The enemy having been encountered at Pattersonville on the 13th, the Fifty-third was engaged in supporting a battery, and skirmishing towards the fortifications, when it was under fire of musketry and shell for five hours.

On the 15th, it marched with the division in pursuit of the retreating enemy, with an occasional skirmish, and reached Opelousas on the 20th, where it remained a fortnight, employed in drill and picket duty.

It joined the brigade, and remained until 1 June, engaged in picket duty, and fortifying the position; it was then ordered to occupy rifle pits at the front, and sustained a loss of five men, killed and wounded.

On the 15th it embarked for Donaldsonville and remained in camp, engaged in drill and picket duty until 2 August when it returned to Baton Rouge, and, on the 12th, was ordered to Massachusetts by way of Cairo, Illinois.

It arrived at Cairo 19 August, and at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the 24th, where, after a public reception, it was furloughed one week, and mustered out of service 2 September, by Captain I. R. Lawrence.