Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 13, 1863
Letter from Major Henry B. Morse, 114th NY Regiment
We are permitted to print the following letter, written by Major Morse to a friend in this village. The description of the conduct of the 114th Regiment will be interesting to the multitude who have friends in its ranks.
....There has long been a nest of rebels occupying the western part of this State lying along the Teche, called the Atakapa country. This is the most fertile part of Louisiana and as rich a country as there is in the whole State. This country has been a great source of supplies for the South, and has been a convenient place to pasture their cattle, sheep &c., before taking them to Port Hudson. This nest of rebels made their headquarters about sixteen miles west of Brashear City, at Camp Bisland and from thence sent out parties of guerillas who have troubled our forces much during the summer of 1862, and the past winter and spring. Gen. Banks conceived the plan of surrounding this force of Confederates and bagging the whole party. For this purpose he combined the commands of Generals Weitzel and Emory at Brashear city. Gen Weitzel's force consisted of five regiments of infantry, two companies of cavalry and two batteries of artillery. Gen. Emory's force was twelve regiments of infantry, two companies of cavalry and two batteries of artillery. This force, under the immediate command of Gen. Banks, was to proceed up the Teche, attack the enemy and drive them from their stronghold while Gen. Grover with a force of thirteen regiments of infantry, cavalry and batteries, was to embark in boats, go through lakes and bayous to the rear of the enemy, and intercept their retreat. It was then thought combined action from front and rear would compel the rebels to surrender. I have been on duty in this city for some time, but wishing to share in the dangers and glory of the expedition with our regiment, I procured a leave of absence for ten days, and reported for duty to Col. Smith at Brashear City on the 8th inst. On the 9th inst. we crossed the bay to Berwick City and bivouacked there until noon of the 11th. We were then ordered into line for a forward movement. Gen. Weitzel's brigade taking the lead which position it held every day, and as the 114th is the 2d regiment in his brigade we had a chance to see the whole thing. The first afternoon we marched about eleven miles meeting with but little opposition and bivouacked that night near Pattersonville. During the day of the 12th there was heavy skirmishing and we made slow progress. At four in the afternoon we had marched but five miles. At this time we were marching in line of battle, the 75th N.Y. on our right, and 100th N.Y. on our left. The 6th Massachusetts battery of six brass prices, which it was the particular duty of our regiment to support. was immediately in our rear. As we were marching briskly along, a shell came over our heads killing two horses in the battery behind us. At this instant a perfect shower of shot and shell was sent amongst us. Our regiments were ordered into a ditch that very providentially was at hand. While our guns were unlimbered and set at work to respond to the enemy. For an hour and a half we lay in that ditch the shell bursting all around us, and our own guns behind us firing over our heads, and so near that the smoke would blow down into the ditch where we lay, at every discharge. Our ammunition at length gave out and we were obliged to return about a mile where we took up quarters for the night, and as fires to make our coffee would not be allowed went supperless to sleep.
On the morning of the 13th, we were called early, and after a little time to get breakfast, were ordered to advance again. Although the enemy contested every foot of the ground, by noon we had driven them to their earthworks at camp Bisland, and our regiment secured a position next to a piece of woods in a cane field overlooking the enemy's works, where our battery, which was on our right, could operate to good advantage on the enemy. The 75th N.Y. was on our left in the woods, and the 12th Connecticut was on the right of our battery. The enemy made several unsuccessful attempts during the afternoon to drive us back, sending bullets among us like hail and wounding several of our boys, but we held our position until dark. The cane that we were in concealing us from view saved us from heavy losses this afternoon as did the ditch the day before. At dark we were ordered to retire a little distance and part of Gen. Emory's division was placed in advance, giving us an opportunity for a good night's rest, and I think we all slept soundly though we had had nothing to eat since morning. We were called about half past four on the morning of the 14th, and told we might have a few moments to prepare our coffee and eat our hard bread, and then we must carry the enemy's works by storm. We had not had time to build our fires before it was discovered that the enemy had fled during the night, and we were ordered immediately in advance to give them pursuit. We followed them close during the forenoon exchanging shot and shell with them on the way, and by noon reached Franklin where we learned that the main body of the rebels had escaped from Gen. Grover, who not knowing the country had failed to get a good position to check the retreat of the flying enemy. We took up quarters that night about a mile beyond Franklin and the men satisfied their hunger on fresh beef, pork, mutton, chickens, geese, &c. The next day Gen. Grover with his division fell in our rear and we continued the pursuit, taking many prisoners each day and camping near the enemy every night. I went with the regiment some five miles beyond New Iberla, and as my leave of absence had expired and there was no prospect of more fighting, I returned to New Orleans. My duties were such during the fight and the forced march afterward that I could not get a list of the wounded.
George Ballou wounded in the knee and Frank Fish in the shoulder, are all that I know from Norwich.
All that I can say about the action of the regiment is that I am today more proud and glad than ever that I belong to the 114th. The country up the Teche is very beautiful, much like that around Rochester, N.Y. The plantations all show wealth, and the government by this expedition will get large quantities of sugar, molasses, beef, pork, &c. Also mules and horses, which were much needed in this department. We also get control of the Salt Works of the rebels and if Gen. Banks goes through to the Red River, we shall cut off all their supplies form Texas. Two foundries with quantities of shot and shell, which will be much missed by the Confederates, were also taken by our forces. I have only written of the part our regiment took in the expedition. You will receive the daily papers from here, which will keep you posted on the movements of the army. I last night received a telegraph from Colonel Smith, dated April 28, New Iberia, saying that he had been sent from the front with the 114th, and 159th N.Y. in charge of property enroute, and that he should go into camp again at Brashear City. He will probably get down Brashear by Monday or Tuesday next, and I hope to see him down to the city soon.
Truly yours, H.B.M.
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Adjutant's Report, 114th NY Infantry
Morse, Henry B.: Age 26 years. Enrolled at Norwich, to serve three years, and mustered in as captain, Co. D, August 13, 1862; as major, September 8, 1862; wounded in action, June 14, 1863, at Port Hudson, La.; mustered in as lieutenant colonel, August 26, 1863; wounded in action, April 9, 1864, at Pleasant Hill, La.; mustered out with regiment June 8, 1865, at Washington, D.C.
Death of Col. H.B. Morse
Henry Bagg Morse, formerly Colonel of the 114th Regiment N.Y. Vols., died at Eaton [Madison Co.., NY] on the 20th of June, aged nearly 38 years. Mr. Morse was the son of Ellis Morse of Eaton. On the mustering in of the 114th Regiment, he was appointed major; subsequently Lieutenant Colonel; and finally Colonel. He was wounded in the ankle while leading the assaulting party at Port Hudson, and at Sabine Cross Roads received a gun shot wound in the arm, which disabled him for several months. He was for a long time on the Board of Prison Inspectors at New Orleans, and for some time was acting Quarter master of the 19th Army Corps. The Colonel was present at the important and sanguinary battles of Bisland, Port Hudson, Sabine Cross Roads and Cedar Creek. At the latter his brother A.A. Morse of the same regiment was fatally wounded. When the regiment was discharged, after sufficient recreation, he entered the law office of Pratt A. Mitchell at Syracuse, where he thoroughly prepared himself for the practice of the law, which he entered upon in the State of Arkansas. By close attention to his business and uprightness of character, he became one of the Circuit Judges of Arkansas, a position which he held with honor. [Cazenovia Republican, July 2, 1874]
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