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CHAPTER XVIII.

RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS-ORDERED TO MORGANZIA - EXPEDITION TO SHIMSPORT - SKIRMISHING WITH GUERRILLAS, AND BURNING OF SIMMSPORT - RETURN TO MOR - GANZI A, AND EMBARK FOR WHITE RIVER - ARRIVAL AT DUVAL'S BLUFF.

WE remained encamped on Mobile Point until the 7th of Sept., when six companies of our regiment embarked for New Orleans. The remaining four - B, E, G and K, - followed on the steamship Josephine on the succeeding day. On arriving at New Orleans we learned that the other portion of the regiment had proceeded to Morganzia, and that WM. PRESTON and THOMAS WINEY, of Company C, had been drowned on the passage.

We left New Orleans for Morganzia on the evening of the 9th. Rumors were current in the city that the rebel General Dick Taylor had massed a heavy force of troops at some point on the Mississippi below the mouth of Red River, where he designed crossing to the eastern bank. We therefore felt some apprehensions that our progress would meet with a check from his batteries, supposed to be planted at some point on our route. Arriving in the vicinity of Morganzia, however, without encountering any obstacle - our apprehensions had nearly subsided, when suddenly the booming of artillery, followed by the flippity-whiz of shell directly in advance,

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at once aroused us, and set the teeth of our ship captain chattering in mortal fear. A scene of confusion at once ensued on board. Officers, men, sailors - every one became clamorous. Shouts of "stop her," "go ahead," "back water," etc., soon completely dissipated what little steadiness remained in our captain's nerves after the first fire, and being perhaps at a loss for words, or unable to be heard if he had attempted to speak, he adopted the alternative of opening the steam-whistle - which had the effect of quieting the confusion of voices on board, and at the same time causing a general outburst of merriment at his visible alarm. Some fears were entertained that the firing indicated a battle in progress at that point, and not being confident as to which side of the river our forces were on, we approached the place cautiously. Our apprehensions were relieved soon after by the appearance of a squad of cavalry on the bank of the river - from whom we learned the firing was by one of our own batteries. We disembarked at once, and went into camp in rear of the levee on the ground occupied by the portion of our regiment which had preceded us.

We remained in camp here until October 1st, many of our men suffering the effects of our men suffering severely from the effects of scurvy contracted while at Mobile Bay. On the morning of the 1st, our brigade - now consisting of the 20th and 23d Iowa, 35th Wisconsin, one section of the 2d New York Light Artillery, and one battalion 1st Texas cavalry - under command of Col. WM. McE. DYE, started on an expedition to Simmsport - distant thirty-five miles.

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Arriving at a point on the Atchafalaya four miles above Simmsport on the afternoon of the following day, we encountered some opposition from a force of rebels who had taken up a position on the opposite side of the river and opened a heavy musketry fire on our advance. A halt was immediately made, and a line of sharpshooters formed behind the levee, who returned the enemy's fire with great spirit. Both parties, however, being protected by embankments on either side of the stream, no advantage was gained by our skirmishers, and it soon became necessary to place one piece of our artillery in position. A few shots from this overawed the rebels, who withdrew.

We remained here until one o'clock next morning, when a detachment of one hundred men, under command of Capt. M. L. THOMSON, were embarked on small boats which had been brought with us - the enemy in the meantime opening a heavy fire on the detachment as they entered the boats. While the men were embarking, the regiments formed in rear of the levee, with the artillery and cavalry in advance, and prepared to move on Simmsport - keeping parallel with the boats as they descended the stream. The order to start was given, and we silently moved off, marching rapidly until we arrived at a point opposite Simmsport, which we reached at day-break. The detachment under Capt. THOMSON disembaarked on the opposite side of the stream without opposition, where a picket line was established.

The object of the expedition being to communicate

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with the rebels at Shreveport, in reference to an exchange of prisoners, Col. DYE forwarded dispatches under a flag of truce to the rebel works at Yellow Bayou on the morning of the 4th, and we prepared to await in camp the reply, which came back on the evening of the 7th. During the interval our attention was occupied by skirmishing with the enemy, who had collected in considerable force, and maintained sharp firing on our pickets in vicinity of Simmsport, where a man belonging to Company H of the 23d Iowa was killed on the morning of the 7th. In consequence of this a squad of our men were sent across the river, and the town burned on the same day, as a retaliatory measure.

On the afternoon of the 7th, Capt. GRAY, in command of a detachment, scoured the country in vicinity of the town, and succeeded in capturing a small lot of sugar and cotton, which was brought to camp.

We left camp at Simmsport, on the morning of the 9th, and after a rapid march arrived in camp at Morganzia on the following morning. Our stay here, however, was brief, as orders were received on the same evening to prepare again for moving.

Active measures were sometime previously taken by our surgeon, Dr. H. HOWEY, to procure vegetables, which had resulted in securing a small quantity of onions, and their salutary effects were already developed in restoring the health of many who had been suffering under the effects of scurvy.

Capt. M. L. THOMSON and others, however, were cor-

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responding with the friends of the regiment at home, where the condition of our men soon became known, and additional supplies were at once forwarded to us. On our arrival subsequently at Brownsville, Arkansas, these supplies were received in large quantities by the hands of GEORGE W. SMITH, Esq., of Davenport, and served to eradicate the disease entirely.

Lt. Col. J. B. LEAKE resumed command of the regiment on the 10th, on our return from Simmsport.

Our brigade embarked on board the transport Nebraska and left Morganzia on the morning of the 12th. After a temporary delay at Jackson's Point - to which place Col. DYE had preceded us a few days previously, on an expedition against a small rebel force reported to be crossing cattle and supplies for Hood's army - we proceeded to the mouth of White River, where we disembarked and went into camp on the evening of the 16th. During the same night, however, we were aroused by orders to re-embark, and left camp for Duval's Bluffs at daybreak on the morning of the 17th, where we arrived on the following morning and went into camp near the town.

Owing to incessant rains our stay at this place was rendered extremely unpleasant, although we were much gratified in again meeting our comrades of the 37th Illinois, who had been absent from the brigade since their re-enlistment as veterans the previous February.

Owing to ill-health, I resigned my commission and took leave of the regiment at this point. My regret at

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parting from comrades whose friendship and sympathy I had shared - and which had been cemented by scenes of mutual hardship and danger - was mitigated by the unmistakable evidences of a speedy overthrow of the rebellion forshadowed in the brilliant campaign of General SHERMAN, and the prospect of soon again meeting them at home.