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This page was last updated on June 21, 2005

From The Rebel States
Texas

A curious story from Chihuahua 
Correspondence of the Houston Telegraph 
San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday, May 12, 1863

Last evening an express arrived from Eagle Pass to a gentleman in this city, which the following important intelligence. 
I can vouch for its being perfectly reliable:

On the 28th of March an express arrived in Chihuahua, from Acting Governor Orney, of New Mexico, to Gov. 
Farrarer, of Chihuahua, with a request that he meet him (Orney) at El Paso, on the 5th day of April, for the purpose 
of arranging with him for the occupation of the State by Federal Troops. To which Gov. Farraner, replied that his 
official duties would prevent his meeting Gov. Orney in El Paso, but would be pleased to meet him in Chihuaha on the 
14th of March. Another express arrived in Chihuaha, with a communication to Gov. Ferraris, from Acting - Gov. 
Orney, in which he stated that he had received orders from President Lincoln to give protection to the States of 
Chihuahua and Somora, and to do so effectually he would have to occupy both the States with United States Troops.

It yet remains to be seen against what they are going to protect them - probably the French

John L. Dryant, Captain P.A.C.E.
[The acting Governor of New-Mexico is W. F. M. Aeny, not Orney - En. Time]



An Iron Clad In Galveston
The gunboat Caddo was successfully launched at Galveston, Texas in May. This vessel has been built with great 
dispatch by Capt. Carter, Confederate States Navy, Naval Engineer, and her future commander. It is claimed 
for her all the excellencies of the gunboats that have gone before her, with many of their defects remedied and 
sundry late improvements added. She is all new and built of oak, her walls are said to be four feet thick, and then 
this is said to be malled with iron. Her (sic) is of the most formable character. She will carry four heavy guns. A 
good part of her machinery is now on her, and as soon as she is malled she will be ready for the service.

List of Casualties

2D T.M.R. - Pyron's Regiment

Battle at Donaldsonville, LA

June 28, 1863

"Austin Weekly Gazette" Tuesday, July 21, 1863

New York Times, Friday, July 8, 1863 
(These articles appeared with the Battle of Gettysburg article)

Mississippi Semmit Monday June 29
The New-Orleans Daily True Delta, of 24th reports that a fight took place at Lafourch Crossing on the 23d. 
The National force engaged was six regiments. The Confederates Charged and Captured a National battery 
and prisoners, but reported the loss of 33 killed, including Col. Walker, of the Second Texas Regiment, who 
was buried under a flag of truce. The confederates retired while the enemy was waiting for reinforcements to 
pursue them. A gentleman from Pascagoula reports the capture of the Nineteenth Connecticut regiment and 
two battalions. from New-Orleans.
Our pickets are near Algiers, opposite New-Orleans.


From New-Orleans
Affairs at Fort Hudson - The Battle at Lafourch
Correspondence of the Boston Journal New-Orleans, Wednesday, June 24. Since my (sic) the army at Port Hudson 
has not seen late, and in my next I hope to record the full of this persistent rebel stronghold. Last Wednesday the rebel 
commander, Gen. Gardner, sent out a flag of truce, asking Gen. Banks to come and bring off his dead, if he had men 
enough. Gen. Banks sent, of course, and brought out one hundred and seventeen. These were nearly we had killed or 
mortally wounded. The enemy had a private place under their works from which they issued and brought in our wounded 
who had crawled up and then rolled in the ditch to keep out the shower of balls. This accounts for the large number of 
dead in their possession. Before this reaches you I hope this third, successful, assault will have taken place. The men are 
all in fine spirits and very confident of success, as is everybody else. 

The rebel force which was at Plaquemine was under the command of Col. Major, instead of Gen. Taylor. After having 
stolen all they wanted at Plaquemine they passed down the river to Donaldsonville which is at the outlet at Bayou Laforche, 
here leaving the river and keeping out of range of the guns from our fort, they passed down the bayou and endeavored in 
surprise our small force at Lafourche, crossing on the Opelouses Rail Road.

We were, however, prepared for them, and they were repulsed, But after awaiting for a more thorough organization. 
Our forces, consisting of part of the Twenty-Sixth Connecticut and the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New-York, 
concentrated, Sunday-evening, and in a severe engagement the rebels were thoroughly whipped, losing 119 killed 
and wounded, while our loss was 8 killed and 15 wounded. Lieut. Col. Walker, of one of the Texas regiments, 
was killed. They retreated back up the bayou, and there is but little reason to doubt that we shall gobble the whole 
crowd. Gen. Emmry is thoroughly (sic) an regaurds the importance of this movement and has sent the Twenty-sixth 
Massachusets up to Donaldsonville to head them off in that direction, while he has sent another regiment to Brashear 
City to reinforce the garrison there, and the Seventh Vermont and Fifteenth Maine just arrived from Pensacola, are 
gone but on the Opelouses Raod. The plan is perfect, and if we fail to take them all prisoners it will not be the fault 
of the General in command.

Both the Twenty-sixth Connecticut and the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York did excellently last Sunday.

The city is on the (sic) vive for news, and well known (sic) were eagerly expressing their entirely visionary hopes 
that the confeds would soon have possession of New-Orleans again, but we have not been idle since we have 
been here, and to-day New-Orleans is one of the best fortified places, for one so much surrounded by swamp, 
or any in the United States, and our (sic)-of-war lying in the stream are something a cause of fear no doubt. H. M. P.

This page is part of CO K 2nd Texas Cavalry

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