As the Civil War descended into the Red River valley in 1863, the presence of U.S. soldiers in nearby Alexandria began to disrupt plantation life, and watchmen were posted each night. On June 20, 1863, Oakland overseer J. T. McNeely wrote, "Edmo ran off today at 12 Oc." If Edmo was short for Edmond, he either returned on his own or was caught and forced to return, since records show that twenty-year-old Edmond again sought freedom in the spring of 1864. During the Red River Campaign in March and April of 1864, a significant number of enslaved persons escaped the plantation, possibly emboldened by the sight of other Blacks following the U.S. Army. Although some returned, there is no later documentation for many of these freedom seekers. U.S. forces reached the plantation by March 22, 1864. Documents show about a quarter of the enslaved population—11 men, 10 women, and 15 children—left with the U.S. Army, although Phanor Prudhomme gave the count as 12 men, 8 women, and 12 children. On April 8, Phanor wrote, "putting the house in order all day [the Main House had been pillaged by soldiers]... Charles has abandoned the house, at least I haven't seen him since this morning." Charles appeared to be counted as one of the freedom seekers.