DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Sewell Van Alstine diary, 1863-1864

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1864-05-14 -- 1864-05-17

78  the enemy had batteries planted & captured our gun boats & 1 transport,  15th moved out at 7.Am. fighting to the right & in the advance as usual, moved 15 miles to day & stoped to the right & near Ft. De.Russy, at 6.Pm. sharp skirmishing a short distance in advance, we lost some cavalry, heard the fleet had passed the Ft. & gone down below, 16th revillee at 2 Am, started out at 3 1/2. Am. passed through Marksville at 9 Am. found the enemy in strong force on the edge of the prairie in our front, the whole army was formed & moved on in battle order for miles considerable artillery firing from both sides, the rebels had one large piece, said to have been taken from one of our [late?] captured gun boats, & which threw a large number of 50,lbs. shot unpleasantly near us, rebels were compelled to fall back, moved to our right, & attacked our rear, Gen Lawler ordered back with a division, after noon very hot & dusty, moved 15 miles to, day camped on bayau De,Glaze at. 9.Pm, troops & trains were passing all night 17th firing resumed in the rear early in the morning, reported that 50 of our cavalry were killed & wounded, in charging on the enemy, they were decoyed into an ambushof infantry, by an insulting squad of cavalry. Gen

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78 the enemy had batteries planted & captured our gun boats & 1 transport, 15th moved out at 7.Am. fighting to the right & in the advance as usual, moved 15 miles to day & stoped to the right & near Ft. De.Russy, at 6.Pm. sharp skirmishing a short distance in advance, we lost some cavalry, heard the fleet had passed the Ft. & gone down below, 16th revillee at 2 Am, started out at 3 1/2. Am. passed through Marksville at 9 Am. found the enemy in strong force on the edge of the prairie in our front, the whole army was formed & moved on in battle order for miles considerable artillery firing from both sides, the rebels had one large piece, said to have been taken from one of our [late?] captured gun boats, & which threw a large number of 50,lbs. shot unpleasantly near us, rebels were compelled to fall back, moved to our right, & attacked our rear, Gen Lawler ordered back with a division, after noon very hot & dusty, moved 15 miles to, day camped on bayau De,Glaze at. 9.Pm, troops & trains were passing all night 17th firing resumed in the rear early in the morning, reported that 50 of our cavalry were killed & wounded, in charging on the enemy, they were decoyed into an ambushof infantry, by an insulting squad of cavalry. Gen