Report of Capt. Luther T. Park, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.
Brasher City, La., October 25, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders received, I
embarked on board of the gun-boat Nyanza, commanded by Acting Vol.
Lieut. C. A. Boutelle, on the 22d of October, at 6 p. m. with
thirty-five men of Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry and fifteen men of the
Ninety-third U. S. Infantry (colored), with three days’ rations and
eighty-rounds of ammunition. At 6.30 p. m. we dropped out into the
bay and cast anchor. Laid there until 5 a. m. of the 23d. We then
started up Berwick Bay, from thence into Flat Lake, from Flat Lake into
Bayou Long, from Bayou Long into Belle River, arriving at the head of
Belle River at 10.20 a. m. of 23d instant. I laid there from that time
until 10 a. m. of the 24th. I then moved up Bayou Go to Hell about
three miles, discovering nothing. I turned around and came back to the
head of Belle River. I stopped all communication with the country about
me, picking up all citizens and negroes that came in sight of the boat,
trying to gain some knowledge of the enemy. While lying at this point I
heard that there had been a party in the vicinity, of Pier Ferry, and were
about three miles east of said ferry; that they camped there on the night of
the 21st instant, and that on the morning of the 23d they were near the mouth
of Grand River; that had made a raid on some plantations Near La Fourche,
carrying off 20 horses and 30 mules, and that they started down Pigeon Bayou
in flat-boats. This party was under the command of Whitmore. While lying
off the head of Belle River I came upon a squad of five men and one
woman with a launch of about 3,500 pounds burden. They immediately
ran their boat ashore and ran into the woods. I sent a squad of men in
pursuit. Two of the men were captured. Their names were Dearborn,
and Le Geef. Dearborn has the reputation of having been engaged in the
contraband trade; that he [has] been engaged in the trade for the last
year; that the passed down Go to Hell Bayou on the 12th, or
thereabouts, with the same boat that he now had with him; that he had
two sacks of coffee, two barrels, and one large merchandise chest in the
boat, and that he took the goods to Force Point on Teche Bayou. At 12
m. on the 24th instant I started for Brashear City, where I arrived at 6
p. m. of the same day. While on this expedition I destroyed 1 launch
and 20 boats of different sizes. The prisoners I have turned over to
Capt. H. J. Lewis, provost-marshal at this place.
LUTHER T. PARK,
Capt., Eleventh Regt. Wisconsin Mounted Infantry.
Capt. FREDERIC SPEED.
(Copy to Col. C. L. Harris, commanding Post Brashear.)
Source: Official Records
PAGE 892-83 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LIII.
[Series I. Vol. 41. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 83.]
