Red River Union Naval Official Records for Blair’s Landing

 

Report of Lieutenant Bache, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Lexington,

regarding engagement of that vessel with Confederate cavalry at Blair's plantation, April 12.

 

U. S. S. LEXINGTON,
Red River, April 13, 1864.

 

          SIR: I have the honor to report that yesterday afternoon the enemy opened on the rear end of the fleet with three pieces of artillery, the Osage and this vessel being the only gunboats present. I immediately got the Lexington underway, steamed past all the vessels toward the battery, engaged it with our bow guns (VIII-inch) and drove it off in a few minutes, disabling one of the pieces. When within 600 yards of the battery, we encountered a very heavy fire of musketry from some fifteen hundred men, whom we passed at a distance of 20 feet. The enemy came boldly up to the edge of the bank, yelling and waving their side arms, so close that as a portion of the bank caved in from our fire, one of the rebels tumbled down within a few feet of the vessel. I now got our port broadside to bear on the enemy's line, and while the Osage poured in a front fire of grape and canister, we raked them with shell and shrapnel. They retreated precipitately into the woods after an engagement of forty minutes, having experienced a loss in killed and wounded of about 150 men, among them General Green, their commander, and one of their colonels.

This vessel fired 76 rounds in all of canister, shell, and shrapnel.

          One casualty only occurred, Philip Dudley (landsman, colored), wounded in the arm, since amputated.

          Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 GEO. M. BACHE,
Lieutenant, Commanding.

 

Rear-Admiral DAVID D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

 

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Report of Rear-Admiral Porter, U. S. Navy,

regarding the movement of the gunboats from Alexandria up the river

in the attempt to reach Shreveport, and the retreat, with an account of engagement at Blair's Landing.

 

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP CRICKET,
Off Grand Ecore, La., April 14, 1864.

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          SIR: I had the honor of reporting to you the movements of the squadron as far as Alexandria, and the intentions of General Banks to move on at once to Shreveport. He deemed the cooperation of the gunboats so essential that I had to run some risks and make unusual exertions to get them over the falls.

          The army started on the appointed day, and I pushed up the gunboats to cover them (if there should be need) as fast as they got over the falls. The vessels arrived at Grand Ecore without accident, and had good water, the river apparently about to reach its usual stage at this season. The Cricket, Eastport, Mound City, Chillicothe, Carondelet, Pittsburg, Ozark, Neosho, Osage, Lexington, Fort Hindman, Louisville, and Pittsburg were the vessels sent up, and a fleet of 30 transports followed them.

          Grand Ecore was occupied by our forces without opposition, the works deserted. Lieutenant-Commander Phelps captured one 32-pounder on the river below Grand Ecore, which he destroyed, making 22 guns captured from the enemy since we entered the river.

          The army had arrived at Natchitoches, near Grand Ecore, when I got up here, and were preparing for an immediate march. As the river was rising very slowly I would not risk the larger vessels by taking them higher up, but started on the 7th of April for Shreveport with the Cricket, Fort Hindman, Lexington, Osage, Neosho, and Chillicothe, with the hope of getting the rest of the vessels along when the usual rise came. Twenty transports were sent along filled with army stores and with a portion of General A. J. Smith's division on board. It was intended that the fleet should reach Springfield Landing on the third day, and then communicate with the army, a portion of which expected to be at Springfield at that time.

          I found the difficulties of navigation very great, but we reached the point specified within an hour of the time appointed. At this point we were brought to a stop. The enemy had sunk a very large steamer, the New Falls City, right across the river, her ends resting on each bank, and her hull broken in the middle, resting on the bottom. This was a serious obstruction, but I went to work to remove it. Before I commenced operations, however, a courier came in from General Banks bringing the unpleasant and most unexpected news--our army had met with a reverse and was falling back to Pleasant Hill, some 60 miles in our rear. Orders also came to General Kilby Smith to return to Grand Ecore with the transports and the troops he had with him. Here was an end to our expedition for the present, and we reluctantly turned back, after having nearly reached the object we were aiming at.

          The information we received was of a very unsatisfactory kind, and we did not know (really) what was the exact state of affairs, no letters having been sent by fast courier.

          It would be very difficult to describe the return passage of the fleet through this narrow and snaggy river.

