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Re: Red Church, La.
In Response To: Re: Red Church, La. ()

I believe these two reports discuss that engagement.

George Martin

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XV [S# 21] pp. 135-137

SEPTEMBER 7-8, 1862.-- Expedition from Carrollton to vicinity of Saint Charles Court-House, La, and skirmish.
No. 1.--Report of Col. James W. McMillan, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry.

DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Camp Carrollton, La., September 9, 1862.

SIR:

In obedience to all order received from Major-General Butler, commanding the department, dated September 7, I took the Twenty-first Indiana Regiment and battery and the Fourth Wisconsin Regiment, of Col. H. E. Paine's brigade, and proceeded up the Mississippi River about 15 miles, where I learned there was a considerable force of rebels on the west bank about 20 miles above the city. As the enemy's position led me to believe they could be captured, I at once returned to the city and gave the commanding general what information I could get.

Having discussed and agreed upon a plan of operations, I was again, on the 8th instant, ordered up the river with the same command; also one section of Thompson's battery, Colonel Paine in command of the Fourteenth Maine and Ninth Connecticut Regiments and two sections of Thompson's battery. When near the place the rebels were last reported I went ashore and learned they had gone up the river. Colonel Paine having landed his regiment 2 or 3 miles above, I at once resolved to go yet higher up the river and cut off the rebels. When about 5 miles above Saint Charles Court-House I again touched shore, and finding I was above the rebels I at once commenced landing my force. I ordered Captain Roy, with five companies of the Twenty first Indiana Volunteers, to move back to the timber or edge of the swamp to cut off the rebels if Colonel Paine should drive them up the river, and followed with the other force as rapidly as possible to land. When about 1 miles back from the river I found a good road, running parallel with the river, made for the sole use of the rebel forces in their guerrilla raids along the river, the cane hiding them completely from the river.

I posted a small force on each side of the rebel road, masked by tall weeds on the bank of one of the many ditches running from the river to the swamp, and sent the Fourth Wisconsin Regiment and three guns of the Indiana battery to the support of Captain Roy, who had discovered the rebels in the edge of the swamp, but cut off from going up the river.

Soon after posting the force on the rebel by-road a large body of them approached to within three-fourths of a mile of the force on the road, then temporarily under command of Captain McLaflin, when one of my men, who had been ordered back by Captain Roy, was discovered by them, and 3 of the ragged villains started at full speed to capture or kill him. When within 30 paces of Captain McLaflin my man dropped to the ground, and in an instant Captain McLaflin's command had killed and wounded the 3 rash rebels, killing 1 horse and capturing the other 2. As soon as the main body saw their rash comrades fall they stopped, and turned and fled through the cane toward the swamp, where they were again foiled by Captain Roy's command.

Having gotten all the artillery landed, I posted the two 12-pounder howitzers of Thompson's battery on the rebel road, supported by a portion of the Twenty-first Indiana and Fourth Wisconsin Volunteers, the main force being near the swamp where the rebels were ambushed. I ordered the Indiana battery into position and shelled the weeds for a few moments, when the rebels broke out of their weedy ambush and ran to the swamp, covered by heavy timber. When I found they were gone into the swamp I advanced my guns (having ordered up Lieutenant Hartley, with one of his howitzers) as far as the ground would permit and shelled the border of the woods for a short time; but soon becoming satisfied the rebels had taken to the swamp, I ordered five companies of the Twenty-first Indiana, under Captain Roy, and five companies of the Fourth Wisconsin, all under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bean, of the Fourth Wisconsin, to follow them into the swamp. They followed the horse-tracks until they found the horses, to the number of 300 or 350, belly-deep in mud and water, tied to the trees, and deserted by their riders. They came up with, shot, and captured several of the rebels, but they were scattered so much that pursuit soon appeared useless, and, after getting 200 of their horses, Lieutenant-Colonel Bean prudently left the pursuit of the rebels and returned to solid ground once more, with his men tired and muddy, many of the men and officers having been to their waists in mud and water. I then returned to the boats, satisfied the only chance left the rebels for escape was up the river, and that, by sending a force above, I could capture them. In the mean time Colonel Paine, finding the enemy were above him, had moved up to where I had landed. At my suggestion he took the Fourteenth Maine Regiment and went up the river about 10 or 11 miles, to a point where it was said the rebels had left one company and all their stores and camp equipage. When I got the captured horses on board of the transports I found that I could not possibly take any more if I captured them. I therefore resolved to return to Carrollton, leave the horses, and return again by sunrise of to-day. Having ordered the Ninth Connecticut Regiment to join Colonel Paine, I came down, arriving about 7 p.m. Left the captured horses, and, with 250 men from each (the Twenty-first Indiana and Fourth Wisconsin Regiments), returned to explore the swamp again for horses. I brought down about 50 to-day and killed a large number that were totally unable to get out of the swamp. The rebels proved to be Colonel [E.] Waller's Texas Cavalry. We captured over 50 prisoners, including several commissioned officers. We found but 2 dead and 3 wounded, but the prisoners say our shell and canister killed and wounded several in the swamp. We captured about 300 horses and saddles, 2 rebel flags, 1 French flag, shot-guns, pistols, and, indeed, nearly everything they had with them, even to their spurs.

