St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-03-25
BATTLE OF MANSFIELD.
Capt. s.A POehe Writes Interesting Account Of
Memorable Struggle and Tells Of Part
Taken By the Eighteenth Louisiana.

The following account of the
battle of Mansfield, fought on
April 9th, 1864, appeared in 3
N. Q. Picayune Of recent date,
over the signature of Capt. S. A.
Poche, of Donaldsonville, the
gallant Commander of Company
B. Eighteenth Louisiana Regi-
ment, G. s. A.
The Eighteenth Louisiana Regi-
ment and the Yellow Jacket Bat
talon consolidated with the
TWenty-eighth Louisiana Regi-
ment and the Crescent Louisiana
Regiment, formed Gen. Mouton's
Brigade.
My Company B. was the right
company of the Eighteenth Regi-
ment.
At about 8 a.. m. on the day of
the fight we were already in line
to the left of Sabine Road, in
front of the pine woods, but
soon after we had to move fur
ther to the left to make room for
more infantry.
We marchedin columns b. four
left in front, Colonel Armant
leading the head of the column.
The columns soon entered patch
of woods projecting in front of
the pines and covering maybe
one field. While SO marching,
the enemy's cavalry charged and
fired on US, thinking that we
would retreat, but as | knew that
we intended to give battle, and
seeing that the enemy was yet
charging, / ordered my men to
load, prime and keep ready.
Capt. Jenkins seeing me load,
loaded also. Hardly had we
loaded when Gen. Mouton, who
was in the pines back of US with
General Taylor, came out along
side of me, and said to me,
Captain, those are Yankees, 2
/ answered yes, I know it, and
am loaded" he then ordered me
to give them a volley. Icame to
a halt and front, and gave the
command to fire. My eighty-six
muskets made only one report,
and about thirty of the enemy
dropped to the ground.
Gen. Mouton hurrahed, and
said the Eighteenth was the first
to draw blood. The balance of
the enemy faced about and re-
treated to their lines on a run.
Capt. jenkins company fired in
their backs but no one was hurt.
Colonel Armant came on a run to
find out who had given the order
to fire, Capt. Jenkins answered
that as / had fired, he thought he
would fire too.
We came to a halt and front,
this was between the hours of 8
and 10 a. m. Colonel Armant
soon ordered me to deploy my
company in front to cover the
soon after the enemy
also sent out a line of skirmish-
ers. The enemy's line was back
Of a rail fence. At4p. m. about,
Colonel Armant sent his orderly
to order me to drive back the
enemy's skirmishers, and this
was done at double-quick time.
They had repeating rifles and
gave lis a hot fire, but we drove
them in at a run, nobody being
hurt. [ halted on their lines and
back and saw another
coming at double-quick
time.
It was Capt. Field Of the Cres-
cent Regimen with his Company.
He reported to me that he had
sent 20 re-enforce me. Look
.ng back ! saw the whole Of our
Infantry line coming at double
time.
Turning to Captain Field, Isaid
Captain, we are going to make !
charge, we are far yet, let US !
70 closer" i am at your or !.
lers Captain, give the command !
le replied. / ordered double
let US go at the fences"
We halted about forty yards from { {
he fence, in front of about $500 !
nfantry of the enemy, and there !
re held them in check until we
made them prisoners just before 6
)
Captain Field was shot down !
efore we had gone ten or twelve !
tops. This was a great loss. A .
tile while after the Twenty ?
ighth Regiment came up to my !
ne. having lost in killed and :
all their field officers,
kept their Adjutant. Two of
aeir color bearers also were kill :
i or wounded. The Regiment
i'd down. My first sergeant, !
lie Gagnier asked leave to go
nd rally them. Leave was :