st with some arms and munitions,
which he had remained to bring with him. This officer had served on the
staff of General Magruder in the Peninsular and Richmond campaigns,
after which, learning that I was ordered to Louisiana, where he had
family connections, he applied to serve with me. Before leaving Richmond
I had several interviews with him, and was favorably impressed.

A lawyer by profession, Major Brent knew nothing of military affairs at
the outbreak of the war, but speedily acquainted himself with the
technicalities of his new duties. Devoted to work, his energy and
administrative ability were felt in every direction. Batteries were
equipped, disciplined, and drilled. Leather was tanned, harness made,
wagons built, and a little Workshop, established at New Iberia by
Governor Moore, became important as an arsenal of construction. The lack
of paper for cartridges was embarrassing, and most of the country
newspapers were stopped for want of material. Brent discovered a
quantity of wall paper in the shops at Franklin, New Iberia, etc., and
used it for cartridges; and a journal published at Franklin was printed
on this paper. A copy of it would be "a sight" to Mr. Walter and the
staff of the "Thunderer." The _esprit de corps_ of Brent's artillery was
admirable, and its conduct and efficiency in action unsurpassed. Serving
with wild horsemen, unsteady and unreliable for want of discipline,
officers and men learned to fight their guns without supports. True,
Brent had under his command many brilliant young officers, whose names
will appear in this narrative; but his impress was upon all, and he owes
it to his command to publish an account of the services of the artillery
in western Louisiana.

_En route_ to Lafourche, I learned of the action at Labadieville, and
hurried on to Berwick's Bay, which Mouton had just crossed, and in good
time; for Federal gunboats entered from the Gulf immediately after.
Their presence some hours earlier would have been uncomfortable for
Mouton. It is curious to recall the ideas prevailing in the first years
of the war about gunboats. To the wide-spread terror inspired by them
may be ascribed the loss of Fort Donelson and New Orleans. _Omne ignotum
pro magnifico_; and it was popularly believed that the destructive
powers of these monsters were not to be resisted. Time proved that the
lighter class of boats, called "tin-clads," were helpless against field
guns, while heavy iron-clads coul