BRASHEAR CITY, LA.

JUNE 23RD, 1863

 

Brashear City, La., June 23, 1863. Detached forces under

command of Maj. Robert C. Anthony of the 2nd Rhode Island

Cavalry. For some time the enemy had been threatening the

post at Brashear City. When Lieut.-Col. Albert Stickney, of

the 47th Mass. infantry, withdrew the greater part of the

forces there on the 2Oth the action at La Fourche Crossing, it

gave the Confederates an opportunity too good to be

overlooked. On the evening of the 22nd Maj. Hunter, with

about 325 men of Baylor's Texas cavalry, rowed in skiffs from

the mouth of Bayou Teche to a position in the rear of the

city. About 5:30 on the morning of the 23rd he was within 800

yards of the Union lines. About the same time the

Confederates commenced a spirited bombardment of the place

from the Valverde battery across the bay. The attack from both

sides seems to have disconcerted Maj. Anthony, who

doubtless believed the land forces in the rear to be much

larger than they really were, and he surrendered without

offering any resistance. Some of the 1st Ind. heavy artillery

stationed there acted without orders and put up a gallant

fight until notified that the place had surrendered. The

number of prisoners taken was about 1,000 (accounts differ)

and there fell into the hands of the enemy 11 heavy guns,

about 2,500 stands of small arms, a large number of wagons and

tents, and a supply of ammunition. The prisoners were

paroled. In killed and wounded the Union forces lost about 75

and the Confederates 21.

 

Source: The Union Army, vol. 5