CHAPTER XXXVIII.

OPERATIONS IN WEST FLORIDA, SOUTHERN ALABAMA, SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA,* TEXAS, AND NEW MEXICO.

May 14 - December 31, 1863.

PART I.

REPORTS............................... Union and Confederate.

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.................... Union.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.+

May 14, 1863.- The army of General Banks en route from Alexandria for operations against Port Hudson, La.

Scouts from Merritt's Plantation, on the Clinton road, La.

Skirmish at Boyce's Bridge, Cotile Bayou, La.

16, 1863.- Skirmish at Tickfaw Bridge, La.

17, 1863.- Operations on west side of the Mississippi River, near Port Hudson, La.

18, 1863.- Affair near Cheneyville, La.

18-19, 1863.- Operations about Merrit's Plantation, and on the Bayou Sara road, La.

20, 1863.- Skirmish near Cheneyville, La.

21-26, 1863.- Operations on the Teche road, between Barre's Landing and Berwick, La.

21-July 8, 1863.- Siege of Port Hudson, La.

22, 1863.- Steamer Louisiana Belle attacked near Barre's Landing, Bayou Teche, La.

Skirmish at Bayou Courtablau, La.

25, 1863.- Skirmish at Centreville, La.

27, 1863.- Skirmish near Lake Providence, La. (operation against Vicksburg).

30, 1863.- Affair at Point Isabel, Tex.

June 1, 1863.- Skirmish at Berwick, La.

3, 1863.- Engagement near Simsport, La. (operations against Vicksburg).

4, 1863.- Affair at Lake Saint Joseph, La. (operations against Vicksburg).

6, 1863.- Skirmish near Richmond, La. (operations against Vicksburg).

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*For reports of those events in Louisiana immediately connected with operations against Vicksburg, see Series I, Vol. XXIV, Parts I and II.

+Of some of the minor conflicts noted in this "Summary," no circumstantial reports are on file.

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1 R-VOL XXVI, PT, I