Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-02
A WOMAN OF WAR.
A STORY OF LOVE AND DARING.

In the month of May, 1868, when Gen.
Banks determined to invest Port Hudson,
our brigade, then in garrison at Baton
Rouge, was ordered TO proceed nOrthward
10y the main r, adj and open line OF march,
advancing in such direction as to make
that same afternoon junction with the
main body of the army, consisting OF some
D. 900 men, no We're mostly On transports
coming up the Mississippi. The west side
of the river was guarded by strong force
of men already, with orders to flank any
batteries that might attempt to line the
river banks. The brave Farragut and his
victorious fleet, fresh from the cOnquests
OF the lower Mississippi forts, had pro-
ceeded up the river some ten days before.
The day we began our march was terri
bly, hot. The sun shOne scOTchingly from
clear sky there was scarcely any breeze,
and the dust which covered the roadway
TO an unusual thickness added greatly TO
our hardships. BY u O'Clock the ther-
m0meter stood at 1917 degrees; at 3
O'Clock it rose to 1903. As rapidly as they
could under these circumstances our men
proceeded. Many fell victims to sum
stroke. The ambulances were filled with
these unfOrtunates. The incidents of the
first part of the march were few. The
atmosphere was too enervating and the
men too tired for any merry-making. But
about 2 O'Clock we reached a prettlly
wooded country and the refreshment Of
the cool shades produced visible i'm
pIONement in the men. A halt was maze
to give the brigade time to prepare the
MONDAY meal, which meant warm coffee,
fried bacon and bareback. The country
around us was rich in tropical vegetation,
which had become slightly parched by the
heat and drought. but the large fields and
occasional habitati0ns, with their long,
EOspItable looking yerandas and low,
matched roofs, proclaimed a region Of
former If not OF present prosperity.
After our crude meal the lines were re-
formed. Our ranks had commenced to
defiIe out of the woods into the open cOun-
try, when, TO our utter amaZement, we
found ourselves confronted by a large
force of Confederate cavalry. The men
OF the One Hundred and Sixty-secOnd
New York, VINO were leading our ranks,
were at once deplOyed as skirmishers.
Our own regiment-the One Hundred and
Sixty fifth New York Duryee Zouaves-
was formed in line of battle. The Sixth
Michigan and a Connecticut regiment,
whose number / do not recall, were still
struggling out of the woods. Under the
impression that we had green troops to
meet, we apprehended little danger. In
fact, we were glad that it was cavalry
that we had to fight, for we felt sure of
capturing both men and horses, thinking
that their ineXperience would lead to a
very easy victory.
But just there we made a great miscal-
culatlOn. Our s6irmishers advanced con-
tidently and intrepidly, but all OF a sudden
the Confederate cavalTymen made brave,
vigorous, undaunted charge, and the boys
of the One Hundred and SiXty-second
New York fell helter-sKelter, pell-mell on
our right, driven back by the enemy. The
Confederates followed up the panic with
great fearlessness, but Il vOlley from our
guns checked their advance and drove
them back for the time to TIE woods.
Evidently hard work was before us.
The enemy, strongly lodged in the woods
just in front of our ranks, seemed to in
crease constantly. ReinfOTcements came
from all sides. Had Gardner, the COnted-
crate commander, come out of Port Hud-
son with his entire force to annihiiate our
small brigade! The question prompted
itself repeatedly while the small number,
By the large acquisitions, developed into
tour full regiments Of cavalry. Then we
looked for the infantry, for II it had come
we would have unquestiOnably been lost.
The heat had Frustrated many of our men
10 mad exhausted others and weakened all.
In nOwise were we in fit condition to
cope with an enemy 50 strong and hume
rous.
Ine commanding officers held a hurried
consultation. 1t was determined to fall
back to the woods which we had a short
time before left. That position we could
easily hold.
But our retreat had scarcely begun
when, like a flash Of lightning, the Con,
federates dashed towards lp5ssro,'S - Gf9S
o,Ir T,osition still me- IAN Jus, d Hllu
ouI HEM HEM o. 9Se enemy rushed from the
woods and flanked our forces. Troops on
a retreat are always at a great disadvan-
tage. They fall easier prey to the enemy
than in any other movement. knowing
tHis fact, nothing WAS lrfc US hut 20 stand
our ground and face the shock that was
inevitably coming. Instantly the thrill
ling notes of the brigade trumpeter Or
dered the officers to form squares by regi-
ments en- echei0B, and in the next instant
our forces had assumed this positions: