On the march at six a. m. Rebels had crossed Caney river at
the ford and taken possession of three high hills on the opposite bank, and
planted a battery of six guns on the highest one, next to the ford, and our artillery
were unable to dislodge them. So a force of infantry, one regiment of which was
the First Louisiana, were ordered to move up the river, about two miles, cross
over and threaten their left flank and rear. After crossing we passed through a
deep swamp. On the first hill we saw nothing of the enemy until we came to the
foot, where there was a wide field. We found the enemy here in force. A regiment
of Zouaves from New York city charged on them and they retreated up the second
hill followed by the pu[r]suing regements. Between this hill and the third one
next the ford there was a narrow field through which ran a stream of water
crossed by a bridge. General Birge ordered a company of mounted infantry,
belonging to the thirteenth Connecticut Volunteers commanded by Lieutenant
Mesner to cross the bridge and ride through the field and then followed with
the Second brigade marching by the flank; the First Louisiana on the right. A
short distance beyond the bridge to the left was a shallow ravine. As soon as
the First Louisiana was across and filed to the left, toward the ravine, the
rebels opened a destructive fire of grape and musketry into Lieutenent Mesner's
company, and the First Louisiana from the opposite hill. The company of mounted
infantry was literally cut to pieces, and Lieutenant Mesner was pierced with
three bullets, and died soon after. The First Louisiana fell back into the
ravine. General Birge came riding back, hatless, and ordered the men to lie down
in the ravine. Captain Felton and myself, did not obey orders: we wanted to see
what was going on, and the writer of this came very near paying the penalty for
his curiosity with his life. There was a small hickory sapling about as large
as ones arm, standing about three feet in front of us. A bullet struck it,
about breast high, penetrating it about half way through, i stood just in line
and had it not been for that sapling, these pages never would have been
written. The Second and Third brigades were soon on the move, charging up the
steep hill, but the birds had flown. A messenger came stating that the troops
were crossing the ford, and we marched round the base of the hill to it, and
encamped on the bank of the river. I have been told by those that were fighting
by the ford, that they drove the enemy from the hill: but I always thought the
Second and Third brigade, creeping around on their left flank, and threatening
their line of retreat, had something to do with it: for their position above
the ford and plain below, was so far above them that artilery must have been
entirely ineffective, and musketry could not reach them: so that a flank
movement was the only remedy as I believe. We lost one hundred and fifty in
killed and wounded. The First Louisiana had six wounded, none killed.
SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from
a Soldier's Diary, p. 100-3
No comments:
Post a Comment