BATTLE OF LABADIEVILLE: 1862

 

Labadieville, a town on the bayou Lafourche, in Assumption parish, La., 20 m. S. from Donaldsonville, on the Mississippi, at the head of the bayou. It was the scene of a battle, Oct. 27, 1862, between a U.S. force under Gen. Weitzel and a body of confederate troops under Col. J.P. McPheeters. Gen. Weitzel with 5 regiments, left Carrollton, 7 m. above New Orleans, on Oct. 24, and went up the river in transports convoyed by gunboats, on the ext day reaching Donaldsonville, where the troops disembarked. On the 26th, they went down the bayou 15 m. to Napoleonville, without finding the confederate force known to be in that region, and to drive whom from the bayou was the chief object of the expedition. On the 27th Gen. Weitzel continued his march to Labadieville, on the W. bank of the bayou, where he found the enemy in considerable force on both sides, with 6 pieces of artillery in battery. By means of his floating bridge Gen. Weitzel attacked the confederates in front and on the flank and after a brisk fight of half an hour drove them from their position, taking many prisoners. On the 28th he entered and occupied Thibodeaux, a few miles below, and on the 29th communication was opened with New Orleans by means of the New Orleans Opelousas, and great western railroad. The confederate force in this engagement was about 1,200. The loss on the Union side was 18 killed and 68 wounded. That of the confederates was less in killed and wounded, but 206 of them were taken prisoners; among their slain was their commanding officer, Col. McPheeters. The result of the expedition was to open the whole region of the bayou Lafourche to Union occupation.

Source: The New American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge, George Ripley and Charles A. Dana, New York, Appleton and Company, 1859-1863, Page 776

Submitted by Bob Franks

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