The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-10-27
AN ~AKNiYyRSlET.
BY UNCLE s1LAs.

"Ouay OIo years ~ tuIO Wy SucAC
were lively times on Bayou Lafourche.
On Octobrr 25th, 1889. Col. Mouton in
command Of the Confederate forces issued
orders to concentrate his troops in aud
around Thib0daux.
Col Vincent 9 second La. Calvary, Col
Blacks Battalion and part Of f'ournet's
Battalion were already on the East side
If the Bayou. The 18th. La. Regiment
and the Crescent Regiment. consolidated ut
T"pelO. but separated ~ New lberi. y few
days previous, crossed over Berwick Bay.
and being strengthened by RalxtOn's Bat
terry ut Bayou BOeuf, reached Terreb0nne
Station late in the afternoon, aud immr.
mcdiat1ly proceeded toward Thib0danx.
Passing through this tow they proceeded
mp the Bayou until they reached Wynn's
wOOds where they ~bi,ouacked.
During the night the wind blew, in the
faces Of tho men, almost in = hurricane.
and the night was bitter cold for the seas
Oh Of the year.
October 81. the command l.y all day
quietly in Wynns WNna. Every half
hour courriers camc galiopring down the
Bayou. notifying our officers Of the ap-
rroaeh Of Weiixel's army. that had de-
bark~d at Donalds0nville . day OF two pre-
vi0us.
" sAs&At - CVlUs UOt " ~ V1CWs
Gen. MOuton badly crippled with rhru-
matism, had his headquarters ut r. l..
Coxs residence, near Lahadievillc. Col.
Armand had command of the troops on the
West side Of the Bayou. Collins being in
command Of the 18th. Regiment.
Early on the morning Of October "a, tho
enemy was in sight.
Troops came down on the East side, 0p-
Posite to our position. upon whom our skir
inishes fired. They fell back and three
regiments crossed Y the Bayou OH .
fat boat at Malhiot's house, aud moved
down towards tho woOds in which we
were awaiting them.
Our line was stretched behind Hymel's
fence on the Texana Road. with Kalston's
Battery in the main road.
Thu firing wss kept up by both sidcs for
probably al hour, the Federxls having
halted. Our ammunition giving n Or
ders to retreat were given.
ln falling back many Of our soldiers
went INTO the swamps and were captured.
The Crescent Regiment lost, in killed, its
heroic COlOael McPheeters and Several
men. The 18th. had zone killed but The
riot, McAulid, RobichauS and Aontz were
captured.
About 100 Of the command were CAP
tured.
The night following was bitter cold. the
sugar cane freezing down into the ground.
something never witnessed before Or since
At this date.
The retreat was kept mp and the next
day most of the army crossed Berwick's
Bay
The question was asked me the other
day. If there was not bad g%eneralship in
this campaign.
Well, il ever . campaign was conducted
more fOOlishly than this by both armies
its history has not fallen under my observa
Lion.
Take the Federal side. Weitzel landed
al DOna'dsOmville, the C~OufulerAtex were
scattered all along the Lafonrche. They
had 10 means of escape save by whipping
Weitzel and driving him away. or by re-
treating across Berwick's Bay. Butler
had sent gun-boats. by sea. to run mp the
A.chafal.,ya and cut Of our retreat by that
outlet.
Had Weitzel amused the confederates,
by slow marches, and taken six days to
reach ThibOdaux. the entire Confederate
force would have been Captured, but in
stead Of that he hurried down the bayou
and drove MS over the bay. before The
gnu boats arrived. they. having been de-
t,yed by The low tide occasioned by the
North winds. The safety of the Confede-
rates is due only 10 Weitzel's blunde, in
hurrying MS away.
Now iake he confederate side. there
were but few troops in the Lafonrche Dis
badly armed, aud most Of tkem Dad
" disciplined.
The Federals knew that we were posted
IN the woods. yet they never sent a solita-
~ shell in that position. altaOHyb ;iey
a few over our heads. They Nigh;
have shelled us out in i've minutes |
and saved the lives of 20 or 30 men who |
we're killed.
Another query put to me was could tie |
Confederate have.maintained their posi-
ion if their ammunition had held ont.
Had The order to retreat been delayed
i've minutes, . regiment If Federals, dou.
Die qnicking under the bank Of the Bayou
would have tanked and opened ire upom
causing perhaps J heavy loss ~ our
small force. J
Looking at the events that took place
years ago, one Is compelled TO specify
he entire campaign, as & series OF blum
le7s on both sides
The Federals had the Confederates penn
I'd IN aud captured by simply doing .foti-
ne until the Gnn-bOats entered Berwici.'s
Bay. The COnfederates were in no condi-
ion to tight the advancing forces and
'honld have never attempted to 10 80.
However. the fight at 1exana Jane was
! good bard fought battle.
The Feder..ls engaged were fully three
lines as numerous as were thei, opponents.
Gen. Weiszel, when apprised Of the EMIL
less Of the force opposed 10 bis troops
'Onld hardly believe it, and TO-. :,,eir gal.
antry he generously p.rciled Ill the nj
rates that he had captured, and treated
he officers very indy.
The Times en,0cyut came ONT
asst SAirrdav in on IN co .rnr,u with