LIEUT.: In accordance with instructions from headquarters U. S. Forces to scout the parish, I beg respectfully to report that on the night of the 7th instant I sent one battalion down the lower river road to the cut-off and through to New Roads an up the False River to Madam Palenge's, but did not succeed in overtaking the party, who had conscripted thirty men from False River Island, mostly Arcadians, and taken them over to Grossetete Bayou. My information led me to think that the conscripting party came from Bayou Sara, and in consequence I sent a battalion to Bayou George, the party sent out on the night of the 7th having returned to camp at daylight on the morning of the 9th. Subsequently I learned that the party conscripting came from across the Atchafalaya, when I at once sent one battalion out the Fordoche to Grossetete, under command of Capt. Sanford. He found all their forces concentrated at the head of Maringouin, probably ordered there to protect the conscripting party which was headed by Capt. Barrow, who is raising a company for the Fifth Louisiana Cavalry. A sharp little fight occurred here, and the enemy were driven to the cane. On the evening of the same day the Third Battalion, under Maj. Van Voast, was sent to support Capt. Sanford, and the whole country was scouted and the enemy driven to the swamps. From prisoners I learn that there were within two miles Capt. Ratliff's company, thirty of Jamet's company, Capt. Williams', Lieut. Stiwell's, and Capt. Barrow's party, in all about 180 men. The whole command returned to camp this evening, having marched about seventy-five miles. They attempted to ambush us at every point where the came concealed them on the opposite side of the bayou. I have lost in this affair 5 men captured, 1 wounded; 2 horses killed and 3 wounded. We have captured 2 Confederate prisoners of War, 1 mortally wounded, 2 slightly. As you will see by this report, we are second best. The reason of losing the five men by Capt. Sanford was in consequence of the breaking of a brigade after the five men had crossed on a charge. Two of their horses were shot and the column could not follow. On seeing this, twenty-five men of the enemy cut them off and they could not be recovered. Our wounded man was brought to camp. He is seriously, thought not dangerously, wounded. The wounded rebel was brought part of the way. He has evidently dying and was left on the road.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. H. CHRYSLER,
Col., Cmdg.
Lieut. O. A. Rice,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
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