The Louisiana in the Civil War Message Board

Re: some Springfield Landing info

"During the first half of 1863 the battalion was brigaded with the Fourth Confederate Cavalry,Wilbur,s Mississippi Regiment,the Eleventh and Seventeenth Arkansas Mounted Infantry.The brigade thus formed was placed under the command of Col.John L.Logan of Arkansas.This body of troops operated up and down the Mississippi River,from Vicksburg to Baton Rouge,having many lively engagements with the enemy,who was trying to occupy the country.

During the siege of Port Hudson the brigade made a raid on Springfield Landing,La.,immediatly on the Mississippi River,only 4 miles below Port Hudson.It was the emporium for the landing and storage of supplies for Bank's army during the investment of Port Hudson.One evening while our brigade was quietly encamped near Gaines Mill,in Mississippi,the bugle sounded the signal to,"mount horses and then fall into line." This being done,the brigade moved off at a rapid pace in a south-easterly direction.The march continued all night through darkness.All main roads were avoided.Having traveled near seventy-five miles,the brigade was halted and a detail sent forward to capture the pickets of the garrison stationed at the landing.This being done,the entire brigade charged in three columns thru and open field.Some of the enemy threw down their arms and surrendered,others continued firing from out-houses and behind fences,and some from boats lying at the wharf,upon which they had taken refuge.The Ninth Battalion was sent forward on the road leading to Port Hudson to intercept any reinforcements from Bank's main army,only four miles distant.The rest of the brigade set fire to the buildings containing the commissary and quartermaster stores,and began destroying a large train of wagons.At this moment a command of Rhode Island cavalry sent by Gen.banks,came to the rescue.The Ninth Battalion met them with a deadly fire.They fell back,but soon re-formed and came again,but were again repulsed with heavy loss.By this time the destruction of the commissary and quartermaster stores and the wagons was completed;then the brigade was ordered to retire,which it did in safety;and after a circuitious and most wearisome march of two days,the battalion reached its old camp.

The result of the raid was the destruction of the garrison,the burning of over half a million of rations and a large quantity of quartermaster stores,together with a very large train of wagons.The loss of our command was small."

H.Clay Mack of McKinney,Texas

p750, Vol.II, JB Lindsley "Military Annals of Tennessee"

Messages In This Thread

Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: some Springfield Landing info
Re: some Springfield Landing info
Re: some Springfield Landing info
Re: some Springfield Landing info
Re: some Springfield Landing info
Re: Springfield Landing
Re: Springfield Landing