New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-16
TIE ST. NhRTiNSqItLS EXPEDITION
CENTRAL RADGERs OFFICIAL REPORT

EFADou.kTERs METRorrL.7AS BR:c.pR.
| F!l6: D-v.sICL. LuE1siaLa State Eatlonai Guard
| New Orleans, May is, 1873.
Erigader General Henry Street, Adiatant Genera
| ot LOUIS an;
GENERAL-l have the honor 20 repor
| that i'll pursuance to orders received on the
| 81 cOnd instant, directing me 70 move with
detachment of the Metropolitan Brigade
| 70 ST. Martinsvile. Louisiana, and insta.l
the legally commissioned parish officers
suppress violence or disorder, should any
occur, and dis2erse any armed body in an
attitude OF resistance TO the legal State gov.
ernment, proceeded via MOrgans Lousi
ana ana Texas railroad and steamer Iberia,
with lG7 officers and meh, including artil-
lerv detachment, with a brass piece to New
Iberia, reaching there DIT A. NJ, fourth IN
slant. Starting frotI thence early in tue
morning, my cumluand marched toward St.
MartlDsvllle.
On the march intelligence was received
that Alcibiade DeBlaIc, officially styling
himself Colonel Of s.. Martinsville militia.
had c,llet ted some 600 or $50 armed men,
and was dc termined to oppose the entrance
OF my command into ST. Martinsville. We
continued on, throwing out strong skir.
misL line, Colonel Leblanc offering no re
sis!ance, but evacuatlng the town with his
forces upon our approach.
About = p. NJ, May IA, my infantry occ: i.
pied the courthouse, commodious brick
| building, well calculated, from it's situation
and substantial construction, to resist at
| tack DeBlaEcs forces retreated about
three miles to a swanpy island known as
Cypress island" heavily timbered and in
| accessible, save over two or three narrow
bridges. II subsequently appeared that ar.
tiliery could not bc handled on this ground
| with advantage or safety. which fact prob.
| ably prompted him TO seek the position,
Pickets were Immediately thrown on:
ard a cavalry patrol established. re-
connoiteriag party Of mounted men ex-
changed shots during The afternoon With
tie enemy: AT II ?. NJ; two Of Taylor's
cavalry. Privates Bah Ion and Biuatt,
while ON picket duty halted a squad of five
or six OF DeBlanc's men. The latter at
| once fired, wounding abvlOn severely End
Bruatt dangerously; also both horses D &.
Blanc's men Immediately fed, leaving q
shotgun and pistol upon the scene OF ths
! firing. The remainder Of the night Of the
fourth, and also nights OF the fifth ard
sixth, the garrison were harrassed and dis.
turbed by picket firing.
On Monday. fifth Instant, the parish Off.
GERS all.took their offices save the sheriff.
| Bienvenua who refused to accept com.
mission from Governor Kellogg. Court
was opened by deputy sheriff. an az.
| pointee OF the sheriff elect. The latter,
| through fear. it is said, never sought 70
obtain his Office. Judge Train opened The
District Court On the sixth or seventh
| instant.
Tuesday. sixth instant, a body o; cavalry
opened brisk fire from the opposite side
of Bayou Teche on our pickets. Wsdnes-
day afternoon. seventh instant. moved on
the eEemy's camp with about forty infar.
try. twelve or fourteen cavalry and a
| twe!ve-pounder Napoleon gun opened fire
!
drove chem into the woods toward their
camp: then. approaching as near as the
bayous or cOulies which surround Cypress
Island would permit, Captain Gray opened
fire on their camp with artillery. DeBlanc's
forces lett the camp and moved two col.
! ulnns out from their right, with the eviden:
parpose OF attacking nv letc flank and
iear. To meet this flank movement
was compelled TO move a short
coulie or gully in the prairie. We then
moved forward against this tianking eel.
uJnn, and drove them back across the prai.
rie. Captain Taylor and his squad of
mounted men following them fairly OUT of
sight. After waiting for Taylor to return.
we lesurely marched back. 70 quarters in
the courthouse at St. Martinsyille. In this
skirIuisii, whicl. can hardly be dignifed
into an engagement, there were no casual
ties on our side. DeBlanc displayed about
zoo men. which was, think. the larger
part of his command. At that period | had
information that he lost as fast by deser.
,ions as he gained by re;nturcemen:s or ac-
cessiOns.
My object in making this demonstration
before lily cavalry arrived was to discover
the enenys exact position, draw on: his
forces, and also to intic. such damage as to
preclude his harrassing our pickets at
,;,,n< al Il 1.- 81 -
cavalry to follow up the advantage gained,
as could accomplish nothing by pursuing
with infantry and artillery. since DeBlancs
command We're all mounted. The follow.
ing day Captain Taylor reported some Of
the enemy in the camp. Friday. ninth
instant. DeRlanc's camp was found de.
serted. His forces dispersed in bands.
many Of them gone home, and his where.
abonts unknown to me until the twelfth
instant. when lie surrendered. with six or
eigh: others for whom warrants were
issued. 20 United States Deputy Marsha!
Dekiyne.
Scouting parties, sent il all directions.
failed to find DeBlauc. Even newspaper
correspondents could no. find him ar his
command. hence | concluded ]. was useless
for me to make further etfcrts.
At:welve O'Clock ~. tenth instant. Major
Lcngstreet and Captains Snow and Edge.
worth. wit! icrty-ti'e cavalry. arrived.
after forced march. from Brashaar City:
men and horses tatigued, bu. Otherwise in
good trim and condition. General Smith.
with detachment Of United States troops,
arrived on the steam boat Iberia on the tenth
instant. they having been detained several
DAYS at Brashear City on account Of the
refusal of Price, Hine & Tupner. or agents.
20 transport them on the United States
u!al boats Iberia and Minnie Avery. The
steamboat Ozark, Captain Miller. with
Lieutenant Colonel Loan, of Major General
LOngstreet's st2tt, on board, arrived on the
thirteenth instant. with supplies. ammani. ,
tion and forage.
My missionlt 20 S.. Martinsviiie having
been accomplished, the infantry embarked I
on the steamer Ozark, thirteenth instant, |
reaching Brashear City the following morn.
ing, where specia! train awaited the com. !
mand.
Agreeably to instructions received tr !
telegraph. sent Captain Snow and cavalry
to ThibOdaux. parish of Lafourche.
The remainder of the command arrived |
in New Orleans Wednesday afternoon.
fourteenth instant.
In conclusion. can not fa:! 10 compii. |
ment the officers and lnen OF the detach. |
ment tor the uniform good behavior. SOL I
dierly conduct. prompt obedience to orders !;
and cheerful performance of ali duties re. |
of their mission entirely, and can return to /!
their homes feeling that the expedition wa.
not made in vain. |
have the honor TO remain. General. very |
respectfully your ohedient servant.
\. S. BADGER.
Brigadier General Commanding Metro :
pO!!tau Brigade,