The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-05-27
From the Petersburg Express.
From LOuisiana.Interestlng Ac
counts Of the Recent Battles

ms "a SAS kScCcMt E10ttAeS
A gentleman in the service Of the govern.
menf, who left Shreveport. La, on the 18th
OF April, and arrived in this city last evening.
has furnished Us with some valuable infor-
nation from the Trans. Mississippi. He cross
ed the river some sixty miles below Vioks.
burg. and found the country on both sides Of
the Mississippi, densely infested with iav.
hawkers and Yankee negroes, who put to
their test, his utmost caution and prudence
Besides dispatches from General kirby Smith.
zen. Huger, and other officers to the autho.
rites in Richmond, and a private letter from
+. T. Leavenworth, Captain of Ordnance.
commanding the Arsenal in Shreveport. he
brings copies OF the news journals of that
city, from the 18th to the 18th ultimo, which
contain more information regarding the con.
oition Of that region than we have seei, else-
~here fer months. From the papers and let
ters above mentioned, and the oral statements
OF the gentleman referred to, we are permit.
ped TO lay before our readers the following
summary OF our late battles on Red River
me hrst OF that series of battles occurred
at Mansfield, some fifty miles below Shreve.
port on the 9th of April. For several davs
previous, Gen. Taylor with q handful Of men.
had been falling back before the adyanc;nc
forces of Banks. Having his army now IS.
creased to eight thousand bT reinforcemants
ne resolved TO make stand and try the issues
q patt,e against twenty thousand of the enc
my. Inc nghtlng was fierce and obstinate.
Ous numbers were compelled to yield to valor.
ana the enemy was palsied and broken if not
svanquisned, when darkness closed the terri
ME scene. On the 9th the battle was renewed |
ana ragged with increasing fury during the
Gay, put night did not again spread its paIl /
oyer the battle field until the undauntedr I
bravery, the determined purpose, and the I
WHO enthusiasm Of our noble soldiers had
won glorious victory and routed the foe in
every part ct the field. In the hot haste of
thc enemy TO escape, every encumbrance was
cast On. al order broken up, and in q state af
complete dls'ntegration, the molly croun
mace their best possible speed towards Alex.
anarla' quickened and urged on by our pur.
SUNG cavalry; They left in our hands 4.OO0
prisoners this number having already been
brought 10 when our Informant left. and Il
was Deheyed that more than twice that nun.
Der were actually captured 1000 stand Of
arms, and 81 pieces Of artillery. besides al
large harvest OF dead and wounded on tha
held. Wesee no statement of the number
either OF our lossor of that of the enemy Int
the most profound and tender griefis express
ed by Gen. Taylor for the death Of Gen. Mon.
ton and for that Of Gen. Thomas Green. - al
subsequent battle. We also lost several Col, /
onels and other commissioned officers.
TN the 18th, occurred the battle of Rla;r,s
Landing, ia which General Green was Filled
In this conflict our forces were drawn: nm IN
both sides Of the river, and bravely and suc.
;essfully fought the enemy on shore and in
ms gunboats, destroying several Of the latter
md capturing many prisoners, after q great
slaughter. Both armies, after the first fight
st Mansfield. were largely Reinforced ours.
probably to the number Of 90 900, and that ofl
he enemy to more than sc, 000 Numbers.
,owever, awaited tho foe but little, as he was /
at every point with great loss. un:
il, when our informant left, be had fallend
Jack to position on Red River between Alex
lndria and Fort De Russey. where he syun.
Ter cover Of his eunboats-AGen. Banks him.
slf having retired across the Mississippi and
established his headquarters at Natchez. Ii
These Successes have reclaimed larce
tortion Of Louisiana from the poliutink tread l
4 the Yankees, and rendered their tenure Of |,
he remainder very difficult and precarious;
hey have greatly terminated and rsassued I
he people, and fred them with . pnrpose
more liked and determined than ever, never II
p give up the contest till the landais redeem
'dsand their independence firmly established.
n wsrd, the country 10 represented IL 10
pod heart and well furnished with supplies,
10Th Tor Subsistence and fofawar. I,
=, -. :, 49,
The Pennsylvania troops, whose terms =.
,ife y May, have nesiaed the governments
aas they vii not obey the orders recently is-
'usd conss.lleiDg them ID the seruics assii: .
he 1st II sthlT II