JANUARY 21-22, 1865.–Expedition from Brashear City to Bayou
\nSorrel, La.<\/p>\n
Report of Lieut. Richard Caddell, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry.<\/p>\n
BRASHEAR CITY, LA., January 22, 1865.
\nSIR: I have the honor to report, in obedience to orders, I embarked on
\ngun-boat 43 at 3.30 p.m. on the 21st instant with twenty men of
\nCompany D, Eleventh Infantry Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers, and
\nproceeded to the mouth of Bayou Groesbeck, on Bayou Long; there
\ndisembark in small boats and went up the bayou about three-quarters
\nof a mile; landed and divided my men in squads and made a thorough
\nsearch of the land on both sides of the bayou for a distance of one mile,
\nwhen I came to a small bayou which connects with Bayou Groesbeck.
\nAbout sixty yards up this bayou I found a small palmetto tent which
\nevidently had been occupied by two men. In it was a small anchor for
\nsinking torpedoes, which I sunk in the bayou. But failing to discover
\nthe torpedoes, I embarked my command and went up to Bayou Millian
\nPoint, where I disembark with four men and proceeded to the house of
\nWilliam Duvall, a private of Company B, Twenty-sixth Louisiana,
\nwhom I captured. I then proceeded to the mouth of Bayou Sorrel, where
\nI disembarked and secreted six men, with instructions to stop boats
\ncoming down Bayou Long and going up Bayou Sorrel. From here I
\nwent to Mr. Hebert’s, leaving four men there to guard that point, and
\nfrom thence to Mason’s, and searched the premises for John Spence.
\nFailing to find him, I returned to Hebert’s called in the guard which I
\nhad left there, and went had captured Sergt. James Malcon and Private
\nJohn S. Hebert, of Company B, Twenty-sixth Louisiana, during my
\nabsence. I again embarked and went down the bayou to the mouth of
\nBayou Groesbeck. Here I secreted nine men, and proceeded with the
\nremainder to the east side
\nof Bayou Long, opposite to the mouth of Bayou Groesbeck;
\ndisembarked and established a picket. About two hours after I had
\nposted the pickets I discovered a boat coming down the bayou with one
\nman in it, which I brought to, and the occupant proved to be Second
\nLieut. C. Penisson, Company B, Twenty-sixth Louisiana Infantry,
\nwhom I took prisoner. Here I remained until sunrise on the 22d, when
\nI embarked and return to Millian Point, where I disembarked and
\nawaited the return of the gun-boat from Belle River, she having gone
\nthere to anchor. The boat arrived at 8 a.m. when I embarked and
\nreturned to Brashear City, arriving at 2 p.m. The prisoners I turned
\nover to Lieut. S. E. Shepard provost-marshal, Brashear City, La.<\/p>\n
Respectfully, your obedient servant,<\/p>\n
RICHARD CADDELL,
\nSecond Lieut. Company D, Eleventh Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infty.<\/p>\n
Capt. R. E. JACKSON
\nPost Adjutant.<\/p>\n
[Indorsement.]<\/p>\n
HDQRS. POST,
\nBreast City, January 22, 1865.<\/p>\n
Respectfully forwarded.<\/p>\n
Learning that a few rebel soldiers were in Bayou Long in charge of a
\ntorpedo and their whereabouts, I sent Lieut. Caddell and twenty
\nmen of the Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry up in the gun-boat 43 to capture
\nthem. For particulars of the expedition I refer you to his report<\/p>\n
C. L. HARRIS,
\nCol., Cmdg.<\/p>\n
Source: Official Records
\nPAGE 58-101 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 21-22, 1865.–Expedition from Brashear City to Bayou Sorrel, La. Report of Lieut. Richard Caddell, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. BRASHEAR CITY, LA., January 22, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report, in obedience to orders, I embarked on gun-boat 43 … Continue reading