The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-28

ecuted under my superintendent, anC
which at the time of its performance at
tracted a great deal of attention. The
Records of the Rebellion" contain rather
measer details of this expedition, and
have to refer to copies of orders in Ely pos
session, in order to make the account al
Ineligible one.
1t should be stated that on May "a
1868, the 9th H., Col. Lummis, and 18th
ILL.,, under my command, were part of the
besegng forces at Port Hudson. Col. b
III. Grierson, by virtue of his date of com
mission, commanded the cavalry there. In
order to understand the topography of the
country little, it should be stated that
Port Hudson was fortified, with a good
command of Gen. Gardner, who finally
surrendered Port Hudson on July 8, 1863
to Gen. Banks. The headquarters of the
cavalry were at Newport'S Crossroads.
Mrs. Newport was lady living at the
Crossroads, about six miles north of Port
Hudson.
EMPLOYMENT FOR IDLE CAVALRY.
There did not seem to be much doing
for the cavalry and l found out that there
would be a chance to capture two steam
boats, which We're partially under the
guns of Port Hudson, in bayou called
Alligator Bayou, into which a creek called
ThOmpson's Creek emptied. The steam
boats were about eight miles west of
Viewpoints Crossroads and about six miles
south the only road to them being that
leading directly west of Viewpoints, and
then striking the river road, and going
south.
PERMISSION HARD TO GET.
had made some efforts to get permits
sion m fry and captlIro these boats from
Col. GrierSon, commanding the brigade,
but he was averse to it, and | got an Or
der over his head from Gen. Banks; and
| was careful not to tell Gen. Grierson
anything about it until l could get well
under way on the road toward the Mis-
sissippi River, but having asked Gen.
Banks to send me a section of artillery
1.-TWO pieces), when this section came
through the camp Col. Grierson found out
that | had started off to capture the boats.
and sent a detail of his command with
an order to me. as follows:
ORDERED TO NOT GO.
Copy of an order sent by Col. Grierson,
commanding First Cavalry Brigade, to
Col. Edward Prince; received by Col.
Prince on the morning of the capture of
the boats. The order was disobeyed, and
the boats captured.
Headquarters, First Cavalry Brigade,
Mrs. Newport's. May %, 1853.
Col Prince, commanding 7th Ill, Cav.
"Coionel: Your communication re-
ceived. The Colonel commanding thinks
that Your expedition will be useless, as ha
thinks it impossible to reach the boats. l
was down the only road which could be
found along Thompson's Creek, yesterday,
and found the swamp, on both sides. i'm
passable for man or beast. The Colonel
wishes you to save the command, and rest
md Do
specially. your obedient servant.
az. L. WOODWARD. Adjutant-General.
"I found Co. G here. and ordered it to
the regiment. Have written Gen. Augur
for the return of Co. X"
THE ORDER TEMPORARILY PIGEoNHoLED.
The title of the cavalry command was
First Cavalry Brigade" Lieut.. f. l..
Woodward was the Adjutant General, and
all the cavalry was under the command of
Col. B. II. Grierson, of the 9th Ill. Cav.
On receipt of this order to save the COM
as possible" l placed the order in my
pocket. sent the escort back to Col. Grier-
son, and marched away to capture the
steamboats, if possible.
On arriving at the landing on Alligator
Bayou. / found that the steamboats, were
anchored out in the stream: that we had
no way of getting to them without swim
ming, and the Bayou at this point was
quite deep.
MARINE CAPTURE By CAVALRY.
After placing the section of artillery in
such position as to be able to sink both
the boats in two or three shots, | ordered
the Waterman on the side-wheeler Star
light" to bring the yawl ashore. He did
not hesitate to do SO did not awake the
men on the boats. but Immediately went
aft and brought the yawl to the landing.
The bayou was about 100 yards wide.
My entire command, except two or
three men, had been kept out of sight.
had with me Capt. Epperson and Lieut..
w. W. Porter, of Go. l., and Capt. Nc
Donald. of Co. +. and perhaps one or two
more, all selected for being quick and
ready in an emergency. The man who
brought the boat ashore seemed to be
somewhat surprised but his boat was i'm
medlately manned. We at once rowed out
to the steamer and disarmed the qua rd
and soon made fast to the other boat and
had everything secure and snug: both
boats being moored to the wharf and the
gangplank out.
DON'T GO ORDER OFFICIALLY ACKNOwL-
EDGED.
] then wrote the following report and
sent one to Lieut.. Woodward and one 10
Gen. Banks. The following is a copy OF
my reply to Col. GrersOn's order to rest
ueh anu horses, GENT SOl. GflerSOn and
Banks.
Steamer Starlight. May %. 1863
Lieut.. Woodward. A. A. A. General
First Cavalry Brigade:
II have taken possession of the only
two steamboats, On the creek. and shall
hold them without further orders until
they are destroyed BY myself or the enemy
"Respectfully.
(Signed) EDWARD PRINCE.
Il will undertake to keep the enemy
from crossing Thompson's Creek with tn,
force at ny disposal Respectfully.
lSigned) EDWARD PRINCE, Colonel
Commanding Expedition"
COMMENDED By THE GENERAL COMMAND
l never received any reply from Col
Grierson or his Adjutant General. but
received a reply from Gen. Banks, as fol
lows:
Headquarters Department of the Gulf
Nineteenth Army Corps. I'm front o
Port Hudson. May %, 1863, ii mile,
from Bayou Sara.
Col. Edward Prince, Commanding al
Ill. Cav. and Expedition.
Colonel: Your dispatch announcin,
your success in capturing two of tin
enemy's steamers is received. and l an
directed by the Commanding General Il