Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-06-16
First Vermont Battery in tho Lou.
isiana Campaign.
OFFICIAL REPORT.

We are indebted to Adj. Gen. Wash
burn for the following copy of Capt.
Hebard's Report .a
HEADQUARTERS lsr VERMONT BATTERy,)
Camp near Morganzia, La
May oath, 1854.
GENERAL I have the honor to submit
the following report of the part sustain
ed by my battery during this campaign;
Leaving Franklin, La, March 10Th,
with the First Division Nineteenth Army
Corps, marched to Alexandria, La, one
hundred and eighty miles distant, arri-
wing March 26th, having met with no
opposition from the enemy. Left Alex
andria March 18th, marching to Match
itoches, eighty miles distant, arriving
April I'd. Left Nachitoches April 9th,
marcsing to Pleasant Hill, forty miles
distant, arriving at D p. IN. April Ith.
Marched from Pleasant Hill to point
called Wallace's Mills, a distance of tif-
teen miles, arriving at 8 p. H., where,
by order OF Brig. Gen. Emory, command
ing First Division Nineteenth Army
Corps, my battery was to remain until
IuIbItT OTueIS. Az r. ILL., my bStteSiy
was ordered to the front, by Capt. ID.
w. Closson, Chief of Artillery, Nineteenth
Army Corps, with orders TO report to
Brig. Gen. Arnold, Chief of Artillery, De-
partment of the Gulf, which order l en-
deavored to obey but the roads were so
completely blocked with cavalry and
baggage wagons, that after working I'M
til midnight, and having arrived within
one mile of the scene of action, | was, by
order OF Gen. Stone, halted and directed
TO await until further orders. At l a.
IN. on the 9th, by order of Capt. Clos
som, / reversed" my battery. and with
Gen. Cameron's Division OF the Nine
| tenth Army Corps, retired to Pleasant
Hill. where went into bivouack until i
D. m, at which hour, by order OF Brig.
| Gen. Arnold, | took position on the left
| of the Natchtoches road, and on the
right of the Third Brigade First Divis-
| ion Nineteenth Army Corps. At p. M
| by order or Gen. Arnold, | opened fire
on the enemys artillery, and with good
| success, as my gunners succeeded in dis
| mounting ten pound Parrot which
the enemy had opened on us.
| Shortly after dismounting this gun,
the enemy charged in force upon my
| battery, but opening a severe fire OF can
mister upon them at short range, did
| very great execution, and checked their
| advance. My support (the o9th lndiana)
| advancing at the same time, the enemy
were repulsed and driven back Lieut.,
| Rice. with the right section of my bat
| tery, was now ordered to reinforce bat
tery L, First United States Artillery, on
the right, near the Mansfield road, but
owing to the nature OF the ground and
| the position of our own forces, it could
not be used to advantage.
The remainder of the battery advanced
at the same time towards the right and
center, and opened on the enemy at diff
ferent points during the remainder OF
the action. The battery remained in
position on the field until 2 a. m. the
10th when, by order of Gen. Emory,
reioiped the First Division and retired
with the army to Grand Ecore.
The casualties OF the battery during
this engagement were but slight,-ont
man, private Jesse Laundry, OF Montpel
Ter, being slightly wounded in the leg
and five horses killed and wounded
During the engagement the officers and
men behaved with great courage even
when the enemy were within fifty yards
and within speaking distance, not an of
ficer or man left his post. M g,
After the action the battery retired tC
Grand Ecore, distance Of 40 miles, ar
irving April 10Th. While at Grand
Ecore, my battery was, by order of Capt
Closson, transferred from the lst divis
ion to the reserve artillery of the corps
and my guns were sent away on detach
ed service, as guards on board transports
during their trips to Alexandria and
down the river.
/ received orders to fall back to Alex,
andria April 22d, but had but two guns
as my others had not not yet rejoinet
} the battery from detached service.
On arriving at Cane River, April 23d
the enemy were found posted on a bluf
at the crossing, and with seven piece,
of artillery in position commanding it
with large force Of mounted infantry
as support
In connection with the forces of Gen
Birge, who crossed the river above theil
position to flank them, | was ordered Il
take one section of my battery, unde
Lieut. Rice, and three pieces of heavie
calibre (twenty FOUNDER Parrotts) be
longing to the lst Indiana heavy artil
lery, and engage the enemy. The actor
commenced with Gen. Birge engaging
the enemy, when l at once opened OF
the artillery in my front. The actor
/. was severe, lasting about two hours
. when the enemy retreated from their pc
sition leaving as a trophy to the Is
} Vermont a battery wagon filled witt
/ supplies, which was brought off tn
: field by Sergeant John Rowland. Sew
eral prisoners We're also taken. | crossed
{ the river with the section of my batter,
l and one gun each from the 10Th n. Y
e and lst Delaware batteries, and will
{ them, in connection with the I'd N. Y
e veteran cavalry, pursued the enemy un
: til midnight. with but little success,
] being in a dense pine forest The re
II mainder of the division coming up earl