which shows that the blockade is raised, and the Mississippi river throughout its whole length is clear for the first time in two whole years.
July 13. Col. Paine's brigade received orders while at breakfast to fall in and march to support Col. Dudley. Marched out several miles and halted to make preparations for dinner, there being no indications of being called into action very soon. Some were fortunate enough to dine early, their meal being very frugal, and hard tack and coffee constituted their principal fare, and a little green corn from the fields. We were startled by the rattle of musketry in our immediate front, and we were at once ordered into line and found that Dudley was engaged with the enemy and had been gradually driving them back until he came upon their main line, when he was in turn being slowly and obstinately forced back. Our brigade was now ordered to the front at "double quick" on the road parallel to the bayou, and soon ordered to file to the right into a little green plantation road or path, and halted, our left resting on the bayou road. In our front was a rail fence with a deep ditch at the side of the road; beyond the fence an open field of about 125 yards extent and beyond that an immense corn field. By the waving of the corn tops we could trace the movements of Dudley's men and could see that they were slowly retreating and coming back gradually towards our line. The regiment was ordered to occupy the ditch at the side of the road. Very soon Dudley's men made their appearance out of the corn, loading and firing as they fell slowly back. A more soldierly appearance could not have been made than was made by the regiment in our immediate front (the 161st New York. Col. Harrower.)
