The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-04-20
Anniversary Of the Battle of Bisland.

"OhVy -sIA years = laSC saturday
there were lively times on bay GU
Teche. The Confederate troops. COM
posed of Gray's 2Sth Louisiana Reri-
ment, ArmOud's 18th Louisiana Regi-
ment, W~inchester's Louisiana Battery.
Semmes' Battery and some small de-
~tachments under command of Brira-
der General Mouton, with Bagley's
Texas dismounted cavalry and the
Valverde Texas Battery, all under
command of General Sibley and form
ing a part of General Dick T~aylor's
army, had been encamped some five or
six months on the banks of the Teche.
between PattersOnville and Centre
VILE, the Louisiana troops having
headquarters at the Bisland planta-
ton, ABOUT midway between. the two
towns. On April 12 the Federal forces
crossed Berwick's Bay and moved mn
above Pattersonville, near the mouth
OF bayou Teche. In addition to their
land forces the Confederate gunboat
Diana, which was captured a few weeks
previous from the Federals whilst de-
scending the Atchafalaya river in front
OF Pattersonville, was anchored in the
Teche, ready for the contest, under
command of Captain Semmes.
Early III the morning Of April IL.
the Federals pushed back the Confed-
crates, and during the forenoon several
warm skirmishes occurred between
the opposing forces. In one of them
the Diana was disabled by a Parrot
gun and, suffering considerable loss.
was forced to withdraw from the fight.
About 4 o'clock p. M. q hard fight oc-
Cured on the east side of the Teche.
near the lake, in which one company
of the 18th Louisianas was surrounded
and nearly all Of the officers aud men
captured.
At midnight retreat was ordered and
the Confederates moved up to and
through the town Of Franklin. The
Federals had sent strong forces by the
lakes to a point above Franklin, where
a landing was made. At daylight on
the 14th, skirmishing began between
the Federals and Vincent's Second La.
Cavalry, Riley's Texas Cavalry, Gray's
Twenty-eighth La. Infantry and
Carny's Battery, which eliminated to-
ward noon in u sharp fight in which
Carny lost one piece of artillery and
his flag, and Colonel Riley was Killed.
The Diana, unable to proceed up the
bayou, was deserted by her mel and
blown up. Most of her me were can
bured. During these skirmishes most
Of the wagon trains were enabled to
by the ~Cypremort road to New
IBERIA and thence to Camp Pratt. To-
,ated on the banks of the Tasso. where
bivouacked for the night, after a
march Of fifty miles during the day.
1t is said and generally believed
nat all the trains from Bisland would
been captured had the Federals
o taken q wrong road during the
llght. the correction of which error
the trains time to make a success
retreat.
Captain GOurdain's company of La
oufcne Creoles we've frequently en-
aged during April Is, but no casual
les were reported. A number Of the
1eli We're captured, however. before
raching New Iberia.
This contest opened the whole of the
Ittakapas and Opelousas country to
Federals, who pursued the Confed-
aates almost to Natchitoches, when
ley changed their course and made
'r Fort Hudson, on the Mississippi
YER: The Confederate troops imme-
lately ret rned, and after varied ex-
erlenees cached Thibodaux some /,
me IN d month Of Jane following. j.
G. =