Hudson Road about eighteen
miles, skirmishing the Rebels the whole way, driving their pickets
and scouts as they advanced.

At this time Port Hudson was strongly manned, there being from 23,000
to 25,000 men in that natural stronghold. Manoeuvred about this
quarter until the 20th, when we again joined the main body of the army
on the Port Hudson Road, returning to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

This movement was made to attract the attention of the enemy, and
enable Admiral Farragut's boats to proceed up the river past the fort
that here impeded his passage. This was a bold but brilliantly
successful move, that only an "iron Farragut" could have accomplished.
This blind enabled General Banks to more successfully pursue his
future designs, as the enemy had been led to suppose by the formidable
movements around Port Hudson that a general attack was to be made at
once to reduce the place. Subsequent events exhibited the picture in a
different light.

From the 20th to the 28th of March we were kept in readiness to move
at a moment's notice. Finally, the suspense was removed and we
proceeded on board the transport ship Laurel Hill, to Donaldsonville,
La., where we landed in a drizzling rain, about 10 o'clock, P.M., with
mother earth for a couch and the broad, moist sky for a canopy. Active
campaigning was now fairly inaugurated.

On the 31st of March the troops moved for Thibodeaux, La. The 159th
was detailed in charge of supplies and Regimental property, and
proceeded by boat up the Bayou Lafourche, arriving at Thibodeaux April
1st. On the 3d we moved to the Railroad Station at Terra Bone, taking
the cars for Bayou Bueff, where we arrived on the 4th. Remained here
until the 9th. Arrived at Brasher City, La., on the 11th, in company
with the 13th Connecticut, 26th Maine, and a detachment of Cavalry.
Boarded river steamer Laurel Hill, and proceeded up Berwick Bay, into
Grand Lake, accompanied by Grover's Division, numbering about 8,000
men. Had with us three small gun-boats, moving cautiously. Reached the
Bend without disaster, the gun-boats shelling the woods and covering
the landing of the troops, which took place on the morning of the
13th. Skirmishing lines were thrown out immediately. The Lake is three
or four miles wide at this place, and is called Shell Bend. Having all
ashore and everything in good order, the enemy in sight, we retired
for the rest we needed, little realizing the hard fight before us. Lay
in skirmish