The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

170 THE MAINE BUGLE.
On the twenty-first of October moved to Camp Parapet ; November
twentieth, marched sixty miles up the Mississippi River,
arrived at College Point December ninth; embarked on board
steamer Laura Hill for Baton Rouge, December nineteenth; ar-
rived the twentieth, and were assigned to Brig. Gen. Grover's
division. Left this point March 25th, 1863, with the remaining
regiments of the division for Brashear City to participate in the
Teche Campaign under command of Gen. Banks. The regiment
was assigned March twenty-third, to the Second Brigade, Third
division. Colonel Kimball commanding brigade ; arrived at Bra-
shear City after being encamped a few days, at Bayou Boeuf.
April eighth, embarked with the Fourth Division, Gen. Grover
commanding, on board the steamers Clifton and Arizona, April
tenth, for Irish Bend. Met the enemy, ten thousand strong at
this point early on the morning of the fourteenth, completely
routing them after a heavy loss, and following up the retreating
columns, arrived at Opelousas, April twenty-fourth. Here Gen.
Banks issued his congratulatory order saying " in twenty days
we had marched three hundred miles, fought five engagements,
captured fifteen hundred prisoners with ten pieces of artillery,
and pursued the enemy to Alexandria a distance of one hundred
miles." Returned to Simmes Port on the Atchafalaya River,
May seventeenth. Leaving Simmes Port the twenty-first, on
steamer St. Maurice we landed at Bayou Sara same day, and
moved from this point on Port Hudson, May twenty- fourth.
During the seige of Port Hudson, which lasted forty-seven days,
the regiment was constantly on duty and was one of the first
regiments to enter the stronghold. For its gallantry the com-
manding general of the department ordered to be inscribed on
its banner, " Pass Manchac, Ponchatoula, Irish Bend. Port
Hudson."
X(jte.— ^The at>ove is of much value, hut the readers of the Bi'GLE realize that a
succession of dates and names lacks life. It is a good strong skeleton but needs to he
clothed with more meat. If the comrades of the Twelfth will write incidents that they
saw at the many places and engagements mentioned, and reproduce the southern air
and the I^juisiana surrounding, the picturesque and peculiar fiuality of their service
would make enjoyable reading. It is a singular fact, that no account or mention of the