(Private)
New Orleans, January 15th, 1863.
Dear Sir: A
fight is progressing on Bayou Teche. Gen. Weitzel commands. He crossed
Berwick's Bay yesterday morning, and has advanced up the Teche as far as the
enemy's fortifications. The enemy have 1,100 infantry and 1,000 cavalry.
Weitzel will succeed without doubt, and advance to New Iberia, where
fortifications will be erected by us. The rebel salt works near New Iberia, are
yielding one million pounds per day. It is carried all over the Southern
States. If this movement is successful, these works will be destroyed. The
Teche country is full of sugar. This present movement is simply carrying out
Gen. Butler's plan of operations. I urged it a week ago, but advised a flank
movement. Gen. Banks has thought best to attack in front. I have traveled
through that country several times, and know it well.
The U. S. armed Transport, “Hatteras”, was sunk by the “Alabama”
on Sunday the 11th inst. The fight lasted about 45 minutes, and occurred
sixteen miles from Galveston. The Flag officer there sent the “Hatteras” out to
overhaul a strange sail — which proved to be the “Alabama”, and proved too
powerful for her antagonist. Six men of the “Hatteras” escaped in a boat — the
rest of the crew were killed or captured. The “Hatteras” carried ninety men.
The “Brooklyn” and other vessels lying off Galveston, immediately started for
the “Alabama”, but could find nothing of her. The rebels have not attempted to
come out of Galveston Bay with the “Harriet Lane”. She is still lying in the
Harbor, and I do not know why our Gunboats do not go in and destroy her.
Major Gen. Augur has at last been sent to Baton Rouge to
take command, and organize the force there. There begins to be exhibited in
this department some little energy and activity. All that is now done, ought to
have been done four weeks ago.
The business of “Special Agent” under regulations of August
28th, is not now interfered with by military authorities. In consequence
of this non-interference I have organized it with great success. I am satisfied
that nothing, or very little, reaches the enemy from this port—and the planters
within our lines are supplying themselves rapidly with whatever they need for
their own use. I supervise everything myself and have an immense amount of labor
to perform. I hear that large amounts of merchandise and supplies reach the
enemy from Memphis and vicinity. This can be avoided by honestly adopting the
right plan. Trade must be centralized and none allowed except at one or few
points. I prevent it as far as possible, outside of the city, and can therefore
control it. This plan is well adapted to this country, because property real
and personal, is in the hands of a few planters. It is easy (and has
been customary heretofore) for each planter to come to the City — take the
proper oaths and be made individually responsible for whatever he wishes to
take out of the City. Every boat going up the river, carries an “Aid to the
Revenue” who sees that the supplies are delivered only at the proper
plantation. I have to employ many additional “aids”, but make the system pay
its own expenses. My personal supervision of all the details is an immense
labor, but I know it will be well done if I attend to it myself — otherwise
not.
The planters within and without our lines have been afraid
to bring their crops of sugar and cotton because it was seized and must pass
through the hands of the military commission. Gen. Butler's military commission
was a dishonest plundering concern. By the enclosed order of Gen. Banks, you will
see that planters are invited to bring their crops to the City and promised
protection. It will have a good and marked effect. This order will not
interfere with my action as “Special Agent.”
The system of furnishing supplies to planters — adopted by
me, gives satisfaction to planters — but dissatisfaction to the great number of
Jews, military speculators, and men from the North, who expect to swindle
planters out of fortunes.
It is known here that the President has issued his
proclamation, but its terms are not fully known. Gen. Banks told me this
morning he is going to raise negro troops, but I fear, not in large numbers. I
have information that the number of rebel troops in Texas is about 9,000 — of
whom one-third are cavalry. They are provided with good arms brought through
Mexico. About one-third of them are conscripts.
The number of troops in Louisiana, west of the Mississippi,
is about 4,500 — nearly all of whom are in the Teche country.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 348-50
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