, 1864-04-26
BANKS ARMY BEFORE
IT'S DEFEAT.
TEE BATTLE Of CANE E.YER.
\ Victory for the Union Forces
9he R6bels Driven: tf5in rhs
: - Field-fhe Enemy Loses i.
+: .. 700 in Killed Woubded - !.
and Prisoners.

'Sau 14u Auouy Lose3 !:
-. 700 in Killed Woubded
and Prisoners.
..t' CANE RIVER, March as 1864.
Cane River, thirty-dve miles above Alexap
drla, is one Of the more considerable stream!
tnai HOW into Or ont Of Red River according
| 70 tile relative height Of the water In the tyi
rivers.
The fact that.wc would come upon the en-
emy NJ this place was suspected when w
started from Alexandra, and became posi-
t lively known last night, when 1t was learned
TINT force Of L, 600 rebels. stood ready to
contest our advance, and 'were SO adyanta.
gcorsly disposed that we would find much
difficulty In dislolging them. =.
We broke camp Al an early hour this morn.
ing, and BY sunrise the whole army WAS in
motion. With Mowers division aud Dudiey'a
cavalry In the advance. The roads were very
| heavy and at times almost: impassable. The
| men often had to wade through water waist
deep, and frequently delay Of hall IN hour
would be incurred before the march could be
continued. We had not been Ell route more
| than IN hour, when half dozen shots, so fir
ahead as to be scarcely distinguishable, told
that We were IN the enemy's vicinity. The
Bile speed, but when 1t arrived near to where
1t seemed the Advance WIS about to become
engaged, it was found that the rebel outposts
had been withdrawn to the far side Of the
river or bayou, and formed into a strong sklr-
mishfng line In the forest.
The advance Of Gen. Mowers division were
derloyed as skirmishers, and moved forward
through mud and water to test the enemy's
strength and position, and became engaged in
afew minutes. The firing from the Begin
ming was very rapid-so rapid indeed that
Gen. Mower saw tit to send Heavy re-inforcc-
nnOfE linz
rival of whom the firing was, Of course, re-
doubled This was the situation ofatIairs for
about thirty minutes, when 1t became eyl-
dent TINT the rebels were giving way Pris-
oners, singly and In squads, emerged from
the woods in which the engagement was 60.
ing on, and were conducted to the rear, while
at the same time the firing Of small arms from
our now advancing line Increased or dimin-
1shed at different points, rs We became en-
gaged with rudlicd squads Of rebels, or forced
them to retreat out Of range. But it was no
feeble resistance with which our men met.
The enemy gave ground stubbornlY, and
fired sometimes in solid volleYs, and anon IN
itregalar discharges, au the time covering
themselves with the Standing timber, fallen
trees, and whatever else might serve for the
purpose. The great end to be obtained now
WIGS to drive them entirely out Of the woods
aud into the open. space beyond, where our
men would have the ndyantage Of the timber
for covering, and the rebels be Obliged to
fall back to the main line, aud thus expose
their points of defense.
:: As our troops camc near the further edge
Of the woods, the enemy was discovered
front. and apparently concentrating, either
to make an onset upon our lines or to rcpel
au assault upon their own. Both wings were
partially screened By woods and uneven
ground, while the center seemed to be pro-
tected from assault ir some measure BIZ shal-
low rayines md sloughs.
The rebel sRirmi6hcrs who had been stead
lily REINFORCED from the commencement Of
the Light, and whose line bud, therefore, be-
come almost as strong rs q connected line of
battle, now Withdrew with some prccipi-
fancy across the field In front, while our men
pushed boldly after them until within good
range OF the main line, upon Which they ut
orce opened IN accurate fire. This soccasion-
Cd some confusion among the rebels, and d
slight change of the position of their center,
which threw them more under cover.
The fight had now 1asted for two hours,
during which we had continued to gain
ground steadily, and bad learned
Gen. Smith to make proper dispositions fora
general attack. For this purpose, General
Mowers division was ordered to advance
and attack the enemy In front, while Dud-
1e3's brigade Of Lees cavalry division should
move around and attack his Hank on the Lett.
Of Mowers division swere moved forward |
and posted SO as to cover the movements of |
the mnin line Owing to the uneven ua- |
ture Of the ground, which WIS now slippery |
from The recent rains and In places almost !
inpaesablc, the advance was necessarily Glow |
until our men came within plain sight OF the t
enemy waiting to receive them. Here they |
pressed on with loud cheers, regardless alike |
Of distinctions and Of the enemy's bullets.
simultaneously with this, onr two batteries
we're wheeled into position, and opened d |
telling fire Of shell and grape shot It be-
were waycring, and In ten minutes their en-
tire force was In full retreat which became !
momentarily more precipitate.
This was more tllan vas bargafned for as
1t seemed certe lin TINT they would get away
before Dudlcy's cavalry could reach their
flank. It was next to impossible to nakean
effective pursuit with infantry, and the fur
thcr rout and decentralization of the flying
enemy depended on the force under that
officer.
He was not, however, altogether too late,
for he cane within sight Of the rctreatiug col
tation in rear OF the battle field Tie great
er part Of the rebel army had already Passed
and there was no time to spare. Throwing
bis men IN line he ordered them to charge,
md they moved forward, first at trot, then
at gallop and tina11y at full speed. Tie un-
In quarter whence they least dreamed Of
completely dlsconcsrted the
rebels, as well 1t might.
At first they halted and made some move
nents toward forming line Of battle, but
!hese movements turned into Wild confusion
as the cavalry came forward with accelerated
speed. md when In few minutes the very
ground begun to tremble under the tread Of
more than Thousand horses, and the air to |
rcso1nd with tic comminglcd sounds of |
bugle blasts, the shouts Of our men and the
tnglfng.ot their eabres,. they broke and fled
IN all directions like leaves before the wind
some following up the main body, some
going back toward our army. while others
:rouched behind etumps OF whatever else
would save them from the living avalanche
That with re6istless force was coming, doWn
upon them.
This charge struck the rebel column Justin
advance Of tue rear, cutting 1t in two, leaving
about 400 prisoners In our hands, and scat
tertnT thrice MS many more. SO that It will DO
difficult to Get them together again, even Ii
they should MI not be captured by our cav.
alry, who Gre now securing the woods in cv-
cry direction, md picking them up by squads.
This ended the days fighting, the bad roads,
the peculiarly rough nature OF the country,
md the waning day, making it necessary to
defer general pursuit. Even now, hoWev.
sr, our cavalry Is on the track Of the enemy,
md the entire army is under orders to march
1t moments warning.
Our loss In killed and wounded Is not ex-
seeding SO. OF the enemy's no correct esti- T.
nate can be made. We already have over 400
and others are being brought In all
he time. His loss In killed, wounded and
will not fall short of 100, and is
lot unlikely much greater.