The National tribune., 1893-09-14

that work by any of the writers whose arti-
! cles l have read, / wish the 29th Wis to
! have credit for their share of the work.
| One writer mentions the 29th Me. My
| Tecollections are that it was the 80 h Me-:
perhaps the 29lh Me-, was there also but
never heard it mentioned while we were
camped on the north side and worked on the
dam.
The Official Records. War of the Rebel
lion, Series /, Vol XXXIY. page 476, gives
the following communications:
HEADQUARTERS THRTEESTH ARMY CORPS,
ALEXANDRIA, La. May {. 1864; 10 "a. IN.
Brighten. DWIGHT, Chief Of staff.
GENERAL: Under conflicting orders yesterday,
the 29.h Wis. Vol. Inf. was sent 10 protect the
needed there, and If VI can possibly be spared, /
earnestly request that il be returned. We need H.
Very respectfully. Nj. X. LAwLER,
Brigadief- General and Chief Of staff
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
ALrxASDRIA, La. May 6, Is5I !
Brg-Gen. VI X. LAwLER, Commanding Detach-
meni. Thirteenth Corps.
GENERAL: The 2slh Wis, which was on duty ut
the dam last night for some unaccOuntable reason.
was taken away this morning. The General
wishes u TO go back To the dam without moments
delay, aud remain there until regularly relieved.
The work on the dam Is Of the utmost importance,
and every facility should be given 10 push it on.
have the honor TO he, very respectfully. e!c,
GEO. y. DRAKE.
Assistant Adutant-G enernl.
personally recollect that the Doth Wis
marched from the south side and from the
line where we were camped late in the after
noon TO the north bank Of the river, and
worked on the dam all night. In the morn
ing or sometime during the day, we marched
back to the south side and were almost
Immediately returned to the north side,
where we stayed until the dam was finished
and all the boats had passed the rapids.
~ IL. 4 L. L. IL Al \
and guard duty.
/ believe we were the last regiment to
leave the north bank OF the river. / stood
on the north bank just opposite where the
second boat swung around and hung on the
rocks after passing the dam, and saw every
boat pass the rapids. ! shall not attempt to
describe it, but will say that in all my life
have not witnessed greater excitement nor
more enthusiasm. 1t was witnessed by not
less than $4,000 people, citizens and soldiers.
AS the different boats neared the chute
our hearts were in our Threats, and as each
one in turn successfully passed the rapids,
cheer after cheer rent the air. Tears ran
down our cheeks, and we wanted to hug each
other, we felt so glad.
/ wish TO say a word in favor of Gen.
Banks During the work on the north side
] saw him nearly every day, in his shirt
sleeves, working and directing work side by
side with the men, and never a word was
used that was loud or indicated that he was
an important person or better than his hum
blest man.
Weleft our camp on the north bank of the
river some time during the forenoon of May
13, the other regiments having left during
the night preceding, and followed the army
down the river road. On May Is the 29th
Wis.was detailed az rear-guard to support The
cavalry and bring up the train. Being closely
pressed by the rebels just little before
night we were in line of bal:le facing the
rear several times, and the cavalry in line
not 10 rods away. My authority for this
detail is found on page ssh, above-named
volume and reads as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF. !
WELSH PLAHTATIOS, May IL, 1864. I
Rear Admiral ID. ID. PORTER, Commanding Misss-
sippi Squadron.
ADMIRAL: ! inclose a dispatch from Gen Emory
from the front Please send boat as reouested
The Thirteenth Corps will flank the train on the
right, leaving one regiment, with cavalry bril-
gade, TO bring APP the rear Of the train. Please
have a guuboai ia the rear ia he requests.
] have the honor to be. very respectfully. your
obcdient servant, y. l.. BANKS,
Major General Commanding.
The 2sih Wis. was On duty, as described,
although not named, and it WAS very late
HANA VIC ntHL ihtp camp lOi AuG uiSHt. Ol
May 10 We were routed out very early in the
morning, and advanced on quick time till
We arrived at Marksville, when the whole
army formed regiment and brigade front,
and advanced in line across the plains. /
believe this was the grandest display of
military equipment during the war. As far
as the eye could see were troops, cavalry,
artillery, and wagon-trains, ali advancing in
line of battle and shells from the enemv's
guns bursting overhead or passing to the
rear made the spectacle exciting and grand.
From the position where my regiment was
in line, near the center, looking to the right
or left as far as one could see, the sight was
magnificent. Fully 10000 men and the
necessary equipment could be seen in one
grand display. The picture l saw that day
will remain with me as long as l live
Another great engineering work was
| building the bridge across the Atchafalaya