d be driven off by riflemen protected
by the timber and levees along streams. To fire ten-inch guns at
skirmishers, widely disposed and under cover, was very like
snipe-shooting with twelve-pounders; and in narrow waters gunboats
required troops on shore for their protection.

Penetrated in all directions by watercourses navigable when the
Mississippi was at flood, my "district" was especially exposed, and
every little bayou capable of floating a cock-boat called loudly for
forts and heavy guns. Ten guns, thirty-two and twenty-four-pounders, of
those thrown into the water at Barataria and Berwick's Bays after the
surrender of New Orleans, had been recovered, and were mounted for
defense. To protect Red River against anything that might chance to run
the batteries of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, two thirty-twos were placed
in position on the south bank, thirty odd miles below Alexandria, where
the high ground of Avoyelles Prairie touches the river; and for the same
purpose two guns were mounted at Harrisonburg on the west bank of the
Washita. An abrupt hill approached the river at this point, and
commanded it.

The presence of gunboats in Berwick's Bay made it necessary to protect
the Atchafalaya also; for access to the Red and Washita could be had by
it. As yet, the waters were too low to navigate Grand Lake; but it was
now November, and the winter flood must be expected. Some twelve miles
from St. Martinsville on the Teche was a large mound on the west bank of
the Atchafalaya, called "Butte a la Rose." A short distance above the
point, where the river expands into Grand Lake, this "Butte" was the
only place for many miles not submerged when the waters were up. The
country between it and the Teche was almost impassable even in the dry
season--a region of lakes, bayous, jungle, and bog. I succeeded in
making my way through to inspect the position, the only favorable one on
the river, and with much labor two twenty-fours were taken there and
mounted. Forts Beauregard on the Washita, De Russy on the Red, and
Burton on the Atchafalaya, were mere water batteries to prevent the
passage of gunboats, and served that purpose. It was not supposed that
they could be held against serious land attacks, and but fifty to a
hundred riflemen were posted at each to protect the gunners from boats'
crews.

During the floods of the previous spring many steamers had been brought
away from New Orleans, and with others a powerful tow-boat, th