Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-05-18
The River Battles

The Springfield Republican, publisL4, !. fri-
vatc letter from an officer, written at Grand
Ecore, La, shortly afte. General Banks bat
tIes,. The writer says:
Gsn. Banks was advancing with the con-
6dence that he had only to advance, AID ad-
vance. faster than the rebels retreaied. See
ing our exposed position, they brought On an
engagement near Mansfield, which resulted
in the loss of oil the train and artillery which
was irregularly distributed in the train. The
attack was 30 sudden that all were panic
stricken, the horses were cut from the was
OBS, and artillery and infantry ptecipitntely
fed to the rear. Then the cavalry, became
engaged, but only for moment, when they
abandoned theirlhorses aud fed. Then the
Thirteenth Army Corps wss ordered up, 8
brigade at time. Thus this corps. was fear
fully routed, losing some sixteen or eighteen
hundred men, and those who did escape were
forced to abandon their arms. Had it not
been for the plumber in the captured train,
this entire corps would have been taken pris.-
oners, one brigade at time. / have talked
With many of the 18th Celps who were ia
ken prisoners, and escaped while the rebels
were plunderlng tho train. The 18th is now
almost without arms. 1t was commanded
by Gen Ransom and four brigade cominnn-
dcrs Gen. Ransom was wounded by o ball
passing through his leg ahsve the knee, and
throe Of the brigade commanders We're killed.
The remaining one, Col. Raymen, is now i'll
command of the corps. Gen. Banks is uni
versally condemned by officers snd men. The
few rebel prisoners We have are very jubilant,
and say q" Well, Gen. Banks has been the
best commissary we have ever had in this de-
parlment, since he has been IN command.
We could not get anything from Butler"
| A correspondence the Philadelphia Press,
writing from Grand Ecore,7 on the 10th ult.,
furnishes that paper the following lively de-
.cription of the route and panic of the federals
before the veterans of Kirby Smith:
"Thcn came one of those ,unaccountable
events no genius or courage can control. I
End it impossible to describe scene osud-
den and bewildefing, although was present,
partly an actor and pn .ly a spectator, and
ssy plainly everything that took place. Tho
battle was progressing vigorously. The mus.
kerry firing was loud and continuous, and
having recovered from the danger experience
cd BIZ Ransom's Division, we felt secure oi
our position. Twas slowly riding 6long the
edge ofa wood conersing about the events
.and prospects of the day. We had drawn
into the edge of the wood to allow al ammu-
uition wagon to pass, and although many
were observed goiEg to the rear; some on foot
kaud some on horseback, We regarded it as OIL,
occurrence familiar to every battle, aud it oc-
casiofed nothing but passing remark.
I noticed that most of those thus wildly
riding to the rear were negroes, hangers on
and serving mep; for now that we have gone
80 deeply into this slaveholding country, eve
ry- non-commissioned officer has servant
and every servant . mule, These people
were the first to show any panic, but theft
scampering along the road only gave anuse
,ncnt to the. soldier, wao pclted them with
stones, and whipped their flying animals with
Sticks to Increase their speed. Suddenl;
there was rush, o shout, the crashing o.
trees, the breaking down Of rails, the rush