cavalry, and stores had all to
be taken care of at once, with every provision for fighting a
battle. For this the artillery was considered indispensable, and
it was not without great trouble and long delay that the guns and
horses were got afloat. Fate seemed to be against Grover, for
after all had been accomplished by the greatest exertion on his
part, as well as on the part of his officers and the corps
quartermasters, a fog set in so dense that the pilots were unable
to see their way. This continued until nine o'clock on the morning
of the 12th; then at last the movement began.

About noon, on the 11th of April, Weitzel, leading the advance of
the main column, moved forward. At once his skirmishers felt the
skirmishers of the enemy, who retired slowly, without attempting
any serious opposition. In the evening, Weitzel rested in line of
battle a short distance above Pattersonville. Emory followed
closely, and went into bivouac on Weitzel's left. The march had
not been begun earlier, and the enemy was not pressed, because it
was desired to keep him amused until Grover should have gained his
rear, and Grover had not yet started.

After the early morning of Sunday, the 12th of April, had been spent
in light skirmishing and in demonstrations of the cavalry, designed
to observe the enemy, and at the same time to attract and hold his
attention, word came that Grover was under way. Banks knew that
the passing fleet must soon be in plain sight of the Confederates.
Therefore, it was now necessary to move promptly, and to feel the
enemy strongly, yet not too strongly, lest he should abandon his
position too soon and suddenly spoil all. From this moment it is
important to remember that, save in the event of complete success,
no word could come from Grover for nearly two days. The first news
from him was expected to be the sound of his guns in the enemy's
rear.

At eleven o'clock the bugle again sounded the advance. The whole
line moved forward, continually skirmishing, until, about four
o'clock in the afternoon, the infantry came under fire of the
Confederate guns in position on the lines known as Camp Bisland.
The line of march led up the right bank of the Atchafalaya until
the mouth of the Teche was reached, thence up the Teche, partly
astride the stream, yet mainly by the right bank. At first Weitzel
formed on the right, Emory on the left, but as the great bend of
the Teche was reached, about four miles below