Robert A. Cameron to Frederio Speed, September 10, 1864

Capt. FREDERIO SPEED, Assistant Adjutant-General, Defenses of New Orleans :

Your communication of the 5th instant is at hand, but the pressure of business has prevented an earlier reply. The general’s impressions of the country are correct. From this point you can go through swamps belly deep to a horse, and by crossing little bayous not laid down on the map reach Lake Verret, and from that by canoes or pirogues, go anyWwherefrom Napoleonville and Paincourtville. You can cross Grand Bayou, Bayou Corn, Bayou Pierre Pass, and reach Bayou Natchez, but nothing but pirogues can pass up this side of Lake Natchez. To reach the head of Lake Natchez, or that part of Grand River, it is necessary to go around by Bayou Goula. The party of guerrillas who have been disturbing us are now camped just below the conjunction of Grand River and Little Bayou Pigeon. They belong principally to the Eighteenth Louisiana Infantry and are commanded by Captain Whitaker, and number about eighty men. I think I can capture them, and if the general commanding the defenses consents I will undertake it. My plan embraces three joint expeditions by the way of Little Bayou Pigeon, with a gun-boat and 100 picked men; one of 200 picked men by the way of Bayou Goula, and down Grand River, and the third by the way of Bay Natchez, to ambush them and cut them off from escaping below. To make this a success all of these expeditions should arrive at the point at 12 m. on some day designated. If the general agrees with me that the expedition promises success and desires me to undertake it please telegraph me at once. Iam,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,