New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-10

inc DeSp Oh UHe Ullu6 dlIo8cu tHCHu hA VI
ganizing and equipping regiments and
forming army corps. All the expiration Of
six weeks we had thoroughly organized and
equipped an army of fifty thousand men
Ten thousand of the fifty thousand were III
the Southern States, ten thousand IN tue
Eastern States, and thirty thousand in the
Middle and Western States. The force OF
the Office holders numbered about one hun
dred and fifty thousand-one hundred
militia. Besides, they had control
of the navy, and all the principal forts, eX-
cept Fort Casey. But the people meant
fight and their leaders were experienced
officers The troops in the South were com:
handed by General Freeman on the side OF
the people, and General Polite on the side
of the officials, Or aristocracy, as they were
then called. Our troops in the East were
commanded by General Man, who was OPP
posed on the part of the aristocracy by Gen
eral Dust. Our forces in the Middle and
Western States were commanded by Gen
erals True and Tried. The generals OF the
aristocracy were Tax and Official. Inc
peoples cause was critical, because OF the
many divisions of their forces, but they
never lost sight of their duty, and were
only anxious to meet the enemy that they
might improve the cause of liberty. FINALLY
the day and the hour came, and the news
battle of Wide-awake Plain was fought
and won by the forces of the people.
Wide-awake Plain is about five miles from
the east bank of the Mississippi river and
about twelve miles above the then city OF
New Orleans, but now the city OF Frederick
William. The plain IS tract OF prairie
land containing about one. thousand acres;
1t is bounded on the north by small
stream called Bayou Tax, the Bayou Re
duction flows along its southern boundary,
and on its eastern boundary is dense
woods of large trees and underbrush. In
the centre of the plain is swamp or marsh
which contains about sixty acres; leading
from the marsh to Bayou Reduction is
canal from ten to fifteen feet wide and from
six to eight feet deep, and which contained
from three to four feet mud and water.
The forces of the aristocracy were drawn
I'D in line under General Polite, and Occu-
pied the ground to the south of the marsh,
with the left resting on the river and the
right on the canal running from the marsh
to the BAYOU Reduction, which bayou pro-
tected them from attack by cavalry, besides
they had the avantage of occupying piece
of high ground or knoll Immediately to the
south Of the marsh, upon which they had
erected a battery of eighteen guns. The
position was of their own choosing, and so
far as natural advantages were to be CON
sdered, it was the best that could be selected
for that particular occasion. 1t also brought
them within material aid of their fleet
on the river, which did considerable
damage to our forces, and entirely
protected their flank resting ON the
river AS l said, the forces OF the people
occupied the portion of the plain north OF
the marsh with their right resting on the
BAYOU Tax, and their left at the woods to
the east, thus forming an arc or halt circle,
and bringing their centre forward to the
marsh. Between them and the marsh was
a small ravine or depression OF the ground
extending from the woods to the river. To
meet the enemy they would have to cross
this ravine with their right, and expose 1t to
a cross fire from the enemys battery on the
rise in rear of the marsh and the fleet on the
river. They were unable to move their cen
ire forward, because of the swamp and the
enemy's battery. There was only one bridge
across the canal, and that was in the pos
session of the enemy. Their position seemed
critical. and they deemed it best to wait the
action of the foe.
1t was in q season when nature puts forth
her most beautiful foliage, and every tree,
shrub and plant seemed to vie with its
in acknowledging the wisdom
and goodness of Him who is the Father of
all, the Minister of sorrow and JOY, the Dis
penser of life and death, the Creator OF man,
sun made his appearance over the tops OF
the trees to the east he seemed to look down
on the cause of the people with smile of
approval and encouragement. and as he cast
his RAYS Of brightness and purity around
that little army of liberty and right they
fell on their knees and with hearts acknowl-
edging the greatness, goodness and justice
of God, and with hands upIitted and eyes
turned to heaven implOred his protection
for +bair 70 rniliaS their lives their liberties
and their country. The wait for the enemy
was not long The sun was hardly thirty
high when he began to move his
left forward under protection of the fleet, at
the same time he opened a tremendous fire !
on our centre from his battery i'll rear of the
swamp. The first division of our little army
was ordered to cross the rayine and take |
possession of piece of high ground on the
opposite side: at the same time our left adj |
yanced towards the canal bridge held by the |
enemy BY this time a battery in rear of our |
centre had engaged that of the enemys. |
On our right the enemy charged and drove |
back the division that had crossed the IA
vine, while on our left our troops had |
forced the bridge and gained footing on |
the enemy's side. At this juncture, and in |
a perfect rain of shot and shell, General |
Freeman rode along the line and ordered !
company of sappers and engineers to the |
bridges and p0ntO0ns across the canal. |
During this time the battle was raging on |
5he right, and the enemy, with tie aid OF !
he feet. had driven back our right so far !
rs to obtain a position on the north OF the !
'avine. As soon as crossing was Effected |
over the canal a squadron OF cavalry and |
,ur entire left took a position on the enc |
nys ground. The line was at once formed |
with the cavalry on the left flank and the !
oh nd
pack under cover of the fleet. In this |
charge, the enemy's battery was captured |
md used against their left that had crossed |
he ravine and were fast forcing back our
light. This attack on their rear and flank |
hrew a division of their force, that was
lbout to cross the ravine to reinforce their
comrades, into confusion, which prevented
hem from giving the necessary support
when needed, and the troops engaged see
ng the achievements falling back and
themselves attacked in the rear, began
gradually to retrace their steps toward the
'avine, which was taken for a retreat by
,ur men. and with a hurrah that fairly made
he ground tremble, and the courage
If true patriots, they bounded forward and
orced the enemy back to the ravine in
liter confusion. A small squadron of cav
dry on our right, taking advantage of the
state of affairs, pounced upon the enemy,
md turned confusion into defeat and com
,lete Generalization, and thus ended the
)attle of Wide-awake Plain. When night
anne upon us it shut out from our view
he scene of carnage and blood, occasioned
" the vile ambition of man, and his base
lesire to be in the flesh superior to his fell
Ow-creatures. The enemy saved themselves
" gaining the cover of the feet. We lost,
n the action, about twenty five hundred
TILED and wounded, the aristocracy about
Gya hmm lad nd |
.a,l-od the fleet lnaE-incc tlln I-;ctorS t., |