Is interesting Alf Johnson's Texas Spy Company was also operating out of St Charles and a portion of his available scouts rushed down to the Post from their camp at St Charles when notified of the approach of the Federal navy.Johnson was given command of all the available cavalry at the Post,about 70 of his scouts,Richardson's Company and the Louisiana Companies of Nutt and Denson.

I have often wondered why most of the mounted soldiers did not clear out before the capitulation.Perhaps they could not get to their horses or perhaps their escape was prevented by the terms of that sudden and unexpected surrender.The latter may explain the taking of Portlock's Battalion.

I do recollect that the prisoners were quite dismayed when their transport vessels steamed north at the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers and not south to exchange at Vicksburg.

MWT