Major, the senior officer, was ordered to
move these regiments to Morgan's Ferry on the Atchafalaya; and by
ambulance, with relays of mules, I reached Mouton and Green on the lower
Teche in a few hours.

The Federals had a number of sick and convalescent at Berwick's Bay, but
the effective force was small. Some works strengthened their positions,
and there was a gunboat anchored in the bay. Mouton and Green were
directed to collect small boats, skiffs, flats, even sugar-coolers, in
the Teche; and the importance of secrecy was impressed upon them.
Pickets were doubled to prevent communication with the enemy, and only a
few scouts permitted to approach the bay. Returning north to Morgan's
Ferry, I crossed the Atchafalaya with Major's command, and moved down
the Fordoche and Grosse-Tete, bayous draining the region between the
Atchafalaya and Mississippi. A short march brought us near the Fausse
Riviere, an ancient bed of the Mississippi, some miles west of the
present channel, and opposite Port Hudson.

Halting the command on the Fordoche, I rode out to the estate of an
acquaintance on Fausse Riviere, whence the noise of battle at Port
Hudson could be heard. Two ladies of the family, recently from New
Orleans, told me that the Federal force left in the city would not
exceed a thousand men; that a small garrison occupied a work near
Donaldsonville, where the Lafourche leaves the Mississippi, and with
this exception there were no troops on the west bank of the river. From
our position on the Fordoche to the Bayou Boeuf, in rear of the
Federal camp at Berwick's Bay, was over a hundred miles. The route
followed the Grosse-Tete to Plaquemine on the Mississippi, and to escape
observation Plaquemine must be passed in the night. Below this point
there was an interior road that reached the Lafourche some distance
below Donaldsonville. Minute instructions and guides were given to
Major.

It was now the 19th of June, and he was expected to reach the Boeuf on
the morning of the 23d. The necessity of punctuality was impressed on
him and his officers, as I would attack Berwick's at dawn on the 23d,
and their cooeperation was required to secure success. Indeed, their own
safety depended on promptness. The men carried rations, with some
forage, and wagons were sent back across the Atchafalaya. Major moved in
time to pass Plaquemine, twenty odd miles, before midnight, and I
hastened to Mouton's camp below Bisland, reaching it in the aft