Ponchartrain was already up river at Little Rock. Maurepas had always been short of crewmen which was one of the reasons that they were unable to unload or use her guns ashore in a battery. I have another source that states that only 35 of the CSA troops had small arms. The Confederates also lost their pile drivers being used to set up a "raft" type obstruction across the river. St. Charles was a lost cause without sufficient infantry to protect the batteries ashore.

best,

George W