, near a thousand acres in extent. Connected with the mainland by a
causeway of some length, the island was the property and residence of
Judge Avery. A small bayou, Petit Anse, navigable for light craft,
approached the western side and wound through the marsh to Vermilion
Bay. Salt wells had long been known to exist on the island, and some
salt had been boiled there. The want of salt was severely felt in the
Confederacy, our only considerable source of supply being in
southwestern Virginia, whence there were limited facilities for
distribution. Judge Avery began to boil salt for neighbors, and,
desiring to increase the flow of brine by deepening his wells, came
unexpectedly upon a bed of pure rock salt, which proved to be of immense
extent. Intelligence of this reached me at New Iberia, and induced me to
visit the island. The salt was from fifteen to twenty feet below the
surface, and the overlying soil was soft and friable. Devoted to our
cause, Judge Avery placed his mine at my disposition for the use of the
Government. Many negroes were assembled to get out salt, and a packing
establishment was organized at New Iberia to cure beef. During
succeeding months large quantities of salt, salt beef, sugar, and
molasses were transported by steamers to Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and
other points east of the Mississippi. Two companies of infantry and a
section of artillery were posted on the island to preserve order among
the workmen, and secure it against a sudden raid of the enemy, who later
sent a gunboat up the Petit Anse to shell the mine, but the gunboat
became entangled in the marsh and was impotent.

At Alexandria, where every effort was made to collect material, but
without funds and among a depressed people, progress was slow. It was
necessary to visit Monroe, the chief place of the important Washita
country; and I was further impelled thereto by dispatches from Richmond
advising me that Lieutenant-General Pemberton had been assigned to
command of the country east of the Mississippi, and that it was
important for me to meet him, in order to secure cooeperation on the
river. I rode the distance, _via_ Monroe, to a point opposite Vicksburg,
over two hundred miles, excepting forty miles east of Monroe, where the
railway was in operation. The eastern half of the line, from Bayou Macon
to the Mississippi, had been broken up by the great flood of the
previous spring.

Near Bayou Macon was encamped Colonel Henry Grey with hi