Sharpshooters of the 75th New York Vol., Picking off the Gunners on the Rebel Gunboat J. A. Cotton, in the Action at Bayou Teche, January 14. (Published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, February 21, 1863)
Monday, January 14, 2013
by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 14TH.—Gen. Beauregard, some of whose forces have been taken from him and sent to the defense of Wilmington, is apprehensive that they may be lost, in the event of the enemy making a combined naval and land attack, and then Charleston and Savannah would be in great peril. Gens. Smith and Whiting call lustily for aid, and say they have not adequate means of defense.
Some 4000 more negroes have been called for to work on the fortifications near Richmond. I believe 10,000 are at work now.
A letter “by order” of the Secretary of War to Col. Godwin, in King and Queen County, written by Judge Campbell, says that blockaders are allowed to run through, provided they be not suspicious parties. The government takes what it wants at seventy-five per cent. and releases the rest. The parties are liable to have their goods confiscated by the Secretary of the Treasury, who, however, the letter proceeds to say, has never molested any one in the illicit trade—smuggling.
In Congress, yesterday, Mr. Foote called for a committee to investigate the commissary’s contract with Haxhall, Crenshaw & Co., and was particularly severe on Major Ruffin, in the commissary’s office, whom he understood was a partner in the flour concern.
Mr. Foote introduced a series of resolutions to-day, tempting the Northern States to make peace with us separately, excluding the New England States, and promising commercial advantages, etc. But we must treat as independent States, pledging a league with those that abandon the United States Government—offensive and defensive—and guaranteeing the navigation of the Mississippi River to the Northwestern States. They were referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, of which he is the chairman. This is nothing. [click to continue…]
January 14.—To-day an engagement took place on the Bayou Teche, La., between four Union gunboats, under the command of Commodore Buchanan, assisted by a force of troops, under General Weitzel, and the iron-clad rebel steamer J. A. Cotton, assisted by a body of rebel troops, under the command of Colonel Gray, resulting, after a contest of several hours’ duration, in the destruction of the rebel iron-clad. Commodore Buchanan was killed in this action by a rebel sharp-shooter.—(Doc. 106.)
—The steamer Forrest Queen was captured and burned by guerrillas at Commerce, Miss., this evening.—The National gunboat Queen of the West, under the command of Colonel Charles E. Ellet, commanding the ram fleet in Western waters, while on a reconnoissance on the Red River, was fired on, near Gordon’s Landing, by a battery of four guns, and subsequently captured by the rebels.—(Doc. 105.)
Buntyn Station, Wednesday, Jan 14. This morning, while it was yet dark, Sergeant Hamilton came to our door, calling upon Evans to harness and hitch up team. I being on guard, coupled the horses, stood until 8 o’clock, when they were unhitched and unharnessed. Marched from 2 o’clock. Roll call. After [marched] to the headquarters of the 48th Indiana to be paid off, the boys having two months’ pay. I received none. Raining heavy all day. Five months in the service of Uncle Sam.
