First Louisiana moved a short distance to the left, on
higher ground opposite the falls, into some negroe's cabins. Meanwhile Porter
came down the river with fifty gunboats, transports and other craft. One large
transport the Eastport had run onto the logs and had to be blown up, but after
hard fighting all the way he arrived with his fleet to the falls to find the
water so low they were impassable. What was to be done? Banks' plan was to
gather all the cotton and load it on transports, blow up the gunboats and
retreat. This Porter would not do. Meanwhile the latter had sent a dispatch to
Washington stating the condition of affairs and General Canby was sent out to
relieve Banks with orders to stay with the army in Alexandria until the
gunboats were relieved.
SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from
a Soldier's Diary, p. 107
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