The officers and men of my command did all that soldiers could-- did their duty well. The operations of Colonel Paine's command will, I infer, be the subject of a separate report by himself.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

JAS. W. McMILLAN,
Colonel Twenty-first Indiana Volunteers.

Maj. GEORGE C. STRONG,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

------------

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XV pp. 137-138

SEPTEMBER 7-8, 1862.-- Expedition from Carrollton to vicinity of Saint Charles Court-House, La, and skirmish.

No. 2.--Report of Maj. Frederick Frye, Ninth Connecticut Infantry.

CAMP PARAPET, LA., September 12, 1862.

GENERAL:

I have the honor of inclosing to you my report of an expedition against the enemy in the neighborhood of Saint Charles Court. House, on the opposite side of the river.

The expedition, accompanied by the armed steamer Mississippi, was under command of Actg. Brig. Gen. H. E. Paine, and was composed of the Fourth Wisconsin and Sixth Michigan Regiments and a section of the First Maine Battery in one division, and the Ninth Connecticut and Fourteenth Maine Regiments, with another section of the same battery, in another division.

Word had been received that the enemy were establishing a camp and had already concentrated a force of 2,000 infantry, a full battery of light artillery, and about 500 cavalry. In accordance with orders, the Ninth Connecticut, about 550 strong, embarked at Carrollton on the transport Morning Light, with a section of battery, at 11 o'clock on the night of September 7, and landed at daylight at a point above Carrollton on the opposite side of the river, with the Fourteenth Maine, the other division landing 5 or 6 miles above, all to converge to a common center, proper signals having been arranged. After moving forward about a mile signal was made from the mast-head of the Mississippi, "Enemy approaching." The artillery shelled the woods, but failing to dislodge the enemy, the Ninth Connecticut were thrown forward as skirmishers. After moving forward several miles through woods, swamps, bayous, and canebrakes, everywhere finding traces of a flying enemy, abandoned haversacks, blankets, bundles, papers, &c., it was found that the enemy, mostly cavalry, attempting to break through in this direction, had been driven back, and, abandoning their horses, saddles, and equipments, had fled into an almost impenetrable swamp, but being surrounded on all sides our troops killed and wounded 8, taking about 40 prisoners and bringing in upwards of 200 horses ready equipped. This was accomplished without loss on our side. A lot of sutler's and other stores were also recaptured, which had been taken by the enemy from the steamer Whiteman, sunk by collision after the battle of Baton Rouge.

The regiments were re-embarked at about 6 o'clock p.m., the Wisconsin and Michigan regiments, with their section of battery and the captured booty, returning to Carrollton, while the Connecticut and Maine regiments and the other section of battery proceeded up the river to cut off' the enemy's retreat. Pickets were thrown out that night, and Captain Hennessy, Company E, of the Ninth Connecticut, having been sent out with his company, captured a colored rebel scout, well mounted, who had been sent out to watch our movements. It being ascertained that the enemy had proceeded in another direction, we re-embarked and returned to our encampment, arriving at 6 p.m., September 9.
The men deserve great credit for their energy and determination, for though not recovered from the effects of the Vicksburg and Baton Rouge expeditions, not a man lagged.
* * * * * * * * * *
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FREDERICK FRYE,
Major, Comdg. Ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.

J. D. WILLIAMS,
Adjutant-General, State of Connecticut

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