The National tribune., 1885-07-02
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE TECHE CAMPAIGN.
The Experience or 4 Hoosier Infantrymsn in the
Louisiana Swamps.


Louisiana Swamps.
To THE EDITOR: l am glad that my COM
rade of the Goth Ohio corrected Comrades
Mason and Fry as to the Teche campaign and
for the purpose of differing with Comrade Bart
lett, hereby agree with him in most of his
statements He is correct as to the Nicksburg
campaign. the removal to New Orleans, the
New River expedition, the grand review of the
Thirteenth Corps, and the expedition up the
Bayou Teche to Opelousas; but there begin to
differ with him. We went little farther up,
to Barr's Landing. Now, comrade, don't you
remember how we borrowed several hundred
bushels of corn there, helped the farmers dig
their sweet potatoes, assisted the nelghbors IN
taking honey from the bee stands, and made
ourselves useful as well as ornamental while we
lay at this placer You know how accommo-
dating we Thirteenth Corps men made our
selves You should remember that while we
were lying at Bars Landing Gen. Green, of
the Confederate army, pushed his troops up
near 0pelousas, almost severing our connection
with the main army, then commanded by Gen.
VIM. b. Franklin. When we started on our
retrograde march we could not 90 via Opelousas
on account of Gen. Green, and were at a loss to
know how to get back, when colored man
made his appearance and offered to guide us
back through roundabout way. His offer was
accepted We started late in the evening, and
were led all night through cowpaths and by
ways, and by sunup next morning we had cir
cumyented Gen. Green and arrived within sup
porting distance of the main army. This oc-
Cured on Oct. 1. l agree with Comrade Bart
lett up to the time of the battle of Grand
Coteau, where he fails to mention the 9th Ind,
which occupied the extreme left of our Ene
composed of the 96th Ohio, Goth and 67th Ind
and the 23d Wis. The SD Ohio. as the COM
rade says, was out after forage. In this fight
we had some 250 taken prisoners. How many
were killed and wounded 1 do not know, as l
was among the prisoners.
Comrade Bartlett says we were taken to
Tyler, Tex, as prisoners. Here again We differ.
We were taken to Alexandria. on Red River,
and quartered in and around an old sugar
house for awhile. News came to us that our
destination was Tyler, and we there and then
formed secret plot to capture the guards,
charge upon the gun stack, take all our
guards prisoners, charge upon the battery a
little way OF, spike the guns, capture
the artilleTymen, mount the horses with
our most feeble ones, and start for Natchez.
When we went out TO fight the battle, it being
warm weather, and as we supposed 1T would
be only another skirmish, we went out without
our coats-in our shirt sleeves; the result be-
ing that we took up our abode with the john
mics with very limited wardrobe. When we
made this plot 10 capture our guards l traded
my finger ring, that / was saving for my Dest
girl to Johnny for a pair of shoes to travel
in. The best of plans sometimes get thwarted,
and so it was with ours. 1t leaked out from
one of our own men. The guard was trebled
and extra battery brought up. We were
shortly afterward moved across the river and
remained there awhile, until arrangements for
exchange were made. when we started toward
our lines. During our % days of stay in the
Hotel de Johnny a good many comrades be-
came very weak, and were scarcely able to
travel. The thought of freedom stimulated us
beyond our strength. Now and then COM
A. i IL
thrown lDto an OK cart which was used
ambulance. This was having "a good time
with the creoleS." Does the com rade remem-
ber about that 26th Ind man taking advantage
of the superstition of the Johnnies at an old
sugsrhouse on the line of march, and by his
ventriloquism soaring them out of nights
sleep?
march, pale, weak and feeble. About 10 o'clock
We arrived in sight of VernillionvIlle. and a
halt was called. The officer in command rode
on down into the city. where he was met by a
delegation of those nice creoles that our Com
rade Fry speaks of, who entered a protest
against the Yankees coming through their nice
little city. Probably these creoles were the
same ones that our comrade had been having a
good time with. | suppose in some of their
dances our cOmrade had made a '' misstep," and
these beautiful little creatures were now wreak-
their vengeance upon Us.
Inc protest was needed, and then, warm as
we were from the march that morning weak
feeble and exhausted, we were turned to the
left and marched, or rather we splashed
spludged and trudged our way all that evening
through mud and water from ankle to waist
deep, and arrived at the eastern extremity of
the city late at night. What clothes we had
were muddy and wet. We We're tired and
without anything to eat; without fire 10 warm
or dry our clothes; without anything for
bed but Gods footstool. or any covering except
the blae vault OF Heaven. We piled down,
wet and shivering, hoping. dreaming and pray
ing that this might be the last night we should
pass under Confederate jurisdiction To some
it was the last, for when we arose in the morn
ing cold and stiff, there lay some of our com
rades, dead This is the good time we had
with the creoles."-R. 3. SCOTT, 9th Ind,
Bedford, Ind.