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The history of 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry

 Dec.11th, the "City of Bath" made Key West and took in coal and water, The officers and men had suffered severely during the passage, on account of most of the water having been put in casks  which had previously contained oil. As the "City of Bath" was going out of Key West, the "George's Creek" was coming in. Dec 15th, The "City of Bath" arrived at New Orleans, having touched at Ship Island, when the sealed order were opened and her destination ascertained. Col. Benedict reported at the Head-Quarters of the Department of the Gulf, and , under orders, proceeded with the vessel to Carrollton, a small place in the suburbs of the town, and six miles above the city proper, On arriving there, Gen. T. W. Sherman, commanding the post, ordered him to disembark his men at Camp Parapet, some two miles above Carrollton, and there go into camp.

Camp Parapet is a line of earthworks extending from the Mississippi River to an impenetrable swamp, lying between it and Lake Pontchartrain, and distant for the river about a mile. They were constructed, under the direction of the Rebel Gen. Beauregard, to protect New Orleans against attack form above; Forts St.Phillip and Jackson being supposed to be a sufficient defense against attack from forces approaching by sea.

The forces at this post, at this time, were the 25th and 26th Conn., 16th N.H., a detachment of the 12th Maine, 4th Wis., and 1st Vermont Batteries, and the four companies of the 162d. Col. Benedict took command of the post. Day after day passed without tidings from Lieut.-Col. Blanchard and the six companies with him. The character of the transport filled the Colonel's mind with anxiety concerning the fate of the looked for officers and men, at length, on the 24th Dec., the wretched weather beaten hulk slowly steamed up to the Parapet and landed her precious freight, to the general delight of the garrison and the special joy of the 162d.

Dec 31st, in pursuance of orders from Gen. Banks, Major Bogart and three companies,B., Capt. King, C., Capt. Wunder, and E., Lieut.Curtis, were dispatched, by Col. Benedict, to Plaquemine, a small town 110 miles above New Orleans, to dislodge any force of the enemy found at that point; information having been received at Head-Quarters that a battery had been planted there to intercept communication between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Major Bogart not finding any enemy there, quietly, occupied the town and threw out pickets, Capt. Wunder, of  Co, C, was officer of the day, and, at about 11 P.M. he reported a large force of enemy to be advancing, -his fears having multiplied a few guerrillas to an overwhelming body of troops, Upon receiving such alarming intelligence, Maj. Bogart hastily withdrew his command to the bank of the river and posted it behind the levee; designing to use it as a breastwork in case of an attack, After some firing the pickets emulated the general example and withdrew to the main body, The gunboat Catawba then commenced shelling the woods, By the premature explosion of a shell, 1st Sergt, J.A. Baker was  instantly killed, one private severely wounded, and one corporal slightly. No damage was received from the enemy. Maj. Bogart called a council of his officers, and the result was that the town was abandoned.  (Original Report of Maj Bogart)

About the 8th Jan. 1863, Col. Benedict was ordered to move the 162d to Donaldsonville, 60 miles above New Orleans, and hold that place, while Gen. Godfrey Weitzel, who had been lying at Thibodeaux, moved on Brashear City and other points on Bayou Teche; it being apprehended that during Weitzel's employment elsewhere, the enemy might get in his rear, and endanger both him and our possession of the Mississippi River, Col. Benedict extended his pickets  15 miles, to Napoleon. The 162d remained at Donaldsonville until the 25th, when, by the success of Weitzel's expedition, the necessity for strengthening the regular garrison having ceased, it returned to its camp at the Parapet.

Feb.2d, the 162d broke camp and went into quarters at Camp Mansfield, half a mile from Carrollton, -Col.Benedict turning over command of Camp Parapet to Gen.Neal Dow. It was there brigaded with the 16th N.H.,110th N.Y. and 4th Mass.,constituting the 1st Brig., 3d Div. of the 19th Army Corps, under command of Brig.-Gen. Andrews of Mass.; and remained there until March 6th. At this time, Col Benedict, who had been suffering for some weeks from an ailment, to be relieved only by a surgical operation, received leave of absence to enable him to go North in order to obtain the necessary treatment.

March 6th, the army embarked for Baton Rouge; the 162d from Carrollton, on the steamer "Time and Tide," a demonstration against Port Hudson being contemplated, to favor the passage of the batteries by Farragut's fleet. A few days  before, Gen.Andrews had been appointed Chief of Staff to Gen. Banks, and Col. Ingraham, 38th Mass., was put in command of the Brigade.

March 14th, the Army left Baton Rouge, moving toward Port Hudson in two columns; one taking the Port Hudson turnpike and the other  the Clinton road, in order to get in the rear of and between Clinton and Port Hudson. The 162d and one company of Cavalry, under the command of Lt.-Col. Blanchard, were detached by Gen. Emery to make a reconnoissance upon a road in the rear of  the Clinton road. Arriving, at daylight on the 15th, at certain cross-roads, three companies where detached, to proceed some four miles and burn certain bridges, which otherwise might enable the enemy to gain our rear and enter Baton Rouge. This was accomplished, not without some skirmishing, in which, however, the companies did not lose a man, Lt.-Col. Blanchard was to proceed by a plank road as far as White Bayou, there to join a part of Grover's Division, taking care to apprise that General that he was in his rear to aid in any service that might present itself; which notice was given by  Adjutant Leonard. The 162d remained there until night, when all went into camp on the Clinton Plank Road. The next morning Lt.-Col. Blanchard was ordered to report back at the cross-roads, and await further orders, After remaining there one day and night, the 162d was ordered back to its camp.