Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1999 Page: 117
[57] p. : ports. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Reminiscences of the Old Brigade
[omitted]
Chapter XXVIII
Battle of Bisland by Noel
[omitted]
June 28, 1888
Chapter XXX
Battle of Franklin by Noel
[omitted]
Chapter XXXI
The Retreat from Bisland
[omitted]
July 5, 1888
Movements of the Brigade in 1863
Chapter XXXI
The Retreat from Bisland
Returning now to where Noel left the bri-
gade on the bay, in persuit of the enemy. The
brigade went into camp about five miles above
the Bisland battle field, where we remained two
weeks, night and day preparations were being
made for a move of some sort. Collecting skiffs,
canoes, dug outs, suger coolers, etc., nobody
knew what for, but the boys were satisfied old
Tom knew what he was doing.
This turned out to be a move on Brasher
city, and in describing this I shall simply give
Gen. Green's official report of it, and a de-
scription of the forlorn hope part of it, written
at the time by Randolph Howell, of Co. C, of
the 5th, who during the whole war had the habit
of putting his foot, body and soul in everything
that had a forlorn hope appearance about it, he
was "thar" every times . ..Chapter XXXII
The Mosquito Fleet by R. Howell
Termed so by the members of the "forlorn
hope," or those who were engaged in the storm-
ing of Brashear city. It may be necessary to
explain what vessels constituted this fleet. They
were the "Tom Green" and fifty-two others,
which either had no name, or if they did I don't
remember them. The fleet consisted of 53 skiffs,
dug-outs, bateaux, flats, etc., collected along
the banks of the different bayous. This work
occupied several days, and all, from the "pow-
ers that be" down to the private, were engaged
in endeavoring to find the meaning of such
preparations. Our boys had fought on land and
on the cotton clad boats Bayou City and Nep-
tune, but when it was suggested by some one
that they must now fight from on little frail barks
like those, the idea was considered absurd. But
we were not to be kept in anxious suspense
many days, for on the evening of June 21st,
1863, portions of Baylor's (Tex. Cav.) regi-
ment, Waller's battalion, 2nd La. cavalry, and
Clough's company (C) of the 5th Texas cav-
alry, numbering in all about 300 men, were
ordered to provide three days rations of flour
and bacon (sure sign of a fight in our brigade
to this day,) and with good arms, 40 rounds of
cartridges and one blanket to the man, report,
on foot, to Major S. Hunter, of Baylor's regi-
ment, near the junction of the Teche and the
Atchafalaya.
We now were led to believe there was fun
ahead, though having no correct idea of where
we were going to stay, or when we would re-
turn. Arriving at the major's headquarters (in
the rain,) we were ordered to take shelter in an
old barn close by, and await the arrival of other
vessels-those on hand not being sufficient to
transport the entire crew. We remained here
until the evening of the 22nd, when about sun-
set we got aboard, and with cheers shoved off,117
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1999, periodical, May 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151406/m1/69/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.