JANUARY 15-17, 1865.–Expedition from New Orleans to Mandeville, La.<\/p>\n
Report of Capt. Abner Powell, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.<\/p>\n
OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL,
\nAlgiers, January 18, 1865.
\nSIR: I have the honor to submit the following report in detail of the late
\nexpedition to Mandeville, La., being furnished with the necessary orders
\nand instructions from Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut:<\/p>\n
Embarked on board the schooner Cazador at New Basin, New Orleans,
\nwith 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 11 privates selected for the expedition
\nfrom the Fifty-sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, and 2 privates from
\nCompany F, First New Orleans Volunteers, 3 special officers, 2
\nboatmen, and 1 citizen of Algiers as a guide, numbering in all 21 men
\nwho took part in the expedition. Sailed from New Basin on the
\nafternoon of Sunday, January 15. Arrived at north shore of Lake
\nPontchartrain during the same night, but owing to unfavorable weather,
\nand not being
\nacquainted with the coast, were unable to land. During the whole of
\nMonday, January 16, we beat about the north shore of the lake,
\noverhauled the schooner James Stockton at Pass Manchac, examined her
\npapers and found them correct. In the evening passed near the town of
\nMandeville, headed direct for New Orleans. Sailed in this direction until
\nsome time after nightfall, when tacked about and ran up to wharf at
\nMandeville, dropping anchor about 1 o’clock at night. But one man was
\nvisible on the wharf, whom we easily decoyed on board, and by threats
\ninduced to consent to pilot us to the office of Lieut. Robinson.
\nLeaving a small guard in charge of the schooner, I proceed with the
\nremainder of my force to Lieut. Robinson’s quarters. First
\nstationing my men so as to command every place of egress from the
\nhouse, I opened the front door, and in company with special officers
\nwalked in, and striking a light, discovered Lieut. Winslow
\nRobinson, commandant of the Lake shore District; Capt. W. E.
\nLigon, assistant commissary of subsistence of Gen. Hodge’s staff;
\nBvt. Second Lieut. G. W. White, First Louisiana Cavalry, C. S.
\nArmy, and Judge Bethune, of Georgia, all of whom surrendered at
\nonce, and I proceeded to take possession of all contraband articles about
\nthe premises, consisting of one large telescope glass and a quantity of
\nletters, papers, and books appertaining to Lieut. Robinson as
\ncommander of Lake Shore District. The object of the expedition being
\naccomplished, I returned with the prisoners and property on board the
\nschooner, having been absent from the wharf not to exceed thirty
\nminutes. Immediately set sail for New Orleans, bringing with us the
\nmulatto ma whom we had used as a guide, and leaving the town wrapt
\nin as profound quietude as we had entered it, not seeing an individual
\nsave those brought away. Arrived at New Orleans about 6 o’clock on
\nTuesday morning, January 17; turned over the prisoners to
\nLieut.-Col. Wood, provost-marshal-general military division,
\nand the papers and property to Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut. Every man
\nengaged in the expedition performed his duty so well that to
\nparticularize would be impracticable. Owing to the small space, and
\ncramped, uncomfortable positions, and during the time we were sailing
\nnear the coast on the 16th, to prevent discovery, all the soldiers had to
\nremain below deck in the most painful situations, yet no murmur or
\nword of discontent was uttered by a man on board. Each individual man
\ndeserves much credit for the manner and promptness in which his duty
\nwas performed.<\/p>\n
I have the honor to be, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,<\/p>\n
A. POWELL,
\nCapt., 11th Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infty., and Provost-Marshal.<\/p>\n
Maj. D. J. BENNER,
\nChief of Staff, Department of the Gulf.
\nADDENDA.<\/p>\n
HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
\nNew Orleans, La., January 22, 1865.
\nCapt. A. POWELL,
\nEleventh Wis. Vet. Vol. Infty., Provost-Marshal, Algiers, La.:
\n(Through headquarters Department of the Gulf.)<\/p>\n
CAPT.: I am instructed by the major-general commanding to
\nacknowledge the receipt, through headquarters Department of the Gulf,
\nof the report of the expedition which left this city for the town
\nof Mandeville, on Lake Ponchartrain, on the 15th instant, under your
\ncommand, and which resulted in the capture of three noted rebel officers
\nand Judge Bethune, of Georgia. The admirable skill, courage, and
\npromptness which marked this gallant little affair merits the highest
\ncommendation, and I am charged with the pleasant duty of conveying
\nthe approbation and thanks of the commanding general to yourself, as
\nwell as to the little band who accompanied you, and who, by their good
\nconduct and patient endurance, aided materially in securing the
\nsuccessful results of the expedition.<\/p>\n
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,<\/p>\n
C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
\nLieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-Gen.<\/p>\n
Source: Official Records
\nPAGE 44-101 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. [CHAP. LX.
\n[Series I. Vol. 48. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 101.]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JANUARY 15-17, 1865.–Expedition from New Orleans to Mandeville, La. Report of Capt. Abner Powell, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL, Algiers, January 18, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report in detail of the late expedition … Continue reading