Sunday, April 5, 1863

The advance force under General P. J. Osterhaus moved on to New Carthage.  Along the way they occupied the Stansbrough house and the Holmes' plantation.  The Union troops found that the bayou levee above New Carthage had broken in several places, flooding the road for two miles.

General Osterhaus camped at Smith's Plantation and sent some men with local slaves as guides to seize a flatboat.  Major Harrison, who had been chased from Richmond on March 31st, had a force of only a few hundred men.  They fired unsuccessfully at Osterhaus' men while they were towing the flatboat back to camp.  They were unable to slow the Union advance.