The trip to shore recounted in this letter is discussed in the Official Correspondence. See the links for the "official" view of what happened.

Gunboat Choctaw
Mouth of Red River
Sept. 17th/ [18]63

Dear Parents,

I haven’t received a letter from you in a long time but you see I’m a little more charitable than you are. I do not blame you for not writing but take it for granted that you have and that I have not received your letters.

My time was out yesterday one year ago. I expected by this time that I would be on my way home. I have reported to our Ex Officer who reported to the Captain. He told me that I would not be discharged till our accounts come. He said the Purser expected them every day and that while I remain here I would get one fourth more pay. But I say, “hang the pay, give me my discharge”. So you may rest easy and not fret if you don’t see me for a month or two. You know what keeps me.

I came very near being made prisoner on the 15th. Mr. Ward, one of our master’s mates and the dingey’s crew were sent out over to a house on the Red River side to take a letter to a lady who wished to get a pass to go up the river. When we reached shore he took two men with their arms to a ridge where they were to stand and wait. One man and myself were left in charge of the boat with orders not to leave but keep a good lookout and be read to shove off. Mr. Ward left one of the men on the ridge and took the other with him to the house. After he had been gone a few minutes we heard loud voices behind the ridge and saw Ryan motioning and calling to Mr. Ward. Then we saw him throw down his musket and run down the ridge towards the house. This is the last we saw of them. In the meantime our movements had been observed from the boat and very soon the Gig 1st and 2d cutter were seen coming toward the shore. When they arrived at the shore they formed into a line and went in pursuit of [the] rebels but it was of no use, they were too late. From the information we received from the people around here it is supposed there we[re] about a hundred guerrillas in the woods close by lying in wait for us as boats had been observed going to and from the Choctaw. I expected every minute to see a body of guerrillas come over the ridge and capture us but I suppose they didn’t want to expose themselves to the guns of our boat. Another time I have to be [second sheet of the letter not available]

Footnotes

The capture of Master's Mate Ward et.al is alluded to is some official correspondence printed in: United States. Naval War Records Office & United States. Office of Naval Records and Library. Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. / Series I - Volume 25: Naval Forces on Western Waters (May 18, 1863 - February 29, 1864). Washington: GPO. 1912

P.414-415

U. S. S. CHOCTAW,
Off Mouth of Red River,
September 16, 1863.


SIR:

I regret to report that Acting Master’s Mate William S. Ward, William Gill, ordinary seaman, and Andrew Ryan, landsman, were captured yesterday by some rebel troops on the right bank of the Mississippi, near the mouth of Red River. Mr. Ward went on shore by my order to carry a letter to a house I have constantly sent to. The rebel troops have never been near the house before, and I have always considered there was not the slightest danger in landing there.I had landed on that side the day before and no troops were near, and two hours before.

Mr. Ward was captured Acting Master’s Mate Townsend Hopkins had landed and brought off two refugees without being molested. Mr. Ward was armed, as were also his boat’s (the dingey) crew. He left 2 men in the boat and took 2 up with him.

Mr. Ward had nearly reached the house, which is just behind the levee, when he was seen to run toward the boat, but was immediately halted by the rebels. Finding I could not bring a gun to bear, and the water being too shoal on that side for the tug, I landed with 4 officers and 30 men. The rebels were in the woods, but retreated as soon as we landed. We followed about a mile and fired several times at them, but the distance was so great and they moved so rapidly, some of them being mounted, that we could do them no damage.

Hearing that some rebel troops were at Simmesport, I left here this morning at daylight in the Champion and endeavored to get there, but the water was so shoal, with hard bottom, I was forced to turn back when about halfway to the head of the island. Hearing that a number of rebel troops had been in the woods, I fired a number of shell and shrapnel through them. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANK M. RAMSAY
Lieutenant-Commander, U.S. Navy

 

On this report Admiral Porter wrote: "Should be censured for exposing his men without an object."

On page 505 Secretary of the Navy Wells writes disapprovingly of the incident as well.