11th Wisconsin Civil War Regiment

Report of Maj. Jesse S. Miller, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

HDQRS. ELEVENTH INFANTRY, WISCONSIN VET. VOLS.,
Brashear City, La., November 19, 1864.

CAPT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
expedition to Bayou Portage under my command:

I left Brashear City at 11 o’clock on the night of November 17 with 200
men-150 of the Eleventh Infantry Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers, and
fifty of the Ninety-third U. S. Infantry (colored)-on board the gun-boat
Nijanza No. 41 and steam transport Cornie, arrived at the mouth
of Bayou Portage at 6 a. m. November 18, and proceed up the bayou
a short distance. The Cornie, a few rods in advance, was fired upon
from an ambush by about sixty men, killing 1 man of the Ninety-third
U. S. Infantry (colored). I immediately landed the force on the gunboat
and attempted to get in rear of the force that fired on the Cornie, but
they retreated up the bayou. I then deployed one company as skirmishers
and advanced up the bayou, the Cornie keeping abreast of me as far up
as she could go. I then had all the men on board landed except
twenty-five colored men and a captain, leaving them as guards for the
boat. I continued on up the bayou, my skirmish line keeping up a pretty
sharp fire with the enemy. I sent one company of about thirty men
around to the left for the purpose of getting into their rear, but they fell
in with a company of cavalry which prevented this. After driving the
enemy about two miles and a half we overhauled one of the large flats
loaded with baggage and tied up on the opposite side of the bayou, and
succeeded in getting it across, although under pretty severe fire from the
opposite side. I ordered the baggage set on fire and the boat destroyed.
I also captured 1 prisoner here, from whom I learned that the other flats
were some half hour the start of us. I concluded that it would be useless
to follow them farther, as they could row them as fast or faster than we
could drive the force that was now opposing us. I therefore fell back to
the boats and re-embarked, having been on shore four hours. The enemy
followed us back and exchanged a few shots with the rear before my
men were all on board. It is impossible for me to say how many of the
enemy were killed or wounded, but I am quite positive that 2 were
killed. The casualties on our side was 1 man killed and 1 slightly
wounded. We destroyed 1 large flat loaded with baggage and several
small boats, and barracks for about 300 men, with a considerable
amount of camp and garrison equipage, and some cornmeal and sugar.
It is impossible for me to say how strong the enemy were, but I should
judge them to be not less than 200 or 250 men, and under command of
Capt.’s Murphy, King, and Whittaker.

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

J. S. MILLER,
Maj. Eleventh Infantry, Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers.

Capt. B. B. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., District of La Fourche.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 926-83 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LIII.
[Series I. Vol. 41. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 83.]

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.]

Report of Capt. Dudley C. Wyman, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

BRASHEAR CITY, October 1, 1864.

SIR: In pursuance of orders I went on board Gun-boat 43, with my
command, at 4 o’clock on the evening of the 26th of September. My
command consisted of a detachment of the left wing of the Eleventh
Wisconsin, in all seventy-five men. We lay at anchor in the bay until 3
o’clock on the morning of the 27th, when we steamed up to Flat lake.
From Flat Lake we entered Bayou Long and proceeded without incident
to its junction with Belle River. We found no difficulty in navigating
Belle River, and reached Bayou Gotvelle in safety. Entering Bayou
Gotvelle great difficulty was experienced from the short bends and
narrowness of the bayou. I succeeded in penetrating to within three
miles of Lake Natchez, where the bayou, becoming very narrow, I lay
to and proceeded with eight men, in a small boat, to the lake. I found
the bayou narrow, the bends short, and the bayou overhung with trees;
so much so that navigation was impossible for a boat over 100 feet long.
As it was past 12 o’clock, and knowing I could not form a junction, as
ordered, I concluded to return. Returning several miles, we lay over all
night and started for Brashear on the morning of the 28th, where we
arrived at 8.30 a. m., when I dismissed my command. Bayou Long and
Belle River are large, wide streams, navigable for gun-boats.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. C. WYMAN,
Capt. Company G, Eleventh Wisconsin.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 822-83 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LIII.
[Series I. Vol. 41. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 83.]

Report of Maj. Jesse S. Miller, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

HDQRS. ELEVENTH WISCONSIN VET. VOL. INFANTRY,
Brashear City, September 30, 1864.
CAPT.: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the
expedition to Grand River Junction, of September 27, 28, 1864, and of
which I was in command:

