The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-05-14
The Reverse in Louisiana.

CAIRO. April 2I.-The naval dispatch boat Gen.
Lyon, from Red River, has arrived. and we have the
following in regard to affairs in Banks Department:
The fight of the sth was at Sabine Cross roads. The
rebels are said 10 have numbered 80, 200, from Texas,
Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. On the morning
of the Sth Gen. Banks sent forward a cavalry force,
with a supply train of 100 wagons, TO Natchitoches.
They soon began skirmishing with the enemy. whom
they found in force at Pleasant Hill. about 45 miles
from Shreveport. The commander OