Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, June 17, 1863
The Expedition up the Teche - 114th NY Infantry
Headquarters 114th Reg. N.Y.S.V., Brashear City, La, May 26, 1863
When I closed my last communication, we had just returned "home" to Brashear, and were under orders to return to New Iberia. We were ill calculated to commence another march, with feet blistered and bleeding from twenty days severe campaigning, but when it became rumored in camp that we were to rejoin the Brigade at the front, the regiment was joyous, and all were eager at the thought of rallying once more around the blue -?- of the gallant Gen. Weitzel.
About 2 P.M. of May 1st, we embarked on the Empire Perish, and soon were winding our way up the crooked and apparently insignificant stream. Nothing of peculiar interest transpired during our passage, and we went into temporary camp at New Iberia. After remaining here two days we commenced our march to the front.
A few words about these marches. In this country at this season of the year the weather is equally hot as our hottest weather in July at the North. The sun is even more scalding. the roads are thickly covered with dust and all the other attending circumstances which serve to render a march uncomfortable have followed closely on our track. We averaged about fifteen miles per day, and intended generally to make our distance in the fore part of the day. The reveille sounded at 4 A.M., and we moved at 5. the general inconvenience was from sore feet. Hardly a man in the regiment escaped this trouble, although the men bore up nobly under these pains, which oft times were severe, and in many cases so badly were their feet worn down that they bled, which rendered it almost impossible for our men to wear their shoes. The health of the men was never better. The sick were left at New Iberia, and subsequently were returned to Brashear. Among the officers which returned were Col. Smith, three Captains and five Lieutenants. We had only about half our complement of officers with us . We marched between six and seven hundred miles. This march has tried the mettle of the regiment. Only the real hardy bone and sinew men can stand such marches as we have experienced in the last sixty days, for we can date the commencement of our expedition from our move from Bayou Boeuf. We bivouacked where we could find wood, water and beef. As we marched up we were alone and Col. Per Lee used every possible endeavor to halt us in the very best places he could find. Generally we would bivouac in the door yards of some plantation houses. We have halted in the yards and occupied many mansions of men of note, among whom I may mention Genl's Monton and Pratt, Col. Cloente, and a nephew of Gen. Scott. Gen. Monton you will remember was with the force which we drove from the earthworks at Camp Bisland. Gen. Pratt is with the rebel army in Virginia, Col. Cloente at Vicksburg, and Scott's nephew, with a commission in some of the departments. Almost every house has some of its force in the army, and the wealthiest plantations generally turn out "shoulder straps." We continued our line of march until May 13 when we were met with orders to return. We were then within two days march of Alexandria. We countermarched with the idea that we should be obliged to march all the ground over again and in this we were not disappointed. At Opelousas we received orders to report to Col. Morgan of the 90th N.Y., who was to command the forces which were to return. We joined those forces at St. Martinsville, which consisted of the 90th N.Y., 110th N.Y., 52d Mass. and the 41st Mass. which was mounted, and two pieces of artillery. With these troops began Our Return.
One of the main object was to take all the negroes from the country. They needed no urging on our part, but loading up what carts the respective plantations afforded, and taking mules, horses and cattle, joined the train. So we passed each day adding much to our number. At New Iberia, the negro train consisted of four hundred and six carts, each cart averaging not less than ten heads of negroes. In addition to this, the male portion of able men either marched, or took horses as we proceeded down. It was a sight perhaps never witnessed before, and may never be again, to see the train pass. The carts were those used to cart cane and cotton from the field, and would hold as much as a small canal boat. Some were covered with awnings made of all imaginable finds of material. Carpetings, clothing, seed mattings, dried cowhides, boards and everything else which would serve to protect from the sun were used as a shield, and presented a most picturesque appearance, and the propelling power was equally varied. Some of the carts were drawn by oxen, some by horses, some by mules, and an ox and a mule drawing the same cart were not infrequent. And in one case a cow and a mule were harnessed together. The cooking utensils, bedding, clothing and in fact all -?- of the negroes were loaded on, and the aged and young, big and little, were all piled predominately together. The train was over five miles in length and our crop of negroes when we reached Brashear City was not less than twelve thousand all told. We marched on, nothing occurring of importance, until we reached Franklin. Here we were attacked by Guerrillas, and a sharp skirmish followed. Franklin has, since the rebel rout of April 12th and 13th been notorious for its apparent unionism, but many have suspected a wolf in the clothing of sheep. We passed this place on the afternoon of May 25, the music playing the national airs, and the regiment singing. "We'll hang Jeff Davis to a Palmetto tree."
