The rebels tried several times to charge across the open field in our front, but were as often driven back by the steady fire from our men in the ditch.
While this was transpiring, the rebels had driven back the brigade on the opposite side of the bayou until their fire enfiladed the left of our brigade, and at the same time were rapidly flanking the whole force on our right which began to fall back, and in a short time we were left alone upon the field. A staff officer from Col. Dudley rode up and ordered the Lieutenant-Colonel to retire the regiment. His authority was not recognized, Lieut.-Col. Stanwood having received orders from our own brigade commander (Col. Paine) to hold the ground at all hazards until his return, which order he held himself bound to obey. Soon on looking to the right and left not a blue-coated soldier could be seen, and away to the right the rebel could be seen passing rapidly to the rear. On the opposite side of the bayou the fighting was going on far to our rear while from our front in the corn desultory shots came, viciously striking the fence rails above our heads. Feeling that in this case “discretion was the better part of valor” and not caring to be a second Casabianca, he directed the men to pass the word quietly down the line, without rising, and retire from their position as best they could, and rally in the rear on the colors.
This they did, and the rebs were so close that many of the men were captured before they had time to retire from the ditch! The 48th lost in killed, wounded and missing 65 out of a total 201 men engaged. Lieut. Wilson, Co. D, and Lieut. Bassett, Co. I, were taken prisoners. Lieut. Wilson was reported as also wounded.
The men after retiring from the ditch rallied in the rear, and later took their place in the line of the brigade in the rear and in a low swamp. A tremendous rain storm came up towards night flooding our camp.
July 14. Our camp is located in a low swamp and is completely inundated. The men are all thoroughly soaked to the skin. The day has been spent in bringing in the dead and wounded. Among the dead is Edward T. Bennett of Co. B.
July 15. Still in camp at Donaldsonville. Received dispatches from New Orleans, announcing a great victory in Pennsylvania by Gen. Meade’s army, on the 1st, 2d and 3d days of July. The first week in July has been a week of tremendous importance to the Union cause—Vicksburg-Port Hudson, and now this great victory of Gen. Meade’s at Gettysburg—three names long to be remembered in American history. We hear that Col. Stone has recovered his horse which was captured from him at the battle of Plains Store, May 21.
July 16. Regiment received orders to change camp to the rear to secure higher ground, by which move the 48th has secured the best location in the brigade line. There are all sorts of rumors in regard to going home. Suppose that some of them may be true and expect that now that Port Hudson has been taken that we shall be sent home before long. Received word from Baton Rouge that Joseph B. Hale of Co. B died in the hospital there today.
July 17. All prisoners taken from us on the 13th have been paroled, and have returned to camp today having marched from Thibodaux. They say that the rebs had less than a thousand men on our side of the bayou in the battle, and our defeat was all owing to bad generalship on the part of our commanding officers.
July 18. Daniel F. Connell of Co. B who was taken prisoner on the 13th, came back to camp today, having been paroled, and walked from the rebel camp (which he thinks is nearly 100 miles from here) with one hardtack and a little corn meal for his rations during the march.
He thinks there are from 10,000 to 20,000 rebels between Donaldsonville and Thibodaux, with considerable artillery. A continued discussion of the question of “going home” now principally occupies the time of the men.