I embarked on the U. S. gun-boat Carrabasset with 125 men of Eleventh
Infantry, Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers, at 5.30 p. m. September
26, when we dropped down to her moorings and made fast to
her anchor. At precisely 12 o’clock midnight we left moorings; arrived
off Pigeon Bayou at 5 a. m. 27th and anchored, it being so dark we
were unable to cross the bar at the mouth of bayou. At daylight weighed
anchor and crossed the bar into Bayou Pigeon ten minutes before 12
noon. The country between the mouth of Bayou Pigeon and the junction
of Grand River is one continuous wilderness. Until within one mile of
the junction there is not a house or sign of any habitation, although on
either side of the bayou the land is dry and might be cultivated. It is
covered with a heavy growth of live oak and thick clustering growth of
underwood. There are numerous paths running through it in all
directions, none of which show signs of recent travel. I landed parties
of men under competent officers at several different points along the
bayou and explored some distance back on either side, but could
discover no trace of the enemy. Pigeon Bayou is very narrow and
crooked, with large trees hanging over on either side, rendering it very
difficult of navigation with as large craft as the gun-boat, although it has
great depth, ranging from ten to twenty feet. Not finding the cavalry at
the junction when I arrived, I sent two armed boats up Grand River
about three-fourths of a mile, where I learned a large barge of cotton
was hidden in a small cove, with instructions to run the barge down to
the gun-boat if found. I then landed and went to the house of Mr.
Micheltre, directly opposite the mouth of Grand River. Here I found
two men who were in charge of the cotton and whom I arrested. I also
found a large quantity of cotton stored in the sugar-house on Micheltre’s
plantation, which I seized. The party sent in boats up Grand River found
the barge loaded with cotton hidden in a small cover about three-fourths
of a mile from the mouth, the underwood and large trees nearly hiding
it from view. No one being found at the barge they immediately took
possession of it and brought it safely to the junction. I then sent a
detachment under Capt. Park down the south side of Grand River as
far as the plantation of Charles Palfrey, occupied by one Mr. Brown,
distant four miles. He had learned that a Confederate captain and four
Confederate soldiers passed down in the direction of Lake Natchez on
the morning of the 26th. In the meantime I had the gun-boat turned
around, backed down opposite the sugar-house, and all the available
men I had, after placing a picket on each side of the river, set to loading
the cotton stored in the sugar-house onto the gun-boat. At 6 p. m. the
advance guard of the cavalry arrived, the main body at 7.30. I had an
interview with Maj. Clybourn, commanding the cavalry; remained at
this place all night. Started the barge down Bayou Pigeon at daylight
with one company of men under command of Capt. Park. Cavalry
started at 9 a. m. and at 10 a. m. I started down the bayou with the
gun-boat, passed the barge and crossed the bar, came alongside at 4
o’clock, when we took her in tow and arrived at Brashear City at 11.30
p. m. September 28, with 3 prisoners, 220 bales of cotton, and 1 large
barge. We destroyed two large flat-boats and several skiffs.

Very respectfully,

J. S. MILLER,
Maj. Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers.

Capt. B. B. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Report of Capt. Dudley C. Wyman, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

BRASHEAR CITY, September 9, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the result of the
expedition which left here Wednesday evening:

I took my command on board the gun-boat 41 at sundown and
proceeded to Grand Lake, where the command was transferred to 49.
We remained at anchor until daylight, when we weighed anchor and
proceeded to Pigeon Bayou. Our entrance was effected easily,
considering the snags and the narrowness of the channel. Our progress
was slow, as the boat was unwieldy and the bayou narrow and far from
being straight. We proceeded with caution, and after several hours’
labor arrived at the mouth of Grand River. On rounding a bend in the
bayou a boat with four men in it was discovered crossing the bayou; one
of the men was swimming a horse. I instantly ordered my men on the
lookout to fire, and passed the word to the captain of the boat to man
the guns. At the first shot from the bow guns the men in the boat
jumped overboard, swam to the shore, and took to the woods. Our boat
landed as soon as possible, and my force being small it was deemed
prudent not to pursue. On landing, pickets were stationed and a detail
sent to take on board the horses left by the rebels. They were mostly
U. S. horses, supposed to have been captured by them at Napoleonville.
We succeeded in bringing them on board, twenty in all, with equipments
for ten. We captured one man, J. B. Brogdon, Fourth Louisiana Cavalry,
from whom we learned that the party who escaped consisted of a
sergeant and fifteen men, and were on their way to join their regiment
at Franklin. I also took on board two hogsheads of sugar and three
barrels of molasses; also eight guns. We afterward proceeded up to Mr.
Micheltre’s plantation, where I found a man, named S. J. Fount, having
the appearance of a smuggler, and as he could give no account of
himself I had him arrested and taken on board. Finding the snags
numerous and the depth of the water insufficient for the boat, we
succeeded with some trouble in turning and started immediately for
Grand Lake. Our progress was slow for reasons given, and after several
hours’ hard work, breaking through what seemed to be forests, we
reached the mouth of the bayou at 7 o’clock minus some of our upper
works. In attempting to run out in the darkness the boat got aground,
and after fruitless efforts to get off we were forced to remain all night.
In the morning the 41 was seen coming out of the Atchafalaya, and we
signaled to her. She assisted us out of the Lake we met the 43, and in
company with her we went to Brashear. After landing I marched the
command to quarters.

I have the honor to be, yours, &c.,

DUDLEY C. WYMAN,
Capt. Company G, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.

Col. HARRIS.

Source: Official Records
PAGE 749-83 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LIII.
[Series I. Vol. 41. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 83.]