The line of road was guarded by New York and Connecticut regiments; and their post did not appear to be an enviable one. A little after noon, the train arrived at Brashear City. The place was full of troops; and others were continually arriving in the cars or on foot, and crossing the bay to Berwick City. The Thirty Eighth formed in line, the sick-call was blown, and another examination held; and all those who were considered unable to keep up with the column were kept behind, to do light guard-duty. Some who had been foremost in every duty were left here, much to their regret. After waiting for an hour or two, the regiment embarked on the gun-boat “Clinton,” and was transported across Berwick Bay to Berwick City, accompanied by Gen. Banks and staff, and the shelter-tents pitched in a level field, where the clover was ankle-deep. A large force was collected here, the troops of Emory’s division being joined to the veterans of Weitzel, who had already achieved victory in this vicinity.
CHAPTER V.
On the March again—Co. F Detached to guard Bridge—Centreville—Battle of Bisland—Pursuit of the enemy—Franklin—District of the Tèche—Neutral Flags—A Day’s Rest—Fording a Bayou—Opelousas.
ON the 11th of April, the division broke camp, and moved out on the main road toward Centreville; the gun-boats shelling the woods from the bayou, and the cavalry scouting in advance. Co. F was detached, and ordered to remain behind to guard a bridge on the line of the railroad, to prevent raids on the rear, while the army moved on.
The rebels were reported to be in large force near Pattersonville, under the command of Gen. Dick Taylor, determined to stop the advance of the Union troops through this portion of the Confederacy; and they were reported to have erected strong fortifications at Camp Bisland.
After a dusty march over the turnpike, feeling its way along, the army went into camp beyond Pattersonville; and soon the camp-fires were blazing for miles around, lighting up the country, and giving the enemy warning of the approach of the Union forces.
Co. F remained in its position, crouching behind the brakes, and occasionally throwing sticks at the alligators in the ditches, and all the while keeping a sharp look-out for the rebel pickets ahead, until four o’clock, when it crossed the bridge, and struck out for the army. Just beyond the bridge, a letter was picked up, addressed to a woman in Texas, and bearing Confederate postage-stamps. It purported to have been written on picket that day, and gave a statement of the number of Confederate troops in the vicinity, with some account of the movements of the Union forces. It was well written, but had probably been dropped on purpose, with the intention of misleading. Night found the company marching through the woods, the rebel picket-posts by the roadside giving evidence of having been occupied quite recently. No one in the company was acquainted with the road; and the chances were even of bringing up in either camp; but the orders were peremptory to join the regiment in the evening. After a march of several hours, sometimes by the flank, sometimes in single file, through ditches, hedges, and swamps, the camp-fires of an army appeared in sight. Doubtful whether it were friend or foe, Captain Rundlet sent out reconnoiterers, who soon ascertained that all was right, and the company marched into the camp of the Second Rhode Island Cavalry. The regiment was a mile further on, encamped in a cane-field, beyond Pattersonville.
The owner of the plantation had fled; but many of the negroes still remained, and were soon at work making corn-cakes for the soldiers, out of massa’s meal.