1st Lieut James J Thompson and 2nd Lieut Ernest C Legendre surrendered with the garrison of Madrid Bend, Apr 8, 1862. McCown's report confirms that five guns of the Pointe Coupee Artillery did not go to Fort Pillow with Capt Stewart's battery.
>>>[Not inconsistent with any of the claims of the Union reports, Stewart's PCA had as many as 12 guns at one time with advertising needing 72 drivers in local papers.]
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The floating battery "New Orleans" was manned by one company of the 1st Alabama Regt and the "Pelican Guards" of Louisiana. These were under command of Lieut S W Averett, CSN. The floating battery was moored just behind Island Ten in the main ship channel. Refer to the map posted earlier.
>>>[Lieut. Col. Joseph Barbiere, in his interesting work on “Scraps from the prison table at Camp Chase and Johnson’s Island,” (page 69) says:
“We have omitted the floating battery in our mention of the guns. This impromptu affair was commanded by Capt. Averitt, formerly of the U. S. navy, an officer of nerve and intelligence. He had four guns. This, with the battery of the Southern Guards, and five brass pieces of the Point Coupe Artillery (sic), two small mortars, more ornamental than otherwise, make a grand total of fifty-three guns., the great portion of which were of light metal. The enemy report the capture of 120. We surrendered not exceeding 2,600 men; the enemy report 7,000. They publish the capture of seven generals; we had one, and two acting brigadiers. If there is any glory in such a capture, the bombastic Pole is welcome to it.”
History of the Confederate States Navy from its Organization to the surrender of its last vessel. Its Stupendous Struggle with the Great Navy of the United States; the Engagements Fought in the Rivers and Harbors of the South, and Upon the High Seas;
By J. Thomas Scharf
Footnote 1, page 245-246
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The Federal claim would have us believe that a Confederate battery flag was found untended on the parapet of a nearly submerged battery in the middle of the night during a rainstorm. It was taken without a struggle of any kind, and the officer in command of the five-boat mission failed to notice its seizure. At the same time, shouldn't we expect the flag to be with its battery of five guns stationed elsewhere on Madrid Bend? Artillerymen from Capt Rucker's company and detachments of the 1st Alabama Regiment were sufficient for the three Columbiads of Battery 1. Why send men from a battery of field artillery to serve these pieces or act as sentinels?
>>> Well, we need to simply accept that the 1st National pattern Confederate flag with 13 stars and "PCA" in the white bar ended up with the Union storming party of the upper battery on April 01, 1862. I mean we have seen a picture of it from the early 1900s and there is a clear record of this.
Once we accept that compelling fact we also must accept, with overwhelming evidence, that young Private Ive Batchelor, age 16 or 17, was there and holding the flag in his hands. I mean, how could anyone make that up? Mrs. Bushnell was sharp as a tack. Iverson Batchelor himself commented to Mrs. Bushnell about the flag, what unit it belonged to and even who made the flag.
Just as at Nashville there was no PCA flag hoisted and flying at the time. They only flew a flag when on parade and it was not as important as an infantry flag which was crucial in keeping the alignment and direction of the troops in battle. A flag flying above a battery was not needed and only assisted the opposing batteries in obtaining the range of their enemy targets. Also, a flag flying above an abandoned battery makes no sense, thus it was probably stored in their luggage (just as overwhelming evidence suggests their Nashville flag was).
The claim of capture raises a number of questions which cannot be easily answered.
>>> I know but someone once told me that if you could actually see the Confederate troops marching through a little dusty town in 1864 you would probably be amazed at the uniforms, accoutrements, firearms, filthyness, etc. which can never be explained or understood today. We only know so much about the details of 150 years ago and must accept some facts as they are presented to us and then work from there.