"The bringing off of the section of Nims' Battery, after the regiment sent to its support had surrendered, extorted the admiration of every beholder."[[13]]
In this engagement Sergeant Burwell and Private Smith were taken prisoners, while three horses were killed, seven wounded and the gun carriages damaged somewhat.
The entire battery was brought together at Vermillion River and on November 2 it took a prominent part in the engagement at that point,—maintaining a brisk artillery duel with the enemy and after two hours hard fighting and firing 120 shell it succeeded in driving them from the field.
We quote from the diary of W. G. Hidden:
"Right and left sections with 1300 infantry and cavalry, all under General Lee, started at 5 A. M. on the Opelousas Road, met the enemy's pickets one mile out and drove them before us. At 10 A. M. we arrived at the edge of a plain and saw the enemy drawn up in line of battle about two miles distant. The right section was ordered into position and fired twenty shell, causing them to disclose their whole force of about 6000. General Lee then ordered a retreat. Arriving at a plain outside the town, we found a brigade of infantry with 4th Massachusetts Battery lying low in the bushes. We moved our guns into the bushes just high enough to conceal us from the enemy and waited. They soon formed a line of battle about 1000 yards in front. Right section opened fire and the first charge emptied fifteen saddles. Their cavalry then charged on our left. Left section engaged them while we engaged the front. Cavalry was forced to retreat. Their artillery having got into position, opened fire on us and did some fine shooting. Their shells burst all around us plowing the ground and killing some of our infantry, but our men escaped injury. After two hours fighting the enemy retreated and we returned to camp. This is called The Artillery Skirmish at Vermillionville."
On November 16 the entire force started for New Iberia, the battery acting as rear guard and burning the bridge across the river after all were over. One writes: "It was a splendid sight to see the army form,—each part separate, and then unite to form a line and move off over the prairie with bands playing." The next day New Iberia was reached and preparations were made for the winter. At the same time skirmishing was going on and many prisoners were taken. We read: "A small rebel force known as Camp Pratt was six miles out. At 1 A. M. the center section started out on one road to get in its rear. At 4 A. M. the right section with cavalry and part of Cameron's Brigade of the 13th Corps started on another road for the same point. Arriving at daybreak all made an attack on the camp and captured 175 out of 200—twelve of these being officers. While marching them into town two bands came to meet us. One was placed in front, the other in the rear of the prisoners, and so we marched through the town to the tune of our national airs."
About this time Lieutenant Slack of Chelsea of the 13th Massachusetts was placed in command of the left section of the battery in the absence of Lieutenant Snow, who had gone North for recruits. Christmas Day, by exchange of prisoners, Sergeant Burwell and Private Smith, who had been taken at Grand Coteau November 3 were returned to the battery. "They were ragged and dirty, having had a hard time."
The month of December was devoted largely to drilling. Recruits kept coming in and these had to be made into soldiers. Captain Nims instituted a new set of bugle calls, making in all twenty-eight calls a day. January 1, 1864, was the coldest day the men had experienced since leaving home. Snow and rain made camp life uninviting and difficult. Nevertheless reënlistments were in order, and at this time several of the boys entered upon another three years' service.
Early in the year the force was moved out to Franklin, half way to Brashear City, and there made winter quarters. The roads thither were in terrible condition—deep with mud and water with a frozen crust on top, and three days were required to travel a distance of 23 miles. The horses were in poor condition from lack of hay and grain and only a limited supply of corn, and five died from exhaustion on this short trip. Here three months were spent in camp, the men taking possession of the cabins formerly occupied by the negroes, who had long since gone to the contraband camp in New Orleans. Much time was given to the drilling of recruits, while about 25 of the men who had reënlisted were given furloughs of 30 days.
A copy of the program of an evening's entertainment at the Cooper Institute (an old cooper's shop fitted up) will doubtless recall pleasant memories of camp life the winter of '63-'64.