Sunday, May 29, 1864
The men of the 130th disembarked from their transport at 4 o'clock this morning and went into camp about ½ mile from the river.
Saturday, May 28, 1864
The 130th boarded the boat at 8 o'clock this morning and set sail for Baton Rouge at 11 o'clock. They arrived at Baton Rouge at 5 o'clock this afternoon, and stayed on board, sleeping on the deck tonight.
Friday, May 27, 1864
It was a fine day today. The men of the 130th expect to go to Bathon Rouge soon. A boat came up in the evening to take them. They began loading their mules and supplies onto the boat and hope to be on their way tomorrow.
Thursday, May 26, 1864
There were no orders to get on board the boat. The Colonel Cowles returned from Baton Rouge today, but all of the regiment was off duty. However, they expect orders at any moment.
Wednesday, May 25, 1864
The wagons of the 130th regiment were loaded on the steam Colonel Cowles. She started for Baton Rouge tonight and will return soon.
Tuesday, May 24, 1864
It was a beautiful, bright, cheerful day. The army was ordered to go by boat to New Orleans. The 130th Illinois Infantry Regiment was left behind and will hopefully go tomorrow.
Monday, May 23, 1864
It was a fine morning in their camp at Morganza. The men didn't know exactly where they were heading, but assumed it was New Orleans for now.
Sunday, May 22, 1864
The Army moved at 8 o'clock this morning going down the river to New Orleans. They camped about noon on the Mississippi River at Morganza Bend. They put up tents, expecting to stay here for some time.
Saturday, May 21, 1864
The wagon train hitched up and moved at midnight. They reached the Mississippi River at daylight and the troops were very excited to see the great river once again. From the mouth of the Red River the march proceeded towards New Orleans. They stopped at 10 o'clock this morning and the men slept well in the outdoors with no coverings.
Friday, May 20, 1864
It was a beautiful morning. The entire wagon train had made it over the river and the threat of continued Confederate harassment was greatly diminished. The army began marching at 8 o'clock this morning and made four miles before camping until dark.
With the last of the train over the river, the campaign was finally over. In all, the Union had lost over 8,000 men, 9 ships, and 57 guns while the Confederacy lost only about 4,000 men. Not only did the Union get the worst of it, they had gained absolutely nothing. The entire Red River area was now back in Confederate hands, and it would remain that way for the rest of the war.
With the last of the train over the river, the campaign was finally over. In all, the Union had lost over 8,000 men, 9 ships, and 57 guns while the Confederacy lost only about 4,000 men. Not only did the Union get the worst of it, they had gained absolutely nothing. The entire Red River area was now back in Confederate hands, and it would remain that way for the rest of the war.
Thursday, May 19, 1864
The Union army sent troops out this morning to draw out the Confederates. The wagon train moved across the river all afternoon and into the evening.
The Confederate prisoners, numbering about 250, were brought down to the boat and prepared to cross the river. They admitted they were whipped the other day, but thought they could take the Union army today. However, there was no firing from either side today.
The Confederate prisoners, numbering about 250, were brought down to the boat and prepared to cross the river. They admitted they were whipped the other day, but thought they could take the Union army today. However, there was no firing from either side today.
Wednesday, May 18, 1864
The Confederates brought the fight to the Union army about 8 o'clock this morning. In the afternoon the fight became much more larger and the Union forcesled by General Smith went into it with full force. The Confederates were finally driven from the field over 200 Southerners.
This turned out to be the final battle of the Red River Campaign. During and after this battle, the Union forces began crossing the Atchafalaya River on a makeshift bridge. Once across, they would be safe from further pursuit by General Taylor’s forces.
This turned out to be the final battle of the Red River Campaign. During and after this battle, the Union forces began crossing the Atchafalaya River on a makeshift bridge. Once across, they would be safe from further pursuit by General Taylor’s forces.
Tuesday, May 17, 1864
The Union arm went into camp about 7 o'clock this morning, after pursing the Confederates throughout the night. They were now about eight miles from Atchafalaya.
They began moving again at 9 o'clock this morning, with skirmishing on all sides. The Confederates caputred a wagon from the train and continued to follow and harass the Union column throughout the day.
They began moving again at 9 o'clock this morning, with skirmishing on all sides. The Confederates caputred a wagon from the train and continued to follow and harass the Union column throughout the day.
The Northerners reached the fort on Atchafalaya
Bayou, then crossed Bayou DeGlaise and camped. At that point they felt safe for the time being.
Monday, May 16, 1864
Fighting began at daybreak this morning, near the village of Marksville. The artillery batteries of both sides were heavily engaged. It was an almost constant boom of artillery until noon, when the firing ceased.
After passing through the town the union column turned to the south and passed over a beautiful prairie. Along the edge of this prairie there was a piece of timber where the Confederates had planted their guns. As soon as the column came upon the prairie the rebel guns opened fire, killing two of the Union horses. The Union batteries soon wheeled into line, firing and then circling over the prairie. The Confederates made the same rapid movement. It was a beautiful sight, but the damage was not great on either side.
After passing through the town the union column turned to the south and passed over a beautiful prairie. Along the edge of this prairie there was a piece of timber where the Confederates had planted their guns. As soon as the column came upon the prairie the rebel guns opened fire, killing two of the Union horses. The Union batteries soon wheeled into line, firing and then circling over the prairie. The Confederates made the same rapid movement. It was a beautiful sight, but the damage was not great on either side.
Sunday, May 15, 1864
The Army continued yesterday's march until 3:30 this morning, when they stopped and ate. Many of the men slept out in the open on the levees of the Red River. However, it was a short night as the column began to move at 8 o'clock this morning.
