Expedition from Brashear City to Whisky

JANUARY 16-18, 1865.–Expedition from Brashear City to Whisky
Bayou, La.

Report of Capt. Luther T. Park, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

CAMP ELEVENTH REGT. WIS. VETERAN VOL. INFTY.,
Brashear City, La., January 19, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders received, I
embarked, with 100 men from the Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer
Infantry, on board of gun-boat 41 and the steamer Carrie, supplied with
five days’ rations and eighty rounds of ammunition, on the night of the
15th, at 8 o’clock. At 1 a.m. on the 16th we left Brashear City, La.,
and proceeded up Bayou Teche into Grand Lake, arriving at Constitution
Bayou at 10.15 a.m. From Constitution Bayou to Round Lake and from
Round Lake to Bayou L’Embarras, arriving at Capt. King’s
plantation, of the C. S. Army, at 2 p.m. I landed my troops here and
found about 700 pounds of sugar. I loaded this on the steamer Carrie.
At this point I captured Capt. D. E. Grove, of Grove’s battery, and
Privates Robert Wilson and Charles Harris, of Grove’s battery. At 3.20
p.m. I embarked all my troops and proceeded up the bayou. At 5 p.m.
I anchored in the stream. At 6.15 a.m. on the 17th we got under way
and proceeded up Bayou L’Embarras into Little Devil Bayou, arriving
at Grand River at 8 a.m. I then steamed down Grand River to Hart’s
house. I here landed and found that Hart had run to the swamps. At this
place I found 600 cigars and 11 pairs of misses’ gaiters belonging to a
man by the name of Gallahan, which I brought to Brashear City and
turned over to post quartermaster, as per receipts inclosed. I then
proceeded down to Lee’s plantation, arriving at 9.30 a.m., and took the
said Lee a prisoner. I captured at this point about 1,300 pounds of
sugar, which I turned in, as per receipts inclosed. At the house I found
1 large rifle and 2 pistols, and about 8 pounds of powder, all of which
I destroyed. I then returned to Offutt’s Mill, landed and took on about
10,000 feet of lumber, which I turned over, as per receipts. At 11.30
a.m. I steamed up Grand River to Whisky Bayou, arriving at the head
of Whisky Bayou at 1.30 p.m. At this point I lowered away three boats,
loaded with armed men, and sent them up a bayou about two miles, to
a place where there had been a steam-boat hid. At 3.30 p.m. they
arrived back at the boats. We then headed down to Lake Mangoula and
anchored for the night at 5 p.m. On the morning of the 18th, at 6.30,
I started down Bayou Chene. At the plantation of Capt. Olivier I took
eleven refugees on board; at the mouth of Bayou Sorrel I took on board
seven more, making a total of eighteen. I then steamed down through
Bayou Chene into Lake Chico; from Lake Chico out through Chico Pass
into Fausse Pointe Lake; then down through Grand Lake to Brashear
City, where I arrived at 6 p.m. on January 18, 1865. At King’s
plantation I took on board two negroes. I also picked up a negro in
Bayou Sorrel, who had a pass from Capt. King, of the C. S. Army;
brought him to Brashear City. Inclosed are receipts for property taken
while on expedition on Grand River. I heard of several parties of
Confederate soldiers.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

LUTHER T. PARK,
Capt. Company A, Eleventh Wisconsin Infty., Cmdg. Expedition.

Col. C. L. HARRIS,
Cmdg. Post, Brashear City, La.

The above letter was forwarded to Capt. Speed, assistant
adjutant-general, Defenses of New Orleans, with receipts from Capt.
Upham, commissary of subsistence, U. S. Volunteers, for 2,000 pounds
of sugar and a receipt from Lieut. Mayers, acting assistant
quartermaster at Brashear City, for 600 cigars, 11 pairs of misses’
gaiters, and 10,000 feet of lumber inclosed.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 48-101 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LX.
[Series I. Vol. 48. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 101.]

About Chris

Christopher Wehner is a Civil War historian with his M.A. in United States history emphasis the American Civil War. He is a published author with two books, numerous journal and digital media media publications to his credit. To contact chris, cwehner -at- soldierstudies .org
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