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A. Lincoln Published in the April 22, 1863 edition of The Opelousas
Courier in Opelousas, Louisiana.On Monday last, April 13th the Queen of the West, under the command of Capt. Malloy, and having on board Commodore Fuller, left Bute in Bose for Grand Lake, Commodore Fuller leaving orders for the Grand Duke and Mary T., both lately converted into powerful gunboats, to follow him immediately. Accompanied by the tender Nina Simmes, the Queen reached Chicot Pass, connecting Chicot Lake and Grand Lake, the same evening, and waited for the Duke and Mary T until twelve o'clock at night. These boats not arriving, Com. Fuller passed on with the Nina Simmes into Grand Lake, ordering the Simmes to make for Indian Bend or Charenton, where he expected to find three-hundred men who were to act as sharpshooters on the gunboats. On reaching this place, which she did about three o'clock Tuesday morning, the Nina Simmes was informed that the expected reinforcement had been driven off the day before, and that the Federal gunboats, three in number, were then in easy gun shot. Pushing off speedily in the direction of the Queen, as day began to appear, the tender soon discovered her, and at the same time the hostile gunboats, which at once opened fire upon both boats. Running down to the Queen the Simmes was ordered to return towards Bute a la Rose and bring on the Duke and Mary T.,the Yankee gunboats still keeping a heavy fire on the Queen, when about a mile from the latter, the Simmes saw a shell strike her about the pilot house, and a few minutes afterwards she appeared to be on fire all over, and the light of the continued flames was seen for some time after. The Queen was at this time two and a half or three miles from shore, the wind blowing a furious gale---so that the only chance for those on board, was that the enemy come up in time to save them from destruction by the flames or the waves. Thus ends once more the short lived career of another of our naval successes. Who was to blame will perhaps appear hereafter.---The Southern Sentinel, April 18th. It is hard to determine by their movements on the river what the Federals intend to undertake. They have tried the taking of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and have so far signally failed. The enemy is now evacuating Baton Rouge and there is no probability of them coming this way again soon. Reports say that Banks is sending a considerable force to Donaldsonville, with a view to gain the rear of Sibley's force, it being impossible for him to advance direct on Livonia, as the country is overflowed. It is reported that the greater part of Banks' army in being sent to Texas, but of this there is no certainty. What he will do with his reinforcements from Pensacola remains to be seen. We have now three months of provisions on hand, and the supply is constantly increasing by boats from Red river, and as the recent presence of Banks' army has made the planting community about [illegible] to sell, the army is being supplied from this country, and the supply on hand is not being diminished. As we may again hear of an engagement at Ponchatoula or probably at Tangipaho, and as all of your readers may not be acquainted with the location of these and other places, I will conclude this letter by a mention of their distances from New Orleans: Ponchatoula is forty-seven miles above New Orleans on the N.O. & J.R.R. Tahgipaho is thirty-one miles from Ponchatoula, or seventy-eight miles from New Orleans and Osyka, Miss., ten miles from Tangipaho, both on the same railroad. Clinton is twenty-five miles by road or twenty miles by railroad from Port Hudson. Jackson, La., is fifteen miles from Port Hudson, and twelve miles from Clinton.---The Natchez Courier, April 9th The enemy advanced in force, about 12,000 strong, towards our entrenchments at Camp Bisland, on the 12th inst. Skirmishing with the outposts continued all day. On the 13th he commenced the attack in earnest, at the same time landing a strong corps at Hutchins Point, in Grand Lake and on our flanks and rear. A furious cannonade was opened on our lines early in the morning, which was kept up during the whole day with an interval of an hour and a half about noon, at which time he advanced in strong force upon our right, for the purpose of assaulting. He was entirely foiled in this attempt and driven back. In the afternoon he pressed upon the left with equal vigor, but was again repulsed. The Gunboat Diana lying in the Teche, was disabled easily in the engagement by the fire of the enemy's Parrott guns, having her machinery broken and rendered useless. A force was detached to keep in check the enemy on our flank and rear, which was successfully done against greatly superior numbers. The situation of our army was now most critical, and the troops worn out with fatigue and exhaustion---retreat was absolutely necessary to save the army. To effect this, the enemy must be dislodged in our rear. Early on the morning of the 14th, our troops, led by Maj. Gen. Taylor in person, made a determined and irresistible attack upon this body of the enemy, and drove him before them several miles beyond Franklin, thus enabling the wagon trains, stores, artillery, etc., etc., to effect their retreat by the only road open to them. The army reached New Iberia in safety, with the loss of a few heavy guns, which could not be removed from the fortifications and the destruction of the Diana. The Queen of the West, commanded by Com. Fuller, entered Great Lake during the night of the 13th, the other gunboats not getting down in time for some unexplained cause. The Queen of the West was attacked on the morning of the 14th and destroyed. Our little army is still in New Iberia, in good spirits and condition. Loss, considering the fierceness of the engagements, small; Particulars not yet known. Col. Reilly, senior Colonel of Sibley's Brigade, was mortally wounded on the 13th, and died soon after the battle. On the same day, Major Brownrigg, of Gen. Sibley's staff, was killed, and also Capt. Blair, 2d La. Cavalry. Col. Vincent, same Regiment, severely, but not dangerously, wounded in the neck. The Southern Sentinel, April 18th. |
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