Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-27
Ranks in Fix

TIE fog beglus % clear away IRON ArOuhu tho h-sS
lana campaign and If We cannot yet make out its de
rAls with accuracy, at least discern its main
features. Il s, We think, certain that the Federal
fSrcss have suffered series OF disastrous deleats-to
uOh an extent, indeed not only to compel them 10
abandon their nsditaed conquest Of louisiana Arkan-
sas and Te1al but 10 imper very seriously the army
With which this ambitious enterprise uudeTtAkeu
The Yankee papers admit reverse on the sa instant
which they say took place at Slbine Cross Roads IN
De Soto Parish. Banks then his mach 10
Shreveport expecting capture aud occupy that p &C
without difficulty. Immediately receiving this cheek
be eonne1csd 20 retreat pursued vigorously by lie
Confederate forces. The enemy claim that the oh
another action took place. at Pleasant H, and 'las
they we're Victorious driving men from the field
with great loss and capturing several hundred prison
srs, besides artery small arms aud standards. Bat
this victory does not seem have materially imFrOv'
their condition their prospects for a nmation
Of the main objects Of the expedition. Instead of
sumiDg their march toward Shreveport they continued
their retreat, which now very much resembles fight
50 rapid was this retrog'ads movement TIA. on the
18th, three days after their repO ted victory at Peasr
Hill, We find them at NatehitOches fOrty-6ve miles
the rear. All accounts agree ths. Banks headquarters
we're At NaieAitOohes. Irs plain, therefore, that
they gained any advantage as all on the 9ih, it
have been only an affair with our advance, having
other effect than to check the vigOr Of OurPursuit
Wsnow hear tha', on the l4.h and l5;b, Tayl 2
again attacked the enemy Grand EeOre, little place
on Red River, near Na.ehi.oeh s. beating them hand
sOmsly aud taking several thousand prisoners. The
Apparen, discrepancy in the telegram, in one place
stating Banks to be at Fort De Rasssy calling for
aforesmsnis aud In another a; NAtohisoches with j.
army badly democrat zsd, may be explained oy ASSUME
that Banks in psrsoa went dOSh to For, De Ru-sey,
Having his forces az NAtchitocaes. FIom all
learn Kirby Smith must have a handsome force a, las
Command qaits Sufficient should think, to ia sh
I'D the adventurous Banks and bis horde Of Yankee
thieves. MAgrudeI, according 10 our information lad
arrived from TexSS with 800 well armed men, and
have reason to believe that portion least of Pscgs
army had reached Shreveport. The cavalry aaIi; Of
the s,h vas fought By Marmldukes brigade watch b.
longs 10 Preas command. We believs that BA1k'a
army ia in very preearieus situation aud that n, -I
be lueky,f be &c; safely back New Orleans with
miserable remnant Of the bcasiiul and hopeful ba'r
with which be started. He has been fOr,u, are
commander. His capture Of Port Hudson, and If
BrOEnsvs eonstituts the only sprgs of kueel in his
hitherto beea lucky enough TO make his escape with
enough OF bis 10 enable him to oongra,ulae hun
sell and his adniring eoun,rymsn, on a maatery
trelt-saving the army, the Yankees cal it.
is 10 be hoped that even this slender capital sln
desert hin nov. But shall be sats6sd to hear hat
he driven 10 disgsae, back TO New Orleans aud that
the Yankee plans for conquest vest Of the Mississippi
have come to DOuybt There Is, nevertheless, seine
h9ps that the grand AOtillA, which was taken up Rid
River entrapped by the treaoherOu4 stream and h8t
t viii be able to effect it's eeelps Taefe is no doubt
that the river Was falling rapidly o. the 18th 1t had
Alsa sx fee. within the previous ten days, and there
Is no probability Il viii rise again his The
heavy gunbOAts, believe, did not go beyond E.,rt
De RuSsey; bus the smaller and the tratsPt ris
went above The Falls How they 60 get down again
it remains for Yankee irgsnU.sy 10 devise. B,uss
might retreat through Ne-,a Louisiana towards Nseb
os by Opslousas 20 New Orleans uoless his eommuDisa
tiOas 10 Gu. cff but the vessels have no choice Of
rOutes II they really caught above the Fail,
e have every reason bslieve thy must either BE-
abandoned or destroyed to prevent them from ia rg
into the hands Of the Confederates. AltOgo,har
think Ws may take for granted that the great guaboat
expedition Is in A"6I."