The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-14


Grande. Leaving troops at those points.
Gen. Banks, in March, 1864, assembled
a fine army and the most powerful naval
armament ever employed on river, to
operate along the line of Red River. that
being the most practicable route by which
of the Mississippi. Gen. Steele was to
march from Little Rock, through southern
Arkansas, toward the Red River, to cooper
ate with Banks, Shreveport being the main
objective point of the two columns.
FINE ARMY.
At Franklin, where the troops concen-
trated there was q thorough inspection
and some hard drilling. New clothing was
issued, and we received two months pay.
On Sunday, March Is, when our Colonel
had made final inspection. our knapsacks
were not plethoric, one change of cloth
ing being the allowance.
The army was composed of two divisions
of the Nineteenth Corps, about lOOuO men,
commanded by Gen. w. B. Franklin : two
divisions of the Thirteenth Corps, 4.I50
men, under command of Gen. Ransom, and
a division of cavalry and mounted infantry,
commanded by Gen. Albert f. Lee; in all
about 10000 men, thoroughly equipped.
and in a high state of discipline and ETH
cency.
CAPTURE OF FORT DE RUSSY.
March IL, before we moved from Frank
lin, q column composed of portions OF the
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps, COM
manded by Gen. A. ]. Smith, moved down
from Vicksburg to SimspOrt. Marching
with characteristic celebrity. Gen. Smith
captured Fort De Russy. taking it in re-
verse, anticipating Gen. Dick Taylor, who
was endeavoring to concentrate and cover
that important work, which was the Con-
federate's only means of barring the pro-
gress Of Porter's fleet. The fall of Fort
De Russy. and the immediate movement
of our troops, by means of the transports,
to Alexandria, placed Gen. Dick Taylor
in q seriously embarrassing position. To
extricate himself he was forced to march
20 miles through the pine woods.
BANKs's MARCH DELAYED.
On the 18th and 18th Banks's army was
marching through Franklin, there having
been some delay, owing to the non-arriral
of the pOntoOn train from New Orleans,
and, in fact, the pontoons had not arrived
when the army moved. The 10th y. y,
only six companies, about 400 strong, was
left at Franklin to await the coming of
the pontoOn train. On the 10th the regi-
ment went on board steamer and pro-
ceeded up the Bayou Teche to New Iberia.
On the 18th. the pontoons having arrived,
six days rations, crackers, coffee, and SUI
gar, were issued. For additional supplies
we were to depend on foraging. On the
10Th the regiment began its march, two
days behind the army, and we soon realized
that guarding a pontOon train, "A wagons,
through a hostile country, was a somewhat
hazardous undertaking. One company
marched in advance of the train, one in
the rear. and two on each flank. A num-
Der of officers and camp attaches, on their
way to the front. accompanied us. Reach
ing Vermilion River, we halted for the
night, our encampment being similar to
one on the plains expecting to be attacked
by Indians. The wagons, horses and mules
formed a hollow square, the regiment being
on the inside. As an additional precau-
ton pickets were stationed around the en-
campment. some distance from it, The
country being infested with bushwhackers
and rowing bands of guerrillas, We were
liable to be attacked at any time, day or
night
On the second days march we reached
Carrion Crow Bayou, and on the third day
We passed through Opelousas. and arrived
at Washington after dark. On the after
noon of the fourth day one of the camp
followers was shot and several of them
were captured by bushwhackers. We went
into camp on the plantation belonging to
the leader of the band. One large room of
the mansion" was assigned to the women
and children, we reserving the others for
our own comfort and convenience. On the
following morning we burned the Outbuild-
ings and all the cotton found on the plan
tatiOn. The spectacular cOnf1agratiOn so
intimidated the bushwhackers that they
mOlested us no more.
OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE MARCH.
We were in fine country that devastat-
Ing war had touched with a gentle hand
The plantations were large and productive,
and the residences, or mansions" were
very fine. Generally the men were absent
from their homes. Occasionally we found
square and compass" upon a gate-post.
The boys seldom returned from foraging
expeditions empty handed. The poultry
was Of good quality and in quantity to sat
isfy. To citizens who protested against
summary seizur, of edible chattels vouch-
ers were given. with the assurance that
due compensation would be made when
they should produce unimpeachable evil
dence Of their loyalty to Uncle Sam
Torrents of rain fell much of the time,
making the roads muddy and marching
arduous. We were frequently called upon
TO assist the wagons out of ruts made by
the wagon train Of the army in advance
The foraging army ahead Of us had taught
the people to hide things away. Not in
frequently We found chickens in unex-
the cellar. AT one house an old contra
band" exclaimed: 20, Lord, Massa, take
what you want and get out of here"
MUSIC BY TIE BAND.
When passing through towns, and on
"We1 Hang JEFF Davis to Sour Apple
Tree" John Brown" and other wartime
melodies, the men at the same time lifting
their voices in song. Our former Colonel,
Abel Smith, killed at Port Hudson, had
encouraged the men to cheer their weary
marches by music and song and we kept
up the practice as long as the regiment
was in service.
On the ninth days march We were about
eight miles from Alexandria, having gained
days march on the army. We had
marched 1I5 miles in less than nine DAYS
ALEXANDRIA,
We delivered the pontoons all right AT
Alexandria, where Porters fleet and Gen
A. j. Smiths troops had arrived in adj
vance of us. Gen. Smiths army consiste,
of two divisions of the Sixteenth Corps
under Gen. Mower, and one division of the
Seventeenth Corps, total $500. There was
also one brigade of the Corps d'Afrique
1850 strong, commanded by Col w. III
Dckey. the combined force consisting OF
about 81 300 men. Porter's feet of some
70 gunboats and large number of trans
ports. with Ellet's Marine Brigade from
Vicksburg, some 5000 strong, were abov,
and below the falls, the larger vessels no
being able to 60 above on account of tn,