STIRLING'S PLANTATION ON BAYOU FORDOCHE, Engagement at. On 5 Sept. 1863, General Herron s division of the Thirteenth corps, General Banks' army, em barked on transports at Carrollton, La., and sailed up the Mississippi to disperse a Confed erate force under Gen. R. Taylor, which was then on the west side, below the mouth of Red River, seriously threatening the navigation of the river. Morgan's Bend was reached on the 7th, from which point, on the morning of the 8th, about 200 cavalry and a brigade of infan try, under Col. H. M. Day, moved out on a reconnoissance toward the Atchafalaya River, and encountering the Confederate pickets, drove them across the Atchafalaya and then fell back three miles. On the 9th Day was joined by General Herron, with another brigade, and a second reconnaissance was made to the Atcha falaya, where there was a smart skirmish, and Herron fell back to the river, with a loss of a few men killed and wounded. On the 12th the cavalry was again sent to the front to feel the enemy, and the 19th Iowa, 26th Indiana and two guns were sent out seven miles to the vicinity of Atchafalaya Bayou to picket the country and support the cavalry. All were
under command of Lieut.-Col. J. B. Leake, of the 20th Iowa. Leake had a skirmish with the enemy and fell back to Stirling's Plantation, on Bayou Fordoche, about six miles from Mor ganza, from which point he sent out parties daily, which skirmished with the Confederates. On the night of the 28th Gen. Thomas Green, with two brigades of Confederate infantry, one of cavalry and mounted infantry, and a battery, crossed the Atchafalaya, and by different routes reached the rear and flanks of Leake's com mand, by marching through swamps and cane brakes, and about noon of the 19th fell upon his unsuspecting camp. The cavalry was soon driven from the field, and managed to escape with small loss; the infantry made a gallant stand and fought desperately, but attacked on all sides, were soon overpowered and captured, with the two guns. Leake was severely wounded. The Union loss was 16 killed, 45 wounded and 454 missing or captured; the Con federate loss, 26 killed, and 85 wounded. Con sult 'Official Records) (Vol. XXVI).