Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/328

 322 Southern Historical Society Papers.

limbered up and retreated across the creek. I immediately sent my Sergeant-Major, F. Watkins, to the batteries of Captains Whitfield and Seawell, commanding 30-pound Parrott and 8 and lo-inch Columbiad, with request to open on the enemy, which was promptly done. The infantry, after crossing the bridge, filed to the right, and, under cover of the willows, formed in line of battle and commenced advancing. Lieutenant Rhodes, commanding on the ridge already spoken of, having deployed his men at intervals, so as to occupy the whole ridge, commenced firing on the enemy, both front and rear, doing terrible execution and throwing them into confusion and dis- order. They still continued to advance until they reached to within about twOi hundred yards of the extreme left, when the artillery opened on them with cannister, and at the same time the infantry (in their anxiety to fire — firing without orders) opened on them, driving them back in confusion and disorder, with terrible slaughter. Seve- ral efforts were made to rally them, but all were unsuccessful, and no effort was afterward made to charge the works during the entire day. Before falling back in confusion and disorder, as above stated, the enemy fired only one volley, and not one single man was killed or wounded of my command.

"After the engagement was over I ascertained that the enemy's forces consisted of the First and Second Louisiana Native Guards (negroes), and two regiments of white troops. These troops were repulsed by six companies of my regiment and the artillery already mentioned, without the loss or wounding of a single man."

The following extracts of this assault are from Victor's History Southern Rebellion, page 85, Vol. IV, Banks's reports of negro troops.

On the extreme right of our line, I posted the First and Second regiments of negro troops. The First regiment of Louisiana infan- try, composed exclusively of colored men, excepting the officers, was engaged in the operations of the day.

Banks's report of casualties: On 27th May was killed 293; wounded, 1,549; missing, 300. The losses between 23d and 27th May was fully 2,500.

Page 84, Vol. IV, says : The investment was not made complete until the 26th of May, when General Weitzel arrived, when the line, as formed, was, first, Weitzel on the north, resting on the river and crossing Sandy creek; then Grover; then Augur; while General Thomas W. Sherman's command constituted the extreme Federal left reaching the river.