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(July 18, 2010) Enlarge
The Yellow Bayou Park
This photo was taken from the La. Historical Marker for the Battle of
Yellow Bayou-Norwood's Plantation. This is the park located by the
marker which has earthworks and park benches, grills, etc. The photo was
taken July 18, 2010 in the afternoon as a storm approached so the park
was not crowded. |
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(July 18, 2010) Yellow
Bayou -Norwood's Plantation Sign
This is located in a park along Louisiana Hwy #1. CSA General Wharton,
who gave the order to attack wrote the following item that I
transcribed. It should be noted that many CSA officers were critical of
the attack since, contrary to the La Historical marker, these CSA
officers were fully aware the Union Army was almost completely gone
therefore they saw no reason to attack. Wharton's Cavalry Corps was
largely composed of Texas Cavalry.
The Officers and Soldiers Of Wharton's Cavalry Corps:
Army of West Louisiana,
In The Field,
May 24th, 1864
Soldiers! For forty-six days you have engaged the enemy, always superior
to you in numbers. When the beaten foe (four army corps of Infantry and
five thousand cavalry) began his retreat, you were formed in battle
array in his front, and being upon his flanks and rear, only to destroy.
In his retreat from Grand Ecore to Atchafalaya, you killed wounded and
captured four thousand men, destroying five transports and three
gunboats. All this was accomplished with a loss to you of only four
hundred men, two-thirds of whom will report for duty again within forty
days.
The history of no other campaign will present the spectacle of a cavalry
force capturing and killing more of the enemy than their own number.
This you have done, and, in so doing, you have immortalized yourselves
and added new lustre to Texas--the gallantry of whose sons has been
illustrated on every battle-field from Gettysburg to Glorietta. Had a
portion of our forces been where I was informed they were, one hour and
a half before the engagement at Norwood's Plantation, the rear guard of
the enemy would have been entirely destroyed; as it was, thirty of his
dead were left on the field, and sixty-five graves inscribed "killed in
action on the 18th of May," besides his wounded carried away by him,
testify to the slaughter you inflicted upon him. Federal prisoners,
recently captured, announce their loss at eight hundred men, killed and
wounded, at Norwood's Plantation.
Your advanced guard are now watering their horses in the Mississippi
River, wither you will soon follow. On short rations and with scanty
forage, and in the saddle day and night, you have neither murmured nor
complained.
In all your trials, the veteran 2d Louisiana Cavalry have been by your
side. They have shared your dangers, and are participants in your glory.
During the entire retreat, the different Batteries of Artillery, either
acting separately or under command of Col. Brent or Maj. Simmes,
displayed the most marked skill and gallantry. They were particularly
distinguished in the engagement at Norwood's Plantation.
I as commander honor you for your deeds, and thus acknowledge my
appreciation of your services. Gen. Taylor cheerfully accords to you the
need of his approbation, and, in his own time and way, will signify his
admiration. A grateful people will cherish the record of your gallantry.
JOHN A WHARTON, Major General
Wm. I. Moore, A.A.A.G.
Transcribed on Dec 28, 2008 by William J. Bozic, Jr. from the Houston
Daily Telegraph All Rights Reserved. |
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(July 18, 2010) Enlarge
Earthworks |
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(July 18, 2010) Enlarge
Tower at Yellow Bayou Park
From this tower there is a clear view of the earthworks, park, bayou,
Louisiana Hwy #1, nearby subdivision, and fields of cotton. There was
nothing in the tower to explain the mounds of earth or battle when the
photo was taken on July 18, 2010. |
