_Bravery of the Freedmen.--Desperation of the Rebels.--Severe Battle.
Negroes Triumphant._
While the people along the banks of the Mississippi, above New Orleans,
were discussing the question as to whether the negro would fight, if
attacked by white men, or not. Col. Daniels, of the Second Regiment
Louisiana Volunteers, gave one side of the subject considerable of a
“hist,” on the 9th of April, 1863. His official report will speak for
itself.
“Headquarters, Ship Island (Miss.), April 11, 1863.
“_Brig.-Gen. Sherman, commanding Defences of New Orleans_.
“_Sir_,--In compliance with instructions from your headquarters, to keep
you promptly informed of any movements that the enemy might be known
to be making up the Mississippi Sound, upon learning that repeated
demonstrations had been made in the direction of Pascagoula, by
Confederate troops ashore, and in armed boats along the coast; and,
furthermore, having reliable information that the greater part of the
forces at Mobile were being sent to re-enforce Charleston, I determined
to make a reconnoissance within the enemy’s lines, at or near
Pascagoula, for the purpose of not only breaking up their
demonstrations, but of creating a diversion of the Mobile forces from
Charleston, and precipitating them along the Sound; and accordingly
embarked with a detachment of a hundred and eighty men of my command on
United-States Transport ‘General Banks,’ on the morning of the 9th of
April, 1863, and made for Pascagoula, Miss., where we arrived about nine
o’clock, a.m., landed, and took possession of wharf and hotel, hoisted
the stars and stripes upon the building, threw out pickets, and sent
small detachments in various directions to take possession of the place,
and hold the roads leading from the same. Immediately thereafter, a
force of over three hundred Confederate cavalry came down the Mobile
Road, drove in the pickets, and attacked the squad on the left, from
whom they received a warm reception. They then fell back in some
confusion, re-formed, and made a dash upon the detachment stationed
at the hotel, at which point they were again repulsed; Confederate
infantry, meanwhile, attacking my forces on the extreme left, and
forcing a small detachment to occupy a wharf, from which they poured
volley after volley into the enemy’s ranks, killing and wounding many,
with a loss of one man only. The fight had now extended along the road
from the river to the wharf, the enemy being under cover of the houses
and forest; whilst my troops were, from the nature of the ground,
unavoidably exposed. The Confederates had placed their women and
children in front of their houses, for a cover, and even armed
their citizens, and forced them to fight against us. After an hour’s
continuous skirmishing, the enemy retreated to the woods, and my forces
fell back to the hotel and wharf. Then the enemy sallied forth again,
with apparently increased numbers, attempting to surround the hotel, and
obtain possession of the wharf; but they were again repulsed, and driven
back to their cover,--the forest. It was here that Lieut. Jones, with a
detachment of only seven men, having been placed on the extreme right,
cut his way through a large force of the enemy’s cavalry, and arrived at
the hotel without losing a man, but killing and wounding a considerable
number of the enemy.
“After continuous fighting, from ten o’clock, a.m., to two o’clock,
p.m., and on learning that heavy re-enforcements of infantry and
artillery had arrived from the camps up the Pascagoula River, I withdrew
my forces from the hotel, and returned to Ship Island. The enemy’s
loss was over twenty killed, and a large number wounded. From my own
knowledge, and from information derived from prisoners taken in the
fight, and from refugees since arrived, the enemy had over four hundred
cavalry and infantry at Pascagoula, and heavy re-enforcements within
six miles of the place. Refugees who have arrived since the engagement
report the enemy’s loss as greater than mentioned in my first report.
“The expedition was a perfect success, accomplishing all that was
intended; resulting in the repulse of the enemy in every engagement with
great loss; whilst our casualty was only two killed and eight wounded.
Great credit is due to the troops engaged, for their unflinching
bravery and steadiness under this their first fire, exchanging volley
after volley with the coolness of veterans; and for their determined
tenacity in maintaining their position, and taking advantage of every
success that their courage and valor gave them; and also to their
officers, who were cool and determined throughout the action, fighting
their commands against five times their numbers, and confident
throughout of success,--all demonstrating to its fullest extent that the
oppression which they have heretofore undergone from the hands of their
foes, and the obloquy that had been showered upon them by those who
should have been friends, had not extinguished their manhood, or
suppressed their bravery, and that they had still a hand to wield the
sword, and a heart to vitalize its blow.
“I would particularly call the attention of the Department to Major
F. E. Dumas, Capt. Villeverd, and Lieuts. Jones and Martin, who were
constantly in the thickest of the fight, and by their unflinching
bravery, and admirable handling of their commands, contributed to the
success of the attack, and reflected great honor upon the flag under
and for which they so nobly struggled. Repeated instances of individual
bravery among the troops might be mentioned; but it would be invidious
where all fought so manfully aud so well.
“I have the honor to be, most respectfully,
“Your obedient servant,
“_N. U. DANIELS,_
“_Col. Second Regiment La. N. O. Vols., Commanding Post._”