| Grand Introductory Overture | Band |
| Jig Dance | J. Comfort |
| Sabre Exercise | Dubois and DeFlanders |
| Sparring | Flemming and Ferrari |
| Song, The Sword of Bunker Hill | Mr. Wren |
| Dramatic Readings | McGrath |
| Feet Sparring | Dubois and DeFlanders |
| Song, What a Row de dow | T. Kenny |
| Sparring | Mortimer and Baker |
| A Little Spouting | Wilkinson and Ward |
| Cane Exercise | Dubois and DeFlanders |
| Song, Virginia Rosebud | J. S. Knowlton |
| Sparring | Ellis and Comfort |
| Magic Rings | C. B. Maxwell |
| Song, How are you, Jeff Davis? | T. Kenny |
| Originality | Mr. Ward |
| Sabre Exercise | Dubois and DeFlanders |
| Jig Dance | Mr. Brady |
| Dramatic Readings | McGrath |
| Sparring | Connors and Baker |
| Song, Faded Flowers | J. S. Knowlton |
| Feet Sparring | Dubois and LeClair |
| Jig Dance | Mr. Connor |
| Song | By the Band |
| Bayonet Exercise | C. Dubois |
| Sparring | Sullivan and Raymond |
| Song, I Dream of Home | J. S. Knowlton |
| Fancy Dance | C. Dubois |
| Sparring | McGrath and Baker |
| Grand Walk Around | Comfort, Kenny and Connors |
| Song, The Cove what Sprouts | B. Connors |
| Sparring | Mortimer and Connors |
Similar entertainments followed and were always given to crowded houses.
On February 7 Lieutenant Russell received appointment as first lieutenant in the 6th Massachusetts Battery where he later received promotion to the rank of captain. During the same month about seventy recruits arrived from Massachusetts, so that drilling appears again as the order of the day. Nor was this time wasted, for it was evident that an army movement was soon to take place.
Early in March preparations were made for the Red River campaign, the object of which was the capture of Shreveport on the Red River, the dispersion of the Confederates in that region and ultimately the recovery of Texas by the line of the Red River. There were serious objections to this route and certain precautionary measures were necessary if the end were to be accomplished, but these were not carried into execution.
As the battery was not brigaded we find it first in one division then another, wherever there was difficult service and danger to be encountered.
The general plan was that Banks with all the forces at his command should march his troops over-land to Alexandria, there to be joined by Gen. A. J. Smith with a force of about 10,000 men, detached from Sherman's army, who were to be transported up the river in company with Admiral Porter's fleet. At the same time it was expected that General Steele would coöperate in the movement with a force of about 15,000 men. As General Banks was obliged to be in New Orleans at this time the arrangements for his part of the movement were entrusted to General Franklin.
General Franklin's forces consisted of the entire 19th Army Corps and the 3d and 4th divisions of the 13th Army Corps, in command of General Ransom, the whole force numbering some 16,000, all under Major General Franklin. The cavalry division of the 19th Army Corps was commanded by Gen. A. L. Lee, and to this division Nims' Battery, equipped as horse artillery, had been assigned.
The troops were supposed to start from Franklin on the 7th of March and arrive at Alexandria the 13th, but owing to some delay they were unable to leave until the 13th. On that day General Lee moved with his command in advance of the regular army. His force consisted of the 1st, 3d, 4th and 5th brigades of the cavalry division, Nims' Battery of 6 guns—Rawles' Battery of 4 guns—and a battery of mountain howitzers manned by a company of 6th Missouri Cavalry, all equipped as horse artillery, a total of about 3300. There was a halt the next morning at five for an hour's rest and then on again. Long trying marches followed, 23 miles one day, 30 the next, 20 the next, 30 the next until the 19th of March, when 33 miles were made in 12 hours. Although one section of the battery reached Alexandria the 19th and another the 21st, the whole column did not arrive before the 25th. Here General Banks again assumed command and three days were spent in resting, refitting, and issuing supplies.
It had been intended to carry supplies the whole distance in the attack on Shreveport by water, but the river was so low that not many of the transports could pass and it was found necessary to establish a supply station at Alexandria, and a wagon train to take supplies from the vessels below to vessels above the rapids. To protect this, called for a force of about 3000 men. General Grover was placed in charge of this post and his division left for its defense. The troops on the transport were also unable to pass the rapids and were accordingly recalled to the Mississippi. Consequently, General Banks found himself ready to move out from Alexandria with a force of only about 20,000 men, while he could not expect any coöperation from General Steele. Even at the beginning of April experts foretold the failure of the expedition. The march into the enemy's country began on the 28th of March, and from that time the command was in active service. The Confederates constantly retreated, frequently stopping to skirmish, but offering no serious resistance.
Natchitoches was reached on April 3, the cavalry division camping just outside the town where a halt of a day or two was made. On the 6th the march toward Shreveport was begun at daylight, the battery marching in the center of the division as reserve artillery. In addition to the troops there was a train of 200 wagons carrying ten days' rations for the men, three days' forage, ammunition, and camp equipage. General Lee's orders from General Franklin were "to attack the enemy wherever he could be found but not to bring on a general engagement." No enemy was seen that day. The next morning the march was renewed until on reaching Wilson's Farm, three miles from Pleasant Hill, a considerable Confederate force was found posted in the woods on a hill. An engagement ensued between the enemy and the third brigade with two sections of the Missouri and Illinois batteries. The resistance was so strong that the 1st Brigade was advanced as support, and with this, two sections of Nims' Battery. Owing to the dense woods the battery, although at the front, could not go into action and was ordered into position with the 4th Brigade, Colonel Dudley, in line of battle in the rear. With the aid of the reinforcements the enemy was forced to retreat slowly and Colonel Lee and his forces bivouacked five miles beyond the battlefield.