irby Smith's views differed from
mine. I then expressed my willingness to march, with the main body of
the infantry, to join Price in Arkansas, and serve under his command
until Steele's column was destroyed or driven back; insisting, however,
that in the event of Steele's retreat I should be permitted to turn on
Banks and Porter, to complete the work of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill.
The destruction of the Federal army and capture of the fleet, helpless
alone by reason of low and falling water in Red River, were the
legitimate fruits of those victories, and I protested with all possible
earnestness against a policy that would fail to reap them. After this
conversation General Kirby Smith returned to Shreveport, leaving me
under the impression that my last proposition was acceded to. The loss
of valuable time incurred by a wild-goose chase after Steele was most
annoying, but I was hopeful it might be recovered. To get the fleet down
to Alexandria and over the falls at that place would require much time
in the low condition of the water; and Banks's army was so much
demoralized by defeat that Bee found no difficulty in restraining its
movements with his horse.

At dawn of the 14th Walker's and Churchill's divisions of infantry, with
their artillery, prepared for an active campaign, marched for
Shreveport, forty miles. The same day Polignac's infantry division,
reduced to some twelve hundred muskets, was sent toward Grand Ecore to
strengthen the horse in front of the enemy. On the evening of the 15th I
reached Shreveport, and had a short interview with General Kirby Smith,
who informed me that Steele had begun his retreat from a point a hundred
and ten miles distant, but that he hoped to overtake him, and would
personally direct the pursuit. I was further informed that my presence
with the troops was not desired, and that I would remain in nominal
command of Shreveport, but might join the force near Grand Ecore if I
thought proper. All this with the curt manner of a superior to a
subordinate, as if fearing remonstrance. General Kirby Smith marched
north of Shreveport on the 16th, and three days thereafter I received a
dispatch from his "chief of staff" informing me that the pontoon train,
asked for in vain when it would have been of priceless value, would be
sent back from his army and placed at my disposition. Doubtless General
Kirby Smith thought that a pontoon train would supply the place of seven
thousand infantry and s