Page:History of the Forty-eighth Regiment, M.V.M. during the Civil War (IA historyoffortyei00plumm).pdf/70

 to their anchorage below, when a fresh blaze told of a heavy loss. The Mississippi had run aground directly abreast of the heaviest and most central battery where her helpless plight was soon discovered and she at once became a target for them all. Here Capt. Melancthon Smith fought her nearly half an hour until she was completely riddled, when he ordered her set on fire and abandoned, and she was burning ashore until she was so lightened that she floated, when she drifted down the river a blazing ruin, exploding several miles below when the fire had reached her magazine.

The morning after this memorable night found the 48th guarding a bridge on a road parallel to the main road from Baton Rouge to Port Hudson. We had fuel prepared ready in an emergency to burn the bridge as it was feared the enemy's cavalry might attempt to make a dash on the flank of our army. No cavalry appeared, however, and we were soon withdrawn and went into camp on the banks of the Montecino Bayou. And now the troops came pouring back from Port Hudson. They had advanced to the outer works, fired a few shots and retired. Not realizing that the movement was but a feint intended to deceive the enemy in the hope that they might withdraw some of their heavy guns from the bluff and thus make easier the passage of the fleet, Bank's soldiers showered curses on him and his tactics. They grew calmer when he issued a proclamation saying that the object of the expedition had been successfully accomplished. A week later all the troops were withdrawn to Baton Rouge. Banks with the larger part of the army left for an expedition in Western Louisiana and our Division was left to garrison Baton Rouge. We took up again the daily routine of picket duty, guard duty, and drill, varied occasionally by a