The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-09
Mr.. VIM. YOung's Despatch.
ALEXANDRIA, La, April %, 1884.

t. obtain brief particulars Of the diminishing between the
fenels and the forces in Con. Banks command during
their withdrawal from Grand Ecore to this place, and
shall immediately go down the COL Cowles (hosptal
boa which takes portion Of the sick and who
have before accumulated here .rom Grand Ecore In the
hope that this despatch may be forwarded from New
Orleans on the steamer leaving there next Saturday
THE WITHDRAWAL.
The withdrawal commenced Thursday, tho 2lst
inst under tho direction OF General Franklin he having
been entrusted with the command that purpose by
General Banks General Emorys division, Of the Nine.
teenth in the ADVANCE with part Of Growers
division, OF the same corps, and General Camerons
division, Of the Thirteenth corps, closely following.
General A. j. Smiths Six eenth corps covered the rear
Misunderstanding FRONT
The enemy pressed somewhat vigorously, and
were disposed ~ be unduly familiar. They vexatiously
endenvored several times dash the fighting General
Smiths TANKS and upon his but he always fought
them OFT and taught them that his Western boys would
submit to serious annoyance in their march down.
wards The forces thus pressing estimated ar
from eight TO twelve thousand.
Our disturbed until it's approach 70 the
lower crossing Cane river, forty miles from Grand
Ecore and thirty-Gve miles from Alexandria.
POSITIONS RIVER.
We were sheltered by heavy timber, from which We
could emerge pleasure into open fields, presenting
front mile in length and hair mile breadth.
opposite bank Of tho river the had his batteries
position high bu overoo king The plain its front
and mmandpg s entire range His infantry supports
and picets IA ful but the force OF the
enemy was concealed by the forests which skirt tho
river.
IN the morning General Emory directed battery try
tesnmper Of the caemy and pleasant interchange Of
compliments psssei oetweou the batteries either side
OF the river Tor sooe time Alo'dng TO the artierymen
that which they appear 10 delight In for they
ocuud fellows and love To listen TO tho music Of tho
whrring SHE'LL ieiat Of laying pontoon bridge
FOR the purpose vi crossing 1t the ford diverted
the attention OF the enemy from their extreme left.
F1ASKING THE HNENy-sKIRMrsn GALLANT CHARGE
General Emory was confident that their left could DO
detachmenis OF the Thiriesnth corps General rge, with
the Ono Hundred and Twenty eighth New York, Thr-
teenth Connecticut Thirty eighth Massachusetts and
First louisiana from growers division o. the Nineteenth
corps, Colonel Fesscuden, with Colonel Benedicts old
ss no1 O. ns
dred and Sxtyhuh aud ore Hundred and ssventy third
New York TO make long de'onr through the woods.
underbrush and thick tangled wildwood, wadng ACROSS
bayou and fordng the shallow waters OF Cane river.
The Thirty eighth Massachusetts ard First Louisiana,
sent forward as administers, discovered tho enemy on
The crest Of h with hye regiments 10 line; ,nsy ss
Brge ordered Col Fessendens brigade 70 take the hill
The New York and Maine soldiers instantly Ievelled
inspired them as they charged across the plain TO
other twelve rail fence, behind which the enemy were
sheltered. The fire was CALLING II tod upon our ranks;
but the hestated net, for they connuont Of
victory The shelter OF enemy obstruction TO
and forced the Toe 10 fall back.
RETIRE.
Our fanking column pushed forward speedily and drove
the enemy from his position until We occupied the bun
which covered the ford.
The enemy retired with his whole force, and that night
advance held the position front OF our main column
which the rebels occupied in the morning The forces
opposing numbered eight thousand Their losses
are not known, but cannot fall short OF our own.
COLONEL FEs sESpES MOZAMBIQUE LOSSES
Our losses considerable colonel Francis eescn-
den OF the Thirteh Maine, commanding Colonel Bene-
diets brigade wounded in the leg below the knee,
and the bone was fractured slightly.
Colonel EesrendeuH brigade Is praised Tor IH galanb
conduct ard compmented for It's bravery In charging
up hin against enemy his superior sheltered
position The brigade line handsomely tho
other side OF the hill after had forced tho enemy to re-
tire but soon was IN motion again and charged mp an
Lieutenant G. Crow and Lieutenant Leavey, Of tho
1hirtieh Maine, were killed.
Captain Green and Captain lee, OF the One Hundred
and Seventy third New York were wounded
The Thireth Maine lost in killed and wounded seventy
The One Hundred and sxty.Gf.h New York lost in
killed and wounded six.
The one Hundred and sx,y-second New York lost in
killed and wounded thrtyo
The Quo Hundred and Seventy.thrd New York lost 10
killed and wounded thrtysix.
oUR rgoors AGAIN IN NORTHUMBERLAND AT ALEXANDRIA.
On sunday morning the enemy bad disappeared, and
troops again IN motion The remaining column
crossed Cane river on pontoon bridge, and no further
demonstrations were made IN our front.
General smiths sixteenth corps covering the rear,
still further annoyed but hc punished the enemy
severely for his temory no essayed an attack
The army now at Alexandria, In good health ana ex-
celIent spirits.
Louisville and Chlicothe. ana the turtles Usage O1ark
and Neosho require greater depth OF water IMAM tnere
IL before they float down over the Alexandra
falls Tie river may not rise before october Mo-
vember, possibly mol until January, though tne usck
water which passes from the Mississippi may increase
the depth OF the Red river az far up the falls Gen.
Banks continues hold Alexandria the gunooab are sae
The falls only mile above tho town. and Ked rive.
become exhausted supplies can DO sent forward
for the troops. =
transports have been losthe In crosse burnt on Red
river and tho Hastings General Aby smiths nagship),
""''" -" rms ENEMY WAKE pREAsrwoRxs or oorroS
sabine Cross Roads on tho right o. their me ana
distance from on, ho or eoton as pro-
lection against any flank movement that might % AT
tempted THIS fact Is asccriaincd from prisoners VINO
nave ''s' IRIS COUNTRY AROUND ALEXANDRIA
is cepabe OF defence, and s sufficiently open 70 picket
hayond the next tree but the other side uf Pleasant
Hill 10 use Western soldiers EXPRESSION us Just INC
| dampdcst country Tor campaigning that whte man
Western colonel captured last year at the timo
an one OF tho correspondents, aud who with
the rebels several months, says tney always declared
they could get into that country where -
has just boon campaigning they would capture or drive
'''~ now rns ENEMY COT IN orr rRovr.
Tho rebels might have marched down through Nachl,
toches which gave up before abandoning Grand
Ecore, they might have struck the Alexandria aud
sabnc Town Tcxss) stage road on which Colonel ROBIN.
with his cavalry brigade TO within tweny-cghb
miles OF Nachtoches and then moved by the samo road 10
Cane This the route they probably did take Their
purpose was probably with their forces Ia our front and
rear 10 annihate the Army pf the Gulf sBut they dt
moi succeed II was successful withdrawal-rnoro 30
than was anticipatei-to march an army seventy i've
| miles through that country with loss so slight.
SON after the army had reached Grand Ecoro after tho
battles at front several Of the best officers OF the
service predc,ed that would be extremely difficult and
almost impossible TO withdraw In safety by any other
| route than across the country 10 Natcbez.
l SyNFRAi HxoRy,
who commanded tho immediate advance and directed tho
crossing at rivcr proved himself an able solder,
and succeeded admirably forcing the enemy 10 abandon
his strong position.
rur rsrxy
and interfere WIN mo
navigation OF the Red and Mississippi rvors, or no may
l day krsp the Icche. Tms