Historical Images
This sketch by Francis H. Schell titled "One Thousand Contrabands Building a Levee on the Mississippi River" dated March 13, 1863 appeared in Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper May 9, 1863. The description reads, "One thousand contrabands under the direction of Capt. Hodge of Gen. Augur's staff including 150 women constructing an immense levee on the plantation of G.A. Hall below Baton Rouge... with the Navy preparing for the attack on Port Hudson, in the background // Union Flotilla // State House // State deaf and dumb Asylum // shell." The contrabands in the sketch would be mustered into service as the First Louisiana Engineers under command of newly promoted Colonel Justin Hodge also shown in the sketch. Source: https://beckercollection.bc.edu/items/show/2652
The image, "Men Lined Up" at Port Hudson, 1863 might just be a photograph of the First Louisiana Engineers (95th & 97th USCT). They are seen formed up as a regiment and men were not issued uniforms yet. When they arrived at Baton Rouge on their way to the siege, and stood for parade inspection, the fact that they had no uniforms, wore straw hats, and held shovels rather than muskets made for a "poor first impression." This image has sometimes been identified as Confederate prisoners captured at Port Hudson. Official records show that the photographers McPherson and Oliver were assigned under command of Col. Hodge, First Louisiana Engineers to take photos after the siege had ended. See below:
"ENGINEER OFFICE, Port Hudson, July 13, 1863., (extract) The First Louisiana Engineers (colored) number about 800 men for duty, the colonel reports. They are well supplied with intrenching tools, and have also a fair supply of other engineer materials, such as rope, nails, spikes, chests of tools, &c., for all of which the colonel is responsible, and issues to engineer assistants and general officers on their receipts, by order of the chief engineer. I intend they shall remain here for the present, unless otherwise ordered by Major Houston, and have ordered them to collect all engineer property in the trenches, and then to furnish General Andrews any tools, materials, and working parties he may apply for, till further orders.
The engineer assistants are Captain Long, First Louisiana Engineers, and Sergeant Nutting, Rhode Island Cavalry (detached); 1 surveyor, 2 topographical engineers, and 2 photographers. Captain Long will accompany headquarters, to direct the prisoners in their duties, assisted by Sergeant Nutting. The 2 topographical engineers will also move with headquarters, to make and plot reconnaissances. The surveyor will remain here, to begin a survey of our lines and the enemy's. I have asked Major Houston to send other surveyors from New Orleans to assist him. One photographer will remain here, to take the views already ordered, and the other will probably go to New Orleans, to print the impressing with greater facility."
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN C. PALFREY,
Captain, U. S. Engineers."
Sources:
https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/search/mods_subject_topic_ms%3A%2522McPherson%20&%20Oliver%20(Studio%20:%20New%20Orleans,%20La.)%2522
OR: Serial 041 Page 0639 W. FLA, S. ALA., LA, TEX., N. MEX. Chapter XXXVIII
Frank Leslie's Illustrated magazine shows the afternoon assault of May 27, 1863 in which the First Louisiana Engineers (95th and 97th USCT) led the charge carrying poles (six men to a pole) without any weapons in order for the men behind them, carrying boards, to be placed across them so that the infantrymen could cross the deep excavations in order to scale the enemy's parapet. Under heavy enemy fire, and having to cross a great many obstacles, the assault failed, leaving many casualties.
This 1863 image taken at Port Hudson shows "engineers" working in the trenches and clearing obstructions. It is likely an image of the enlisted men of the First Louisiana Engineers (95th & 97th USCT), at work, in the trenches at the siege of Port Hudson. At least one man is seen what appears to be a fatigue blouse while all the other men are wearing shirts, trousers and hats, several of them straw.
Source: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/search/mods_subject_topic_ms%3A%2522McPherson%20&%20Oliver%20(Studio%20:%20New%20Orleans,%20La.)%2522
Source: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/search/mods_subject_topic_ms%3A%2522McPherson%20&%20Oliver%20(Studio%20:%20New%20Orleans,%20La.)%2522
This September 26, 1863 sketch by Francis H. Schell is titled, "Wreck of the Confederate Gunboat Cotton - Bayou Teche, Louisiana." The description references that is would be removed by the Corps of Engineers. The engineers would be the First Louisiana Engineers. The description reads, "The Ruins of the 'Cotton' lie across the Bayou Teche about 16 miles above Berwick City. The morning after the fight of 13th Jan.63 the 'rebs' finding they could not escape with the 'Cotton' ran ashore and set her on fire. She now makes a formidable obstruction to the passage of the bayou, but the Corps of Engineers will commence the removal of it to-day. For particulars of the 'affair' see reports of the newspapers of that date. // Camp in the field Sept. 26 1863 // [signed] C.E.H. Bonwill // P.S. with great difficulty a steamer can get by the wreck // Mr. Frank Leslie New York."
