Brigadier General Elias S. Dennis, Headquarters District of Northeastern Louisiana

Young's Point, La., June 13, 1863

Reports of Brig. Gen. Elias S. Dennis, U.S. Army, of attack (7th) on Milliken's Bend and action (9th) near Lake Providence.
 

HDQRS. DISTRICT OF NORTHEASTERN LOUISIANA,
Young's Point, La., June 13, 1863.

COLONEL: I have the honor to inform you that an attack was made on Lake Providence, La., June 9, 1863, by a rebel force of about 600 strong--the Thirteenth Texas Infantry [Cavalry] and 200 mounted men of the Thirteenth Louisiana Battalion. They were met by two companies of the First Kansas Mounted Infantry, 6 miles from town, and skirmishing kept up until the rebel force reached Bayou Tensas, 1 mile from town, where they were met by General Reid's entire force, about 800 strong, including 300 of the [Eighth] Louisiana Regiment, African descent, under Colonel [Hiram] Scofield.
The mounted companies fell back behind the bayou, destroying the bridge, when the enemy formed in line of battle, advanced their skirmishers to the bayou, and planted a 6-pounder so as to command the bridge, which they attempted to reconstruct, but were prevented by our skirmishers. A heavy force of skirmishers was then sent forward to meet their whole line on the bayou, and, after a brisk fire of an hour <ar37_449> and a half, the rebels retreated (it being dark) to Floyd, leaving only a small force near the bayou. General Reid then withdrew the skirmishers and ordered the Eighth Louisiana in line of battle up to the bayou. They fired four volleys into the rebels, which forced them to retire.
The entire force of the enemy was commanded by Colonel [Frank A.] Bartlett, of the Thirteenth Louisiana Battalion, who has for some time past been stationed west of Bayou Macon.
The only mischief done by the enemy, so far as heard from, is the destruction of a cotton-gin at Spencer's plantation.
We have 1 man wounded. The enemy's loss is 2 killed and 5 wounded.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, yours, &c.,

ELIAS S. DENNIS,
Brigadier-Genera1.

Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: United States War Department. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.