Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-05-12
+, GRAND Ecozr sLep1uAsx.o
-. Anril 18th 1884

+ H. u iaaq April 18th 1854. s.ass5 \
Mr.. Stspar< Sv;--Sinoe We lei
; Natchitoches He have been rapid
Ikpassihg through ssonfs Of the mos
lively as well as the strangest scene
Owe 1sse teSetI witaesseii We ar
sometimes almost inclined 10 doub
I their reality but glance at our shat
tered ranks irrisistably forces th'
! conviction upon us, that it is not /
Z dream, but hard battle has beet
fought and we have been defeated
4 aud sustained q heavy loss. At
j o clock on the morning of the 9Th
I'VE started from Pleasant Hill on til,
Mansfield road, the Cavalry having
!, moved out the evening before. the
18th corps in front About 9 o clocl
s we were ordered forward on double
quick to support the Cavalry, which
had been skirmishing heavily al
morning, the enemy slowly retiring
At 10, 80, to the surprise of all, we
were ordered into camp while the
firing still continued very heavy
About 1.30 the 4th Division was or
dered forward. and at 245 the 3d
followed; the skirmish by this time
tsd increased to warm engagement.
! We moved at quick time, but as the
train had been run to the front while
we were in camp. the road was so
completely blocked up that we could
scarcely pass, and by the time we
were to the front o. the train, and
even before. the 4th Division was
badly cut up, their ammunition had
gave out, and when we advanced
into line nearly the whole Division
was in full retreat. This at once
convinced US that as the 4th was
at least three times the strength OF
the Sd, it was worse than madness
for us, numbering only l,100 to at
tempt to turn the tide. But with a
loud yell which could be distinctly
heard above the roar of battle and
the exultant shouts Of the rapidly
advancing line of rebels. we dashed
forward through thick wood, when
soon the falling branches of trees,
the bursting shells,- and the whistling
Of grape. canister and rife balls
plainly told US we were not on very
safe ground. Groups of the 4th Di-
vision who had probably C llected
few rounds from among the dead
and wounded, could still be seen
bravely trying to maintain their
ground against the many thousands
who were pressing them from all
sides. A squad of the 77th Ills.
rallied around their colors and Col
onel after their ammunition ga cut,
and great many of them were shot,
after they had surrendered At this
moment the Sd charged driving them
about $50 yards across corn field.
But here we were met by their sup
port, and seeing we could drive them
no farther, layed down; their fire
passing over us. Their lines all this
time, notwithstanding the heavy fire
of our artillery and the close and
deadly range of our little line of In
fantry remained as steady as a rock.
When they began to move their
flanking columns they faced right
an3 left moving off with arms at
right-shoulder shift as cool as if they
were only on a battalion drill. So
close we're the two lines that we
could see them falling by files and
groups, so close and murderous was
our range.
At 5.55 the cry run along our line
for more ammunition, and with this
their whole line charged MS. Then
commenced a scene that would beg
gar description. The road was full
of teams. which hal, in the eager
haste of their drivers to escape, be-
came entangled in their gearing, and
for two or three hundred yards on
either side the woods were full of
flying cavalry, teams which had been
cut loose from their pieces, and the
infantry rushing pell NELL to the rear
followed closely by the victorious
enemy, presented a scene of the
widest confusion. rF
We were pursued Thus about two
and q half miles when we met the
18th corps, which lad been ordered
into camp at Summer Hill. and as
dark was closing in, the enemy was
checked. Had the day been one
hour longer the whole army would
in all probability have been taken.
Col. Raynor collected around him a
few of the 18th corps and fell back
to Pleasant Hill, where we met Gen.
Smith with part of his force. The
10Th corps fell back during the night
and about ii o'clock A. NJ. on the
9th the retreat was again commenced
Gen. Smith formed in rear OF the
10Th corps to cover it. In the eve
ming he was attacked, but repnlsed
the enemy with great slaughter
Our retrea: was continued to this
place, where we have fortified and
are awaiting an attack. Our loss is
estimated at 1850. The enemy's is
much greater. Their force is estl-
mated at about 40 or $4,000. All
throw the blame on Gen. Banks,
which he undoubtedly deserves -
His train was run mp within full view
of the enemies lines, thus giving us
no room to fall back, and when he
engaged them, fought their whole
forca with O Rrioada ar nj v;aion atra