re with his crew, and blow up the boat.
With his usual coolness Semmes carried out his instructions, but,
remaining too long near the Diana to witness the explosion he had
arranged, was captured.

The object sought in holding on to Bisland was attained. From this time
forward I had the sympathy and support of the people, and my troops were
full of confidence. Our retreat to Opelousas, by New Iberia and
Vermilionville, was undisturbed, Green with his horse keeping the enemy
in check. Indeed, the pursuit was without energy or vigor. The first
defensible position was at the Bayou Vermilion, thirty miles south of
Opelousas. Here, after an action of some warmth, the enemy was held back
until night and the bridge destroyed. From Opelousas the infantry, by
easy marches, moved to and up the valley of the Red River, where
supplies were abundant. The country was open, and the great superiority
of his numbers enabled the enemy to do as he liked. Mouton, with Green's
horse, marched west of Opelousas. It was hoped that he could find
subsistence between that place and the Mermentou River, and be in
position to fall on the enemy's rear and capture any small force left on
the Teche. I supposed that the Federal army, after reaching Alexandria,
would turn to the east, cross the Mississippi, and invest Port Hudson;
and this supposition proved to be correct.

Meantime, accompanied by a tender, Fuller on the Queen entered Grand
Lake on the 13th, expecting his two armed steamers to follow. On the
morning of the 14th the Federal gunboats from Berwick's Bay appeared,
and Fuller, dispatching the tender up the Atchafalaya to hasten his
steamers, prepared for action, as he doubtless would have done in
presence of Admiral Farragut's fleet. A shell set fire to the Queen, and
Fuller with his crew was captured. On the 20th the enemy's gunboats,
assisted by four companies of infantry, captured Butte a la Rose with
two twenty-four-pounders and sixty men. Semmes, Fuller, and the
prisoners taken from the Queen and at the Butte, were on the transport
Maple Leaf with Captain Fusilier, and escaped in the manner related,
excepting Fuller, who from wounds received in his last action was unable
to walk. Remaining in charge of the Maple Leaf until his friends were
ashore, he restored her to the Federals, was taken to Fort Delaware, and
died in prison. A braver man never lived.

The Federal army reached Opelousas on the 20th of April, and remained
there until