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It was not until April 11th that the enemy commenced his advance upon Camp Bisland.
This was soon seen by us to be a serious movement.
His advance guard was larger than the entire Confederate force within the camp.
Fort Bisland was a collection of earthworks, hastily constructed and too low for effective defense, on the east bank of Bayou Teche.
The Confederate line of defense included also the west bank.
On the east bank of the bayou, under Gen. Alfred Mouton, were posted Fournet's ‘Yellow Jacket’ Louisiana battalion; the famous Crescent regiment, Colonel Bosworth; next to it the equally famous Eighteenth Louisiana, Colonel Armant; with the guns of Faries' fighting ‘Pelican battery’ posted along the line, and Bagby's Texas volunteers on the skirmish line.
Colonel Vincent's Second Louisiana cavalry, held in reserve during the morning of the 12th, was ordered by General Taylor to proceed to Verdun's landing to prevent a gunboat of the enemy, with several transports containing troops, from making a landing at that point, and next day he was reinforced by Reily's Texas regiment.
On the left bank the remainder of our little army was waiting.
On the extreme right were Tom Green's Texas cavalry and Walker's battalion, both dismounted.
On the left of Green's command was the Valverde battery; Colonel Gray's Louisiana regiment held the center, with a section of Cornay's St. Mary's Cannoneers and Semmes' battery.
A 24-pounder siege gun, worked by Cornay's battery, was in position, commanding the approach by the west bank.
In the upper Teche the Diana was waiting to be made useful in supporting her new masters by steaming down the bayou along the west bank.
It was Taylor's idea that, by moving on a line with an attacking column, the vessel could drive the enemy back, throw him into confusion and so force him into withdrawal of the troops he was essaying to land in our rear to the assistance of his
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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