Report of Maj. Jesse S. Miller, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.<\/p>\n
HDQRS. ELEVENTH WISCONSIN VET. VOL. INFANTRY,
\nBrashear City, September 30, 1864.
\nCAPT.: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the
\nexpedition to Grand River Junction, of September 27, 28, 1864, and of
\nwhich I was in command:<\/p>\n
I embarked on the U. S. gun-boat Carrabasset with 125 men of Eleventh
\nInfantry, Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers, at 5.30 p. m. September
\n26, when we dropped down to her moorings and made fast to
\nher anchor. At precisely 12 o’clock midnight we left moorings; arrived
\noff Pigeon Bayou at 5 a. m. 27th and anchored, it being so dark we
\nwere unable to cross the bar at the mouth of bayou. At daylight weighed
\nanchor and crossed the bar into Bayou Pigeon ten minutes before 12
\nnoon. The country between the mouth of Bayou Pigeon and the junction
\nof Grand River is one continuous wilderness. Until within one mile of
\nthe junction there is not a house or sign of any habitation, although on
\neither side of the bayou the land is dry and might be cultivated. It is
\ncovered with a heavy growth of live oak and thick clustering growth of
\nunderwood. There are numerous paths running through it in all
\ndirections, none of which show signs of recent travel. I landed parties
\nof men under competent officers at several different points along the
\nbayou and explored some distance back on either side, but could
\ndiscover no trace of the enemy. Pigeon Bayou is very narrow and
\ncrooked, with large trees hanging over on either side, rendering it very
\ndifficult of navigation with as large craft as the gun-boat, although it has
\ngreat depth, ranging from ten to twenty feet. Not finding the cavalry at
\nthe junction when I arrived, I sent two armed boats up Grand River
\nabout three-fourths of a mile, where I learned a large barge of cotton
\nwas hidden in a small cove, with instructions to run the barge down to
\nthe gun-boat if found. I then landed and went to the house of Mr.
\nMicheltre, directly opposite the mouth of Grand River. Here I found
\ntwo men who were in charge of the cotton and whom I arrested. I also
\nfound a large quantity of cotton stored in the sugar-house on Micheltre’s
\nplantation, which I seized. The party sent in boats up Grand River found
\nthe barge loaded with cotton hidden in a small cover about three-fourths
\nof a mile from the mouth, the underwood and large trees nearly hiding
\nit from view. No one being found at the barge they immediately took
\npossession of it and brought it safely to the junction. I then sent a
\ndetachment under Capt. Park down the south side of Grand River as
\nfar as the plantation of Charles Palfrey, occupied by one Mr. Brown,
\ndistant four miles. He had learned that a Confederate captain and four
\nConfederate soldiers passed down in the direction of Lake Natchez on
\nthe morning of the 26th. In the meantime I had the gun-boat turned
\naround, backed down opposite the sugar-house, and all the available
\nmen I had, after placing a picket on each side of the river, set to loading
\nthe cotton stored in the sugar-house onto the gun-boat. At 6 p. m. the
\nadvance guard of the cavalry arrived, the main body at 7.30. I had an
\ninterview with Maj. Clybourn, commanding the cavalry; remained at
\nthis place all night. Started the barge down Bayou Pigeon at daylight
\nwith one company of men under command of Capt. Park. Cavalry
\nstarted at 9 a. m. and at 10 a. m. I started down the bayou with the
\ngun-boat, passed the barge and crossed the bar, came alongside at 4
\no’clock, when we took her in tow and arrived at Brashear City at 11.30
\np. m. September 28, with 3 prisoners, 220 bales of cotton, and 1 large
\nbarge. We destroyed two large flat-boats and several skiffs.<\/p>\n
Very respectfully,<\/p>\n
J. S. MILLER,
\nMaj. Eleventh Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers.<\/p>\n
Capt. B. B. CAMPBELL,
\nAssistant Adjutant-Gen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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, … Continue reading