and Bridge
were safe. From the farther edge of the wood, in open fields, Federal
camp fires were visible. It was a wonderful chance. Grover had stopped
just short of the prize. Thirty minutes would have given him the wood
and bridge, closing the trap on my force. Reilly, with his own and
Vincent's regiments of horse and the two guns, came up. The guns were
placed on the road near the Teche, with orders to stand fast. Reilly and
Vincent dismounted their men, sent horses well to the rear, and formed
line in the wood to the left of the guns, with Clack to the left of
Vincent.

The first light of dawn made objects visible and aroused the Federals,
some two hundred yards distant. Advancing rapidly from the wood, our
line poured in a fire and rushed forward with a shout. Taken by
surprise, the Federals fell back, leaving a battery on their right
exposed. To prevent the sleepy gunners from opening, I rode straight on
the guns, followed by my staff and four mounted couriers, and the
gunners made off. All this was easy enough. Surprise and the uncertain
light had favored us; but broad day exposed our weakness, and the enemy
threw forward a heavy line of skirmishers. It was necessary for us to
regain the wood, now four hundred yards to the rear. Officers behaved
admirably in seconding my efforts to encourage and steady their men and
keep them well in hand. Our two guns on the road fired rapidly and
effectively, but the Federals came on in numbers, and their fire began
to tell. Reilly was killed, Vincent wounded in the neck, and many others
went down. At this moment the peculiar whistle of a Parrott shell was
heard, and Semmes appeared with the Diana.

The enemy's advance was arrested; Gray's infantry from Bisland came up;
the wood was occupied; Mouton with the remaining infantry arrived, and
all danger was over. Green, in command of the rear guard, showed great
vigor, and prevented Emory and Weitzel from pressing the trains. Besides
the twenty-fours mentioned, one gun of Cornay's battery, disabled in the
action of the 13th, was left at Bisland, and with these exceptions every
wagon, pot, or pan was brought off. Two months later these guns were
recaptured, much to the delight of our men.

The trains over Yokely Bridge and on the road to New Iberia, Mouton
skillfully withdrew from Grover's front as Green entered Franklin from
below. To facilitate this, Semmes was directed to work the Diana's gun
to the last moment, then get asho