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

The Springfield Repudi,can publlsh', :. i.r-
vatc letter from an officer, written az Grand
Ecore, La, shortly afte. General Banks bat
tIea,.. The writer says:
Gsn. Banks was advancing With the con-
Gdcnce that he had only to advance, asd 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 all the train and artillery which
was irregularly distributed i'll the train. The
attack was 80 sudden that all were panic
stricken, the horses were cut from the wac
ons, and artillery aud infantry precipitately
fed to the rezr. Then tie cavalry became
engaged, but only for moment, when they
abandoned their,horses and fed. Then the
Thirteenth Army Corps WAS ordered up,
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 corpa would have been taken pris-
oners, one brigade at time. / have talked
with many Of the 18th Celps who were ta-
ken prisoners, and escaped while the rebels
were plunderlng the train. The 18th is now
almost without arms. 1t was commanded
by Gen Ransom and four brigade cominsn.
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. Rayren, is now III
command of the corps. Gen. Banks is uni
yersally condemned by officers and men. The
few rebel prisoners We have are very jubilant,
and say ID Well, Gen. Banks has been the
best commissary We have ever had in this de-
par3mcnt, since he has been IN command.
We could not get anything from Butler"
a correspondent of the Philadelphia Press,
writing from Grand Ecore, .ou the 10th ult.,
furnishes that paper the following lively de-
scription of the route ndpanic of the Federals
before the veterans of Kirby Smith:
"Thcn came one Of those ,unaccountahle
events no genius or courage can control. /
End it impossible to describe scene 80 sud
den and bewidering, although was present,
partly All actor and partly n spectator, and
ssy plainly everything that took place. The
battle was progressing vigorously. The mus
kerry firing was loud and continuous, aDd
having recovered from tue danger experience
cd BIZ Ransom's DiviSion,'we felt secure of
our position. Twas slowly riding along the
edge of wood conversng about the events
and prospects of the day, We had drawn
into the edge of the wood to allow an amu,u-
uition wagon to pass, and although many
werc observed goiRg to the rear; some IN foot
and some on horseback, We regarded it rs on
occurrence familiar to every battle, aud it oc-
casioned nothing but a passing remark.
noticed that most of those thus wildly
riding to the rear were negroes, hangers on
and serving men,; for now that we have gone
SO deeply into this slaveholding country, eve
ry non-commissoned officer has a servant,
and every servant o mule. These people
were the irst to show any panic, but their
sca,npering along the road only gave amuse
,nent to the soldier, wao pelted them. wish
stones, and whipped their flying animals with
Sticks to Increase their speed. Suddenl;
/! there was rush, O shout, the crashing Of
trees, the breaking down Of rails, the rush