They only moved about 3 miles before halting. The Union army skirmished with the Confederates in the afternoon and both sides lost a few men. The train moved on again at 6 o'clock and then camped about 1 ½ miles below Fort De Russey.
They only moved about 3 miles before halting. The Union army skirmished with the Confederates in the afternoon and both sides lost a few men. The train moved on again at 6 o'clock and then camped about 1 ½ miles below Fort De Russey.
Saturday, May 14, 1864
The retreat began moving about 10 o'clock this morning. A squad of Southern soldiers fired into the transports about 8 miles below Alexandria, Louisiana. The troops in advance of the column skirmished with the Confederates in front of them.
Friday, May 13, 1864
Constructed by an ingenious Wisconsin engineer and the muscle of 3,000 soldiers, the Red River dam would become famous in the history of military engineering.
The wagon train began to move at 7 o'clock this morning - about the same time as the gunboat Louisville cleared the rapids. Just before the column got to Alexandria, someone set fire to the block adjacent to the courthouse on Front Street. By noon half of the city was destroyed.
The cries of the newly homeless and distressed women and children tugged at the hearts of the Union troops passing by. Many of the homeless came to the river bank to escape the fire's oppressive heat and smoke. Some asked for safe passage to New Orleans, but they were all denied
The column of troops went into camp at 7 o'clock this evening.
The cries of the newly homeless and distressed women and children tugged at the hearts of the Union troops passing by. Many of the homeless came to the river bank to escape the fire's oppressive heat and smoke. Some asked for safe passage to New Orleans, but they were all denied
The column of troops went into camp at 7 o'clock this evening.
Thursday, May 12, 1864
There was great excitement today as hundreds of troops went to the river and watched three gun boats clear the falls. There are just a few more boats that need to navigate the falls tomorrow, and the fleet will be freed.
Wednesday, May 11, 1864
The weather turned warmer today. No additional boats have made it over the dam yet. The troops in camp believe they will begin to move as soon as the rest of the fleet is freed.
Tuesday, May 10, 1864
It rained last night, which settled the dust and made camp tolerable for the first time in several days. There were no plans to move out today, and the prospects didn't look any better for tomorrow. However, the dam repairs went quickly and there was hope that boats would begin moving over the rapids today or tonight.
Monday, May 9, 1864
Only a handful of boats made it over the rapids yesterday. Pressure on the dam continued to build all night, and at 5:00 o'clock this morning the center of the dam gave way. As the water level was rapidly falling, Admiral Porter immediately ordered the gunboat Lexington to make a run for it. The Lexington managed to clear the rapids, as did three other ships. But the water level had fallen to a depth that prevented the rest of Porter’s fleet from navigating the rapids.
In addition to repairing the center section of the dam, work began on smaller wing dams closer to the rapids. The hope was that the wing dams would reduce some of the pressure on the main dam.
Despite the setback the men in camp continued to make preparations to move out.
In addition to repairing the center section of the dam, work began on smaller wing dams closer to the rapids. The hope was that the wing dams would reduce some of the pressure on the main dam.
Despite the setback the men in camp continued to make preparations to move out.
Sunday, May 8, 1864
Still dry and dusty, however there was good news today. The work on the dam had progressed so that the water level had risen to the point where some of the smaller gunboats could make it over the rapids. The division train of wagons was ordered to be ready to move the next afternoon.
Saturday, May 7, 1864
The weather continued to be dusty and unpleasant. Nearly the entire 4th division had been ordered to the front. Those few left behind in camp anticipate they will be ordered to go, too. Things looked very bleak for the Union army.
Friday, May 6, 1864
Captain Charles T. Mullin died today from his wounds. He was from Waterloo and assigned to Company A of the 130th Illinois Infantry.
The weather continued to be warm, windy and dusty. A large number of the troops left camp and moved out toward the front today. The Union army was in a real predicament - the Confederates continued to push towards the Union camp, and rations were quickly disappearing with no hope for replenishment due to the blockade.
The weather continued to be warm, windy and dusty. A large number of the troops left camp and moved out toward the front today. The Union army was in a real predicament - the Confederates continued to push towards the Union camp, and rations were quickly disappearing with no hope for replenishment due to the blockade.
Thursday, May 5, 1864
The weather today was windy, dusty and generally disagreeable.
The Confederates captured two Union gunboats and one transport, the John Warner. They were able to establish a strong blockade below the Union position. The blockade prevented the Union troops from getting supplies from boats coming up the river.
The John Warner was a Union transport ship that had started on its way down the Red River on May 4th. Not all the Union ships had been trapped by the low water above the rapids. The John Warner was on its way to the Mississippi River, carrying an entire regiment of men going home on furlough.
The Confederates captured two Union gunboats and one transport, the John Warner. They were able to establish a strong blockade below the Union position. The blockade prevented the Union troops from getting supplies from boats coming up the river.
The John Warner was a Union transport ship that had started on its way down the Red River on May 4th. Not all the Union ships had been trapped by the low water above the rapids. The John Warner was on its way to the Mississippi River, carrying an entire regiment of men going home on furlough.
Wednesday, May 4, 1864
Some of the troops out foraging today skirmished with the Confederate troops. Their were no serious injuries and the Confederates moved away.
Tuesday, May 3, 1864
The Union army settled into a daily routine. Some regiments were working on the dam, while others were performing picket duty, and still others were going out foraging.
Monday, May 2, 1864
While work continued on the dam, many regiments were sent out today to dislodge the Confederate forces located twelve miles away.
Sunday, May 1, 1864
It was cloudy and cool today. The soldiers continued their work on the dam to raise the water level in the river. The Union plan made sense, but they were unsure how long construction would take or how quickly the river level would rise.
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