Another image from Frank Leslie's Illustrated newspaper shows the men of the 3rd Regiment Engineers (97th USCT) having laid the pontoon bridges, wooden trestles, approaches, and corduroy roads for the US army to cross the Cane River during the Red River Campaign in 1864.
Crossing the Cane River, April 23, 1864 from Harper's Weekly shows the Federal army crossing the pontoon bridge laid by the 3rd Regt. Engrs. Corps d'Afrique (97th USCI).
Leslie's Illustrated magazine titled "The War in Louisiana" shows the men of the 3rd Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique (97th USCT) digging trenches and building earthworks at Vermilion Bayou during the Red River Campaign. The men appear to have stripped off their fatigue blouses and are wearing shirts while swinging picks and shovels. A-frame tents are in use and one officer, unknown, is seen mounted on a horse directing the men.
1st Lt. James William Haight, Jr. of the 97th U.S. Colored Infantry, serving as Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Engineer Brigade, was one of the many men taken prisoner when the Confederates captured the U.S. transport John Warner on May 4th, 1864. Wounded, he would be taken to the hospital in Cheneyville, Louisiana where he would later escape and return to New Orleans by early June. Lt. Haight would later serve as Acting Assistant Adjutant with the Division of West Florida and Aide de Camp of the Commanding General during the Mobile Campaign and occupation of Mobile. Source: Library of Congress and National Archives
The Atchafalaya Ship Bridge marked the end of the Red River Campaign as it was the final river crossing. It was also another brilliant feat of the Engineer Brigade that prevented, what could have been, a military disaster. On March 19 and 20, 1864, Captain Chamberlain, Co. E, reported, "The army is crossing the Atchafalaya on a bridge of Transports... Expect to take up the bridge some time tonight... The remainder of the army commenced crossing the Pontoon bridge at midnight and were all across at 3 1/2 O'clock the morning of the 4th day. Took up the bridge immediately. The Enemy didn't trouble us. Moved forward and reached Simmesport at sunrise."
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Camp at Morganza, 1863. Here the men of the 97th USCT built earthworks to improve the defenses of this strategic location on the banks of the Mississippi River. The locations was well documented as having unhealthy conditions and the death rate was especially high.
This photo and close-up are of the India rubber pontoon bridge at Fort Butler, Donaldsonville, Louisiana. It is likely that this bridge is the one crossed by the 1st Louisiana Native Guard in the May 27th assault at Port Hudson as it was later transferred to Capt. John J. Smith of Company B, First Louisiana Engineers on July 13, 1864. In a July 27th 1863 letter Colonel Justin Hodge penned the strength of the First Regiment Engineers, Corps d'Afrique at;
"2 Field Officers
2 Staff Officers
15 Line Officers
633 Men, Exclusive of Company B on detached service at Donaldsonville."
Captain John J. Smith commanded Company B and was placed in charge of the pontoon train. The pontoon bridge on the Bayou Lafourche connected the town of Donaldsonville and Fort Butler at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
The inflatable pontoons of the bridge were rubber bags shaped like torpedoes. They were inflated with bellows and tied together in twos. These pairs of floats were placed and secured side by side across the water and the bridge deck was laid on top of the rubber floats.
Many months later, in a report of pontoon bridge inventory in the Department of the Gulf, that rubber pontoon bridge portion appears to be in storage at New Orleans.
"SIMSPORT, May 19, 1864.
Maj. C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Division of West Mississippi:
(extract) With the Ninety-fifth U. S. Infantry (colored), at Brownsville, is about 80 feet of an old India-rubber pontoon bridge, so worn as to be nearly useless, and quite unfit to be sent into the field. Other remains of the same bridge are in New Orleans."
"2 Field Officers
2 Staff Officers
15 Line Officers
633 Men, Exclusive of Company B on detached service at Donaldsonville."
Captain John J. Smith commanded Company B and was placed in charge of the pontoon train. The pontoon bridge on the Bayou Lafourche connected the town of Donaldsonville and Fort Butler at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
The inflatable pontoons of the bridge were rubber bags shaped like torpedoes. They were inflated with bellows and tied together in twos. These pairs of floats were placed and secured side by side across the water and the bridge deck was laid on top of the rubber floats.
Many months later, in a report of pontoon bridge inventory in the Department of the Gulf, that rubber pontoon bridge portion appears to be in storage at New Orleans.
"SIMSPORT, May 19, 1864.
Maj. C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Division of West Mississippi:
(extract) With the Ninety-fifth U. S. Infantry (colored), at Brownsville, is about 80 feet of an old India-rubber pontoon bridge, so worn as to be nearly useless, and quite unfit to be sent into the field. Other remains of the same bridge are in New Orleans."