DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1864

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1864-05-07

Saturday 7.  Lay in our position till 9 A.M. when we were moved back (all the troops recalled) owing as I afterwards learned to a false report that the enemy was in our rear. We went into our old position again, as soon as Gen. Mower saw the position of the enemy. About the middle of the afternoon we moved forward toward the bayou La Mone heavy skirmishing and cannonading is going on in our front. Shortly we moved forward again, and came in sight of a large field where our cavalry, artillery and a brigade of our infantry was formed, our skirmishers engaged the enemy in some thick underbrush, and heavy timber on the opposite side of the bayou. The enemy finally made a feint as if he was running to get our cavalry to pursue him, and in the mean time to fall in their rear. But Gen. Mower sent a brigade of infantry to engage the rebels. We were ordered on crossed the bayou, and took our position after some difficulty in maneuvering our regiment. The enemy charged Col. Lynch's brigade which drove him and in turn charged. The firing was quite heavy for a few minutes. It is said we lost four or five killed and twenty wounded. By this time darkness closed the action, and we returned to our old position where we prepared supper, after which we marched back to Gov. Moore's plantation. This we reached about 9 P.M. tired and covered with dust.

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Saturday 7. Lay in our position till 9 A.M. when we were moved back (all the troops recalled) owing as I afterwards learned to a false report that the enemy was in our rear. We went into our old position again, as soon as Gen. Mower saw the position of the enemy. About the middle of the afternoon we moved forward toward the bayou La Mone heavy skirmishing and cannonading is going on in our front. Shortly we moved forward again, and came in sight of a large field where our cavalry, artillery and a brigade of our infantry was formed, our skirmishers engaged the enemy in some thick underbrush, and heavy timber on the opposite side of the bayou. The enemy finally made a feint as if he was running to get our cavalry to pursue him, and in the mean time to fall in their rear. But Gen. Mower sent a brigade of infantry to engage the rebels. We were ordered on crossed the bayou, and took our position after some difficulty in maneuvering our regiment. The enemy charged Col. Lynch's brigade which drove him and in turn charged. The firing was quite heavy for a few minutes. It is said we lost four or five killed and twenty wounded. By this time darkness closed the action, and we returned to our old position where we prepared supper, after which we marched back to Gov. Moore's plantation. This we reached about 9 P.M. tired and covered with dust.