to flight.
This affair at the bridge detained the column but a few minutes.
They marched all night; and crossed the Amite River about ten o'clock P. M., without opposition — the picket being asleep.
They had marched forty miles this day.
May 2d.--They marched again early in the morning, and the Sixth Illinois, being in advance, surprised and burned a rebel camp at Sandy Creek Bridge.
At this point the Seventh Illinois was ordered in advance, and, at about nine o'clock A. M., as a crowning glory to this most extraordinary series of adventures, captured forty-two of Stewart's Mississippi cavalry on Comite River, including their Colonel.
This noble band of toil-worn heroes arrived at Baton Rouge about noon of May second, where their triumphal entry created a furore of joyful excitement that will not cease till it has thrilled every loyal heart upon this continent — ay, every heart that loves liberty anil human bravery, through the civilized world.
Some idea of the pluck an
he desire of a few of the rear-guard to obtain peach brandy, which the inhabitants deal out liberally, with a view, no doubt, to making captures.
The day and night being pleasant, the command marched until half-past 3 o'clock Saturday morning, May second, when a halt was made at Greenwood, one mile west of Louisa Court-House.
Here was reached the Central Virginia Railroad.
Detachments were sent up and down the road for miles to destroy the track, culverts, and bridges, and also to act as peir support, when the enemy fled.
The ladies, yesterday, along the road, assured us that we should have plenty of fight at Louisa Court-House.
But like many other rebel boasts, the wish was father to the thought.
At four o'clock P. M. Saturday, May second, the railroad having been destroyed for miles, and a number of cars and bridges — over Greenwood and Hickory Rivers — burned, horses and troopers well supplied with rations, the command was moved upon a hill to the east of the town, and th
ng toward Alexandria in disorder, and destroying the bridges in his flight.
The same day the gunboats, under command of Lieutenant-Commander A. P. Cooke, assisted by four companies of infantry, captured the works at Butte á la Rose, which contained two heavy guns and a large quantity of ammunition, and was garrisoned by a force of sixty men, all of whom were captured.
These works constituted the key of the Atchafalaya, and being in our possession, opened the way to Red River.
On the second of May we established communication with Admiral Farragut at the mouth of Red River, through the Atchafalaya, by the gunboat Arizona, Captain Upton commanding, accompanied by Captain R. T. Dunham, of my staff.
The fifth of May, our headquarters at Opelousas were broken up, and the troops moved for Alexandria, a distance of from ninety to one hundred miles, making this march in three days and four hours. Moving rapidly to the rear of Fort De Russey, a strong work on Red River, we compelled th