          As long as our army could advance triumphantly it was not so bad, but we had every reason to suppose that our return would be interrupted in every way and at every point by the enemy's land forces--and we were not disappointed. They commenced on us from the high banks at a place called Coushatta, and kept up a fire of musketry whenever an opportunity was offered them. By a proper distribution of the gunboats, I had no trouble in driving them away, though from the high banks they could fire on our decks almost with impunity. As we proceeded down the river they increased in numbers, and as we only made 30 miles a day, they could cross from point to point, and be ready to meet us on our arrival below. On the left bank of the river a man by the name of Harrison, with 1,900 cavalry and four or five pieces of artillery, was appointed to follow us down, and annoy us. It was very fortunate for us that this person and his command were lately severely handled by a gunboat (a few weeks ago), which made them careful about coming within range. On the evening of the 12th instant we were attacked from the right bank of the river by a detachment of men of quite another They were a part of the army which two or three days previous had gained success over our army, and, flushed with victory or under the excitement of liquor, they appeared suddenly upon the right bank and fearlessly opened fire on the Osage, Lieutenant-Commander T. O. Selfridge (ironclad), she being hard aground at the time with a transport (the Black Hawk) alongside of her, towing her off. The rebels opened with 2,000 muskets, and soon drove every one out of the Black Hawk to the safe casemates of the monitor. Lieutenant Bache had just come from his vessel (the Lexington), and fortunately was enabled to pull up to her again, keeping close under the bank, while the Osage opened a destructive fire on these poor deluded wretches, who, maddened with liquor, and led on by their officers, were vainly attempting to capture an iron vessel.

          I am told that their hootings and actions baffled description; force after force seemed to be brought up to the edge of the bank, where they confronted the guns of the iron vessel, only to be cut down by grapeshot and canister. In the meantime Lieutenant Bache had reached his vessel, and widening the distance between him and the Osage, he opened a cross fire on the infuriated rebels, who fought with such desperation and courage against certain destruction that it could only be accounted for in one way. Our opinions were verified on inspection of some of the bodies of the slain, the men actually smelling of Louisiana rum.

          This affair lasted nearly two hours before the rebels fled. They brought up two pieces of artillery, one of which was quickly knocked over by the Lexington's guns, the other they managed to carry off. The cross fire of the Lexington finally decided this curious affair, of a fight between infantry and gunboats. The rebels were mowed down by her canister, and finally retreated in as quick haste as they had come to the attack, leaving the space of a mile covered with dead and wounded, muskets, and 'knapsacks. A dying rebel informed our men that General [Thomas] Green had his head blown off, which I do not vouch for as true. If true it is a serious loss to the rebels. Night coming on, we had no means of ascertaining the damage done to the rebels. We were troubled no more from the right bank of the river, and a party of 5,000 men who were marching to cut us off were persuaded to change their minds after hearing of the unfortunate termination to the first expedition. That same night I ordered the transports to proceed on, having placed the gunboats at a point where the rebels had a battery.

          All the transports were passed safely, the rebels not firing a shot in return to the many that were bursting over the hills. The next morning, the 13th instant, I followed down myself, and, finding at Campti, 6 miles from Grand Ecore by land, that they had got aground, and would be some time getting through, I proceeded down in this vessel to Grand Ecore and got General Banks to send up troops enough to keep the guerrillas away from the river. We were fired on as usual after we started down, but when I had the troops sent up the transports came along without any trouble.

          This has been an expedition where a great deal of labor has been expended, a great deal of individual bravery shown, and on such occasions the commander-in-chief is apt to find out the metal of which his officers are made, and on future occasions it will enable him to select those who will not likely fail in the time of need.

          To Lieutenant-Commander T. O. Selfridge, commanding Osage, and Lieutenant George M. Bache, commanding Lexington, I am particularly indebted for the gallant manner in which they defended their vessels and for their management during the expedition, always anticipating and intelligently carrying out my wishes and orders.

          I found the fleet at Grand Ecore somewhat in an unpleasant situation, two of them being above the bar, and not likely to get away again this season unless there is a rise of a foot. I could not provide against this when over 100 miles up the river. If nature does not change her laws, there will no doubt be a rise of water, but there was one year--1846--when there was no rise in the Red River, and it may happen again. The rebels are cutting off the supply by diverting different sources of water into other channels, all of which would have been stopped had our Army arrived as far as Shreveport. I have done my best (and so have the officers and men under my command) to make this expedition a success throughout, and do not know that we have failed in anything we have undertaken.

          Had we not heard of the retreat of the army, I should still have gone on to the end. A wise Providence which rules and directs all things has thought proper to stay our progress and throw impediments in the way for some good reason.