The 114th was the rear regiment, and we only had a squad of cavalry in our rear to pick up what stragglers might fall out by the wayside. The day was beautiful, and just as the sun was setting and we were marching leisurely along and hoping soon to halt for the night, when in our rear we heard shouting, and soon a mass, a mob, came dashing headlong crying "get out of the way, the rebels are coming," and like exclamations. At first we thought the mounted negroes and soldiers were trying to run a race, but soon a cavalryman dust covered and bare headed came dashing up, and said the rear guard had been attacked and some had been killed. The panic now began to become general among the negro ambulance drivers and teamsters, and but for the prompt and earnest action on the part of the officers would have caused a terrible calamity. As soon as we could gather sufficient information to form a belief, Col. Per Lee countermarched his regiment determined to go to the aid of the rear guard. We marched back three miles, and formed a line of battle and could distinctly hear the exchanging of shots further up the road.
We had hardly halted and formed our line when several cavalrymen came dashing headlong down the road. Col Per Lee rode out, halted them, heard their hurried story, and ordering them to return and rode at their head rapidly up the road. In a few moments he was met by our entire cavalry force skedaddling as fast as they could. These he halted and assuming command ordered them to follow him. They dashed forward and were soon met by the rebels who poured a murderous volley into our little band, killing Lieut. Wood of the 110th N.Y. and seriously three or four others. Our men now returned the fire, and after an exchange of shots the rebels began a retreat. The Col. and his miniature force pushed rapidly on and drove the rebels into the town, and then returned. Seven of the guerrillas were killed. The dust was so thick that it was impossible for our men to judge how many of the enemy had attacked them, but judge that this advance guard may have numbered about one hundred. Col. Per Lee rode back to the regiment and with his characteristic energy said "Boys, there are a lot of those devils up there and I am for going back and cleaning that town out." The boys gave three hearty cheers for the Col. and then asked him to lead them and they would gladly follow. He immediately [unreadable] to Col Morgan, who was at the front of the train and nearly six miles distant, for some cavalry, and then marched the regiment to Franklin. He halted the regiment and threw out skirmishers and soon three companies of the 41st Mass. mounted infantry came up, and went to the front of skirmishers. It was now evening, but the moon was full, and it was quite light. The firing was rapid, and the rebels began to retreat. We advanced to support the skirmishers, and by this time Col Morgan arrived and assumed command. One piece of artillery came up and threw four shells, nearly all very short range, but the last bursting in the town. We all hoped that the town might be burned, and so it would have been had Col. Per Lee been in command, but Col. Morgan ordered us to retire. We could distinctly see them fire from the windows of the houses, and yet this treacherous, traitorous town was spared. our killed and wounded were all taken off and attended in the best manner possible and great credit is due to Dr. Wagner for his untiring labors towards these sufferers.
Our retreat, for such it must be called. We were now put under rapid marching, and at 11 P.M. we overtook the other forces which had been halted. All now took up the line of march, and we marched all night resting but twenty minutes. It would not do to halt any length of time, for the men were so worn out that they would fall asleep and could not have been aroused without great efforts. They slept as they walked, many of them. You may think this is almost incredible, but this is nevertheless true. Many told me so, and I know that I would often walk many rods so sound asleep as to be unconscious of surrounding objects, and only a heavy jog or jostle would arouse me. We continued this way until 5 A.M. when we halted for coffee, as we had had no supper the night before. But the tired men could not wait for breakfast but fell down in their tracks to sleep till they were aroused to march again. After half an hour we resumed our march, and under cover of a gunboat which had been sent to our aid pushed on towards Brashear, and the captain of the boat said he could distinguish with his glass a cavalry force following us, but we heard no more from our pursuers.
We arrived at Brashear Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, and a more dirty, dusty, begrimed and fatigued set of men you never saw. The excitement of the march was now over, and without even eating or washing, the men sunk down to sleep. From Monday morning at 5 until Tuesday at 11 we had marched continually, had a short skirmish, and moved a distance of forty-three miles. since April 1st we have marched continually, halting but three days at the most, and passing over a distance of five hundred miles.
\After we had driven the rebels into the town, Col. Morgan ordered us to retire. We did so. The result as to our loss was those mentioned as killed, and a loss of a number of prisoners. An estimate of fifteen officers may not be too much. The 175th N.Y. lost its Major, Adjutant and two Lieutenants. A number of stragglers from all the regiments were taken, but the exact number is not known. Perhaps thirty will cover the number. Capt. Titus of our regiment and Lyman Hall are the only ones of the 114th which were "gobbled." Titus and Hall left the regiment early in the morning of the affray, and have not been heard from since. They are, of course, taken prisoners.
That tract of country from Brashear City to Alexandria is the finest in Louisiana. But here we have slavery in its worst aspect. We brought down many slaves which were whiter than our sunburnt men. Fancy the sons and daughters of your townsmen as slaves, menials, to be bought and sold at the beck and nod of their owners! And yet I have seen, what shall I call them, Slaves? Young men whiter than your correspondent, and young girls, fair, and even beautiful, the property of fat-faced licentious looking owners. Shame be on that man from the north who can gaze without a feeling of disgust, on such ungodly custom of a heathen world. Oh shame! But I must close. We are under orders for Baton Rouge, and will probably leave in a day or two.
E.P.P.
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