Shreveport daily news., 1861-08-27

ters life and killed two men. The
Union men advanced stronger prar
ty and our skirmishers fell back tc
the main body Of the advance. A
much stronger detachment was now
sent up on the other side of the road
through the woods, ravines and hills,
and gained very advantageous po-
sition OH the brow of a hill above the
Dutch. The moment the latter dis
covered them they fired youey of
Minnie guns at them and IL shell
from small pound howitzer. And
then occurred the most complete and
disgraceful stampede ever heard of;
without having a man wounded, or
firing Il gun; before the shell had
stopped wlistling they had turned
tail and We're off, down the road they
Went, the balance of the guard, the
wagons of the detachment, the idlers
and spectators all joining in the wild
rush. Mcintosh (and many of their
own officers tried to stop the stam-
pede and finally he drew his men up
across the road and threatened to
fire on them if they did not halt, and
finally succeeded in forming two com,
panies, and went back.
The enemy We're unable to discover
any cause for SO rapid a retreat, and
fearful Of some trap remained in posi-
ton" too old birds to be caught by
any such chatf," one Of their officers
remarked afterwards.
The next day Churchill's mounted
regiment was sent up the road with
orders to retire slowly if they met the
enemy, and if possible to draw them
on down.
The Louisiana Regiment was pla-
ced in the woods on hill side some
fifty yards from the road, and the Ar
kansas troops, in similar position low
er down the road: while Reeds bat
terry was down near the camp at the
foot OF the gap or gorge. After
awhile down came Churchill's men
in full retreat, but the enemy didn't
follow in, but halted some three or
four miles back at "a spring, and made |
for dinner. Our men |
We're sent into camp for dinner and |
along towards ight were ordered out |
again to Il similar position but on
more advanced ground, and remained
there all night, sleeping Oh the rocky
ground as they best could, with their
arms beside them, ready to spring up
1t a moments notice ready for battle.
10 distinguish our men il, case Of a
Night attack, white band was worn
III the left arm and this was contin-
led rs the special mark Of all men in
Brigade. The Missou-
'ians wore a red badge Oh their shoul-
lcr.
The enemy did not approach our ;
ines: and early the next morning the t
roops We're marched back into camp; {
md rations for one day extra issued, I
o be cooked and packed ready for
at twelve o'clock midnight.
During the day all was quiet prep 7
ration; many writing letters, which t
night contain the writer's last fare n
veil for it was thoroughly under r
TODD that bloody and desperate c
attic was ahead and that our Regi-
lent would have to bear the hrunt of o
:, and many a brave soldier made +
is final arrangements. During the L
fternoon balloon was seen to pass a
lrectly over our camp, and many and n
arious Were the conjectures as to a
hat it might mean. All agreed Il
owever that it was some signal of |
le enemy. 4 rumor passed along s
lat Lysn had issued from SPRING f,
eld, and was about to surround us
ad attack on all sides. llt
One of our boys suggested that sit e
dn't make any difference to the II
ouisiana boys which side he attack
them on; as they Were so far from "
,n,, that all noiots Of tho co,nn,SS VIC