          We have nothing left but to try it again and hold on to this country with all the force we can raise.

          It is just as valuable to us and important to the cause as any other portion of the Union. Those who have interests here and are faithful to the Government, have a right to expect our protection, and when this part of Louisiana is conquered we hold Arkansas and all the right bank of the Mississippi without firing another gun.

          There is a class of men who have during this war shown a good deal of bravery and patriotism and who have seldom met with any notice from those whose duty it is to report such matters. I speak of the pilots on the Western waters. Without any hope of future reward through fame, or in a pecuniary way, they enter into the business of piloting the transports through dangers that would make a faint-hearted man quail.

          Occupying the most exposed position, a fair mark for a sharpshooter, they are continually fired at and often hit without so much as a mention being made of their gallantry.

          On this expedition they have been much exposed, and have shown great gallantry in managing their vessels while under fire in this, to them, unknown river. I beg leave to pay this small tribute to their bravery and zeal, and must say as a class I never knew a braver set of men.

          I also beg leave to mention favorably Acting Master H. H. Gorringe, commanding this vessel. He has shown great zeal, courage, and ability during this expedition, serving his guns rapidly and well at his post, night and day, ready for anything, and assisting materially in getting the transports by dangerous points. Mounting one of his 24-pounder howitzers on his upper deck, he was enabled to sweep the bank in all directions, and one or two fires had the effect.

          He was of great service to me throughout the expedition, was slightly wounded, but nothing of consequence (owing to his exposing himself so much).

          I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 DAVID D. PORTER,
Rear-Admiral.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

 

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Letter from Rear-Admiral Porter, U. S. Navy, to Brigadier-General Smith, U. S. Army,

commending the services of Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith, U. S. Army,

in the movement to Springfield Landing and return to Grand Ecore,

including engagement at Blair's (Pleasant Hill) Landing, April 12.

 

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP CRICKET,
Off Alexandria, La., May 4, 1864.

 

          GENERAL: I have been so engaged during my return to this place that I have not had the time to express to you the high appreciation I have of the services of that excellent and gallant officer, Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith, who, with a detachment of 2,000 men, accompanied the transports in the expedition to Springfield Landing. In that expedition we accomplished, under the most difficult circumstances, all that was required of us, and with a persevering enemy opposing us at almost every bend in the river, returned to Grand Ecore, very much against our will, without the loss of a particle of the material of war with which we started.

          I can not speak in too high praise of the manner in which General Smith managed his part of the expedition, doing everything in his power to make it successful, and cooperating in a way to give me the most entire satisfaction. It reminded me of the olden time, when the gallant soldiers of the Department of the Tennessee, guarded by the gunboats, were pushing their way victoriously up the ever-to-be-remembered Arkansas River. We did not return this time with the same success, yet we went through scenes that tried men's mettle, and the associations of those exciting days will no doubt long be remembered by both of us. Nearly 100 miles in the rear of our army when we heard of its retreat back to Grand Ecore, and with a successful and indomitable foe ready to harass us at every step, everything was conducted as quietly as if we were still on our way to meet the enemy. We never realized until we returned to Grand Ecore that our army had returned discomfited to that place.

          We reached Springfield Landing, the place appointed to communicate with our forces under General Banks, the troops were all landed, and in another hour would have been on the march to Springfield, hoping to greet our friends as conquerors. Our disappointment was great when informed by a courier that our army had returned to Grand Ecore and that all our perseverance and energy had been thrown away. The fire of the enemy was exceedingly annoying on our return, but the soldiers treated it with indifference, exposing themselves on all occasions and returning the fire with interest when fired into by the rebels. On the afternoon of the 12th April we were attacked at a bad bend in the river by a force of 2,500 men, with two fieldpieces, under the rebel general, Green, backed by a larger force of 5,000, with three fieldpieces.

          The enemy attacked the rear of the transports, where there were two gunboats, one or two transports, and the Hastings, with General Smith on board, bringing up the rear. The enemy came in certain of victory, but the gunboats and the Hastings, Rob Roy, and one other opened on them vigorously, and after an hour and a half of hard fighting, in which the fragile transports were much cut up, the enemy retreated in confusion, with the loss of their best general (Green), about 20 officers, and 400 or 500 men. In this action General Smith bore a conspicuous part, and by his annoyance of the enemy, helped much to secure a victory, so important to us because of the death of the rebel general, Green, their most popular leader. From that time we were not so much molested, the 5,000 men in reserve concluding it best to let us alone.

          At Campti some of the boats got aground, and anticipating further annoyance, I pushed on, and, as you know, requested you to send help to our exposed soldiers, which you promptly did. I regret that the help did not arrive quite in time to save a few lives, the enemy opening their batteries on the boats shortly after I left, which attack, I am informed, was coolly met and the rebels driven away. I hope it may be my good fortune to be associated with General Smith on some occasion where our exertions will meet with a better reward. Though we can not lay claim to any great success, we can safely say that we accomplished all that was required of us. I hope you will commend this gallant officer to General Sherman, who delights to know those under his command who do their duty faithfully and gallantly.

          With much respect, general, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 DAVID D. PORTER,
Rear-Admiral.

 Brigadier-General A. J. SMITH,
Comdg. Detach. 16th and 17th Army Corps, Alexandria, La.

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Letter from Major-General Banks, U. S. Army, to Rear-Admiral Porter,

U. S. Navy, requesting cooperation of gunboats in expected attack upon the enemy.

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Osborne's Plantation, April 13, 1864--8.30 p.m.

 

          ADMIRAL: My headquarters are at Osborne's plantation for the night (marked Welsh's plantation upon the map) 8 miles distant from the enemy, according to the information we received here. I desire to move against him early in the morning, and shall rely upon the gunboats being in position to test the strength of his right, which rests upon the river. I hope you will be able to send forward such boats as may be necessary for this purpose. General Smith has been ordered to join us at 3 o'clock to-morrow morning. The enemy appears to be posted between the river and the Bayou Lamourie. This force is variously estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand.

          I have the honor to be, with much respect, your obedient servant,

 N. P. BANKS,
Major-General, Commanding.

 Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.

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Letter from Rear-Admiral Porter, U. S. Navy, to Major-General Sherman, U. S. Army,

regarding the valuable services of Brigadier-General A. J. Smith's division

and expressing disappointment at the result of the expedition.

 

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP CRICKET,
Off Grand Ecore, La., April 14, 1864.

 

           DEAR GENERAL: You will no doubt feel much disappointed at not having General A. J. Smith's division returned to you in the time expected, but you will be reconciled when I assure you that the safety of this army and my whole fleet depends on his staving here. His is the only part of the army not demoralized, and if he was to leave there would be a most disastrous retreat. The army has been shamefully beaten by the rebels. There is no disguising the fact, notwithstanding the general commanding and his staff try to make a victory. Armies victorious don't often go back as this one has done. Your part of it maintained its reputation and saved the army from being beaten in a two days' fight. It is too long a tale to write, but some of these days I will give you a full and fair account of it. The defeat arose from sending 6,000 raw cavalry to attack an army of 25,000 men, said cavalry being accompanied by over 200 wagons. It was only supported by 2,500 men, and when these were over-powered by vastly superior numbers the cavalry fell back on them; the wagons stampeded and fell into the hands of the enemy. General Corse has heard it all and will tell you all about it. I was averse to coming up with the fleet, but General Banks considered it necessary to the success of the expedition, and now I cant get back again, the water has fallen so much. This has been terrible work--worse, if anything, than Deer Creek. There we had plenty of water; here no water and thousands of sharpshooters. The gunboats had some satisfaction out of the rebels yesterday. A couple of brigades, flushed with victory, made an attack upon two of them, and, excited by liquor, fought like madmen, coming up to the edge of the bank, where they were shot down like sheep. It is said we killed the rebel General Green, their best man.

          I can not express to you my entire disappointment with this department. You know my opinion of political generals. It is a crying sin to put the lives of thousands in the hands of such men, and the time has come when there should be a stop put to it. This army is almost in a state of mutiny and not fit to go into a fight. They would follow A. J. Smith, though, anywhere. The more I see of that old gentleman the more I like him. He is a regular trump, and has no give-up in him. I have been up as far as Loggy Bayou, and there was brought to a dead stand by a large steamer sunk in the channel, resting on each bank. It was providential, or I might have gone farther and would have been cut off to a certainty. I am not sure that Banks will not sacrifice my vessels now to expediency; that is, his necessities. I only wish, dear general, that you had taken charge of this Red River business. I am sure it would have had a different termination. I am very tired and must close for the present.

          With best wishes, etc., I remain,

DAVID D. PORTER,

 Rear-Admiral.

 Major-General W. T. SHERMAN,
Comdg. Mil. Div. of the Mississippi, Nashville, Tenn.

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