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The history of 162nd New York Volunteer Infantry

On the 24th Gen. Banks ordered the 162d, under command of Lt. Col. Blanchard, to proceed to Barre's Landing on Bayou Courtableau, about 8 miles from Opelousas, and occupy the place.  A section of Artillery and a company of Cavalry accompanied, for the purpose of making captures in the adjacent district.  On information furnished by colored spies, Lieut. Neville and a detachment was sent some five miles down the Bayou, where they seized a small steamer called the Ellen, used for navigating the Bayou and transporting stock and produce for the Rebels.  The capture was reported to Gen. Banks, who sent an officer to survey the vessel, and being found staunch and in good order, she was sent to Brashear city, where she was put to service under the name of Col. Chandler.  By aid of the Cavalry, the country was swept through a circuit of eight or nine miles.  During the five days the 162d remained at the Landing, it captured more than 3,000 bales of cotton, a large quantity of sugar, and 110 horses and mules.  The cotton and sugar were turned over to Gen. Grover on his arrival, and the horses and mules, by order, sent to Gen. Banks. On the 30th the 162d was relieved by Gen. Grover's division, and returned to Opelousas.(Original Report from Lt.Col Blanchard )

May 5th, the Army resumed its march for Alexandria, which was reached on the evening of the 11th, and found to be in the possession of our Naval Forces.  On the 11th, Col. Benedict rejoined the 162d, to the great joy of every man in it.  As he came on shore, and was receiving the congratulations of his friends on his return to health and the service, a passing wagon startled the horse of one of the officers, which knocked him down and so injured his leg, that he was obliged to return to the boat and remain on it while he made a trip to Brashear city and back.

The march to Alexandria was supposed to be a ruse on the part of Gen. Banks, to induce the Rebels to think Shreveport was his objective point.  On the 17th, however, the Army retraced its steps to Cheneyville, and thence made a forced march to Semmesport, on the Atchafalaya, about ten miles from the Red River.  Here Col. Benedict overtook the Army and assumed command of the remnant of his Brigade.  The troops moved up to the source of the Atchafalaya, and to the junction of the Red and Mississippi Rivers, thence down the Mississippi to Morganzia, where the Army crossed by steam to Bayou Sara, 10 miles above Port Hudson.

On the 23d, orders were received through Gen. Andrews, Chief-of-Staff, directing the 162d to proceed to St. Francisville, two miles inland, to join Gen. Paine, and thence southwardly to a point in the rear of Port Hudson, where it was to await the coming of Mack's Battery; the further purpose being to picket a certain road, to prevent the escape of the enemy.  At 1 A. M., the point indicated was reached, and the 162d bivouacked in a church-yard; it raining heavily and the mud knee deep.  The battery came up about daylight, and the regiment, under command of Lt.-Col. Blanchard, proceeded to join the 2nd Division, to which it was temporarily attached, arriving in the midst of a severe action in which it participated, and suffered some loss.

The enemy having been driven from his outer line of works, and our own forces being strengthened by the arrival of Weitzel's division, on the 26th, a general assault upon the enemy's works was ordered on the 27th.  On this occasion the 162d was in Gen. Grover's line, and assaulted on the right of the enemy's works, crossing Sandy creek and driving the enemy through the woods into their fortifications.  The 162d remained three days unrelieved, within a hundred yards of the enemy's works, suffering loss in killed and wounded.  The fight on this line begun at 10 A. M., lasting until 4 P. M., and was severely contested throughout.  Gen. Banks greatly commended the behavior of the troops, and expressed his belief that the post would have been captured but for their limited knowledge of the ground, and the character of the works which were hidden from observation until the moment of approach.  On the 30th, the 162d was relieved, marched some miles to the rear, and encamped for the night.

June 1st, the 162d moved to the extreme left of the lines, and with the 175th N. Y., reported to Gen. Wm. Dwight, who assigned them to the 1st Brig., 2nd Div., and at once sent them to position in front, where they remained some days intrenching, skirmishing and supporting batteries.  June 13th, the 162d demonstrated heavily before the enemy, and lost some men.  It returned to bivouac, and was transferred to 2d Brig., 2d Div. (Gen. Dwight's), preparatory to the general assault along the entire line of investment, which it has been decided should take place the next day.

This evening Col. Benedict arrived in camp, having been relieved of his command at Hermitage, or Fausse Point, directly opposite, Port Hudson, where he had been stationed since the 23d of May, with a regiment of Infantry (110th N. Y.), two companies of Cavalry and a section of the 6th Mass. Artillery, in order to prevent the occupation of that point by the Rebels, egress from the fortifications of Port Hudson, or the receipt of communications or supplies by the garrison within them; and also to keep the county in his rear free from guerrillas or small hostile parties, and obtain information for use at headquarters. (Original Report from Col Benedict)

Immediately upon his arrival, Col. Benedict was put in command of 2d Brig., 2d Div., which consisted of the 162d N. Y., under Lt.-Col. Blanchard, the 175th N. Y., Col Bryan, the 28th Maine and 48th Mass.  At 12, midnight, orders were issued for an assault at daybreak.  At 1 A. M., Col. Benedict moved the Brigade still farther to the left, opposite the lower sally-port of the enemy.  On information received from a deserter, that there was a straight and plain road to the sally-port and that the works were quite practicable at that point, the left, under Gen. Dwight, was ordered to assault there.  By some miscarriage, orders failed to reach the 28th Maine, and the Brigade went into action with three regiments, numbering only 582 men.