gh, restrained from inundation by
levees on both banks, the Lafourche flows through the fertile and
populous parishes of Assumption and Lafourche, and, after a sinuous
course of some ninety miles, reaches the Gulf to the west of Barataria
Bay. Above Thibodeaux there were no bridges, and communication between
the opposite banks was kept up by ferries.

One or two companies of mounted men, armed with fowling pieces, had been
organized under authority from Governor Moore, and Colonel Waller's
battalion of mounted riflemen had recently arrived from Texas. These
constituted the Confederate army in this quarter.

CHAPTER VIII.

OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

Mention has been made of the plundering expeditions of the Federals, and
the post at Bayou des Allemands was reported as the especial center from
which raids on the helpless inhabitants were undertaken. I determined to
attempt the surprise and capture of this post, which could be reached
from the river at a point fifty miles below Donaldsonville. My estate
was in the immediate vicinity of this point, and the roads and paths
through plantations and swamps were well known to me. Colonel Waller was
assigned to the duty, with minute instructions concerning roads and
movements, and competent guides were furnished him. Moving rapidly by
night, and, to escape observation, avoiding the road near the river,
Waller with his Texans gained the enemy's rear, advanced on his camp,
and, after a slight resistance, captured two companies of infantry and
the guns. The captured arms and accouterments served to equip Waller's
men, whose rifles were altered flintlocks and worthless, and the
prisoners were sent to the Teche to be guarded by Fournet's Acadians.
This trifling success, the first in the State since the loss of New
Orleans, attracted attention, and the people rejoiced at the capture of
the Des Allemands garrison as might those of Greece at the unearthing of
the accomplished and classic thief Cacus. Indeed, the den of that worthy
never contained such multifarious "loot" as did this Federal camp.
Books, pictures, household furniture, finger rings, ear rings,
breastpins and other articles of feminine adornment and wear, attested
the catholic taste and temper of these patriots.

Persuaded that the Federal commander at New Orleans, General Benjamin
F. Butler, was ignorant of the practices of his outlying detachments, I
requested ex-Governor Wickliffe of Lo