Headquarters Div. Seventeenth Army Corps,
Red River Expedition, Fort De Russey,
Avoyelles County, Louosiana, March 17, 1864.
My Dear Wife:
My last hurried
letter to you was dated from on board ship at Vicksburg. The fleet of
transports under my command sailed from that point at seven o'clock, Thursday,
10th inst., arrived at mouth of Red River and reported to Admiral Porter on
Friday at noon. At 10 A.m., Saturday, sailed up Red River and Atchafalaya under
orders and signals from flagship Black Hawk, to Simmesport. Morning of
Sunday debarked my troops for inspection, review and drill by regiments. At
seven o'clock P.M., received marching orders, and at 8 P.M. marched, bringing
up the rear of the column, repaired bridges through the night, roads for
greater part of the way bad and swampy; bivouacked at 4 A.M., Monday, eight miles
from Simmesport. Meanwhile, Gen. A. J. Smith, with General Mower's command, had
reconnoitred the front, driven four regiments of the enemy from a
fortification, situate some five miles from Simmesport, and was making across
country for Moreauville on Bayou L'Eglise. Gave my troops rest two hours; at
six o'clock took up the line of march, moving forward rapidly till eleven
o'clock, when I halted, ordered coffee for the men and fed the animals.
Meanwhile pioneers were reconstructing bridge destroyed by the enemy. At noon
resumed march which till this time had led us for the most part through a rich
and highly-cultivated country past extensive canefields and sugar-houses, now
crossing a bayou and penetrating a swamp spreading some few miles before us.
Ascending a slight elevation, we suddenly emerged in one of the most beautiful
prairies imaginable. High table land, gently undulating, watered by exquisite
lakes occasional groves, the landscape dotted with tasteful houses, gardens and
shrubberies. This prairie, called Avoyelles, is settled exclusively by French emigrés, many of whom, as our army passed, sought shelter under the tricolor of
France. Pushing forward rapidly, we gained Marksville at 4.30 P.M. Deserters
had warned us that the enemy were on our left flank and rear as early as three
o'clock. My troops were well closed up. Two and a half miles beyond Marksville,
I formed line of battle at 5.30, my right resting immediately on the left of
the advanced forces. My transportation and ambulances parked far to the rear.
As my command came to front, brisk musketry firing commenced at the fort. Some
shells fell to the rear and right of my line. I was ordered by the general
commanding to look well to my rear and left wing, that I might anticipate
attack from General Walker with six thousand Texans. I stood to arms. At 6.30
news was brought me that the fort had surrendered. I threw out heavy pickets,
stacked arms and went into bivouac, a piercing cold “Norther” sweeping over the
plain. In summary, I remark that the command on the 14th inst, marched
twenty-eight and a half miles, built a substantial bridge of sixty feet in
length, repaired minor ones, and took a fort between sunrise and sunset. But
one brigade, Colonel Ward, commanding, was actively engaged; their casualties
nine killed, thirty-seven wounded. The substantial results I enclose in
memorandum of ordnance and ordnance stores, to which may be added a large
amount of commissary stores, flour, beef, sugar and molasses, and three hundred
and thirty-four prisoners, thirty-four of whom were officers from
lieutenant-colonel to third lieutenant.
Meanwhile, convoy
and fleet had made slow and devious way through the tortuous windings of Red
River, where navigation at present stage of water is difficult. Rapid current,
frequent eddies, sharp bends and snags, are the natural obstacles; to these the
enemy added rafts and spiles; nevertheless, as the fort surrendered, the Black
Hawk rounded to land shortly afterwards the general commanding received the
congratulations of the Admiral, whom he will compliment by present of the
nine-inch Dahlgren, of the Indianola, and the two heavy guns of the Harriet
Lane, recaptured. My command is in occupation of the fort, and will be
engaged to-day and to-morrow in the demolition of the casemates, bridges, etc.,
etc., and finally the blowing-up of the magazines, in which we shall permit to
be destroyed vast quantities of powder. The main body under command of General
Mower, convoyed by Admiral Porter, sailed last night for Alexandria, where I
expect to join them in three days. Gen. A. J. Smith remains with me, and
gunboats Essex and Benton, Captains Grier and Townsend.
A glance at the map
will give you my present locality without the aid of sketch; but I will enclose
herewith draft and dimensions of fortifications that you may intelligently
answer questions; to which end, indeed, I have written you a sort of condensed
report. If you have not “Colton's” maps, you had better buy first volume, North
and South America; meanwhile you can borrow and trace me down the Mississippi,
up the Atchafalaya, pronounced “Chafalia,” to Simmesport, across country to
Marksville, from thence to Fort De Russy, on the Red, thence up the river to
Alexandria.
SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of
Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 356-9
