Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-04-29
FRoM GRANn EcoRE. LorIsIANA.


the n o. Era is an account ot the fiual victory
of the Union forces. After some terrific fight
ing at o'clock Saturday morning, our forces
were at pleasant Hill, aud the rebels We're ad-
vancing cavalry III front, endeavorng to discov-
er our position. Col. o. p Gooding with his
brigade of Lees cavalry corps was sent out on
the Shreveport road 70 meet the enemy aud
draw him on. He had gone about mile, when
he came upon the rebel advance, skirmishing
Immediately ensued, and according to the plan
he slowly fell back. The fight was very sharp
between these cavalry bodies, and Col Goodlng
lost nearly 30 men, killed and wounded, inlet
ing however as much damage as he received
The 18th corps was a reserve in the rear under
General Cameron-General Ransom having
been wounded the day before. Gen Smith was
the commander IN chief The commander ol
the right brigade in Generals Smith 5 west line
was Col. Lynch the left brigade was Col. Shaw's
The second line also consisted OF two brigades
Crawfords 5 Sd Indiana battery was posted on
the right of the 69th Indiana infantry, and the
9th Indiana battery the right of the line of
battle.
The Missouri Iron Gun battery and others
whose names and numbers we could not learn,
were also in this section of the battle. The
skirmishing was kept upwith considerable Wig
or until about o'clock in the afternoon. when
the rebels had completed their arrangements tor
Skirmish line was driven in on the right by the
rebels, who in large numbers came through the
timber above mentioned. They soon reached
the open ground and moved on TO the attack IN
three lines of battle. Our batteries and infant
ry opened with terrible effect, doing great
slaughter with grape and canister, while the
enemys artillery being in the woods and IN a
bad position, did scarcely any damage. Col.
Benedict's brigade on the left was first engaged,
ell i 1, md lfcAf
The fighting was terrific. Old soldiers say
it never was surpassed for desperation Not
withstanding the terrible havoc in their ranks
the enemy pressed fercely on, slowly pushing
the men of the 18th corps back up the hill, but
not breaking their line of battle. sudden
and bold dash of the rebels on the right gave
them possession of Taylor's battery and forced
our lines still further back. Now came the
grand coup de main The 18th on arriving at
the top of the hill suddenly filed over thehill
and passed through the lines of General Smith.
We must here mention thatthe rebels were now
in but two lines of battle, the first having been
almost annihilated by General Emory, what re-
manned having been forced back into the second
line, but these two lines came on eXultant and
sure of victory The first passed over the knoll
and all needless of the long line of cannon and
crushing forces pressed on.
The second line appeared on the crest, and
describe the awful effects of this discharge
Seven thousand rifles and several batteries of
artillery, loaded to the muzzle with grape and
canister were fired simultaneously, and the
whole centre,ofthe rebel line was crushed down
frightfully mangled by this one discharge. No
time was given them TO recover their good or
der, but General Smith ordered charge, and
his men dashed rapidly forward, the boys OF
the 18th Joining in. The rebels fought boldly
I L L Il. =. L
which a large portion broke and fled, fully 1000
throwing aside their arms.
In this charge Taylor's Battery was taken, as
were also two of the guns of Minis Battery
Also the Parrott gun taken from us at Carrion
Grow last fall, and one or two others belonging
to the rebels one of which was considerably
shattered, besides seven hundred prisoners
A pursuit and desultory fight was kept up for
three miles, when our men returned TO the field
of battle Thus ended the fearful and bloody
struggle for the control of Western Louisiana.
New York, April 24.-The Herald has the
following later news from Louisiana:
Grand Ecore, April lI.-General Banks has
fallen back to Grand Ecore thirty-fve miles
from Pleasant Hill, fifty-ive miles from Mans
field, and ninety-fve miles from Shreveport,
and will advance again as soon as he is rein
forced and adequate supplies are received.
The loss ofartillery is trivial matter, as near
ly the whole fighting, owing to the nature of
the heavy woodland country must be done by
infantry.
Admiral Porters fleet will cooperate as far
as possible. The extent of its co operation de-
pends upon the depth ofthe water in Red River.
Other battles must follow and glorious victo-
ries will be won over the Trans Mississippi
rebels.
The enemy appears to have moved his whole
force near here to crush out the Union army.
According to the reports of prisoners, Kirby
Smith, Dick Taylor Green, Magruder and Price
are all in the field against Banks
The rebel loss in the battles of Sabine Cross
Roads and Pleasant Hill was three to our one.
The lack of water between Pleasant Hill and
Mansfield rendered it prudent to fall back to
Grand Ecore, where new supplies will be issued
for long and uninterrupted forward march.
Grand Ecore April IA detachment of the
Sd cavalry brigade, under command of Lieut..
Col. Kieb, of the 67th Illinois infantry, made
reconnaissance yesterday to the double bridge,
twenty miles on the road towards Pleasant Hill.
Eight miles out a small party of the enemy
l5 or 20 strong were seen, who fled precipitate-
ly. From the bridge scouting parties were sent
out who touched their pickets, but they dis
covered no indications of the enemy.
Our troops are in excellent spirits, and are an
xious for another advance. Should Red River
the certainty of holding and oc-
cupying Alexandria and Nachitoches remains,
and so far the forward movement is a success
Pleasant Hill and Mansfield, a distance
of twenty miles, there is a deficiency of water, |
without which an army cannot be subssted or
marched. 1t is quite desirable that the move
ment from one to the other of these points shall
be rapid.
The latest advices from Gen. Steel were that |
he was within either sixty miles, or one days
march of Shreveport, with $4,000 men.
Admiral Porter with two monitors and his /
flag ship went up the river from Grand Ecore |
week since, it is presumed, to operate against
the rebel seat of government in Louisiana.
About 25 miles above here, on the left bank |
of Red Red River, the rebels opened on the I
transports Clara Bell and Rob Roy, and fired |
twelve shots into them. A force of 600 mount
ed infantry, said to be part of the rebel General
Green's command came down in front of the bat |
ery, and poured volleys of musketry into the /
steamers, which were getting the worst of it, /
when small gunboat came up, shelled and ST. /
enced the battery, and compelled the rebels to
all back. General J. A. Smiths 9th corps sub
'equently arrived Deay the scene, having crossed /
he river from Grand Ecore marched up the
light bank of the river and again crossed over.
They captured two guns and II wounded pris-
'ners, who asserted positively that the rebel
5eneral Green was killed by shell from the
Rob Roy. This is another signal victory. The
ebels left l64 of their dead on the battle field,
laughtered by the terrific fire of our gunboats
md transports. Their slightly wounded were
AIKEN off. By the loss of Green the enemy have
Ost one of their most valuable officers
New York. April 25-Dispatches from New
5rleans state the destruction of cotton on the
Red River by the rebels is not over $4,000 bales
A fight between so Union soldiers and Is reb-
lis took place on the plantation of Ex- Governor
Johnson. The rebels were repulsed and 20
prisoners and $l000000 worth of smuggled
FOODS captured
THE GREAT INDIAN EXPEDITION.
Ii is probable that severe Indian war will
,e waged along the Upper Missouri the coming
ummer At the last accounts from Fort Union