
1t. Colonel Com. sth w. V. Inf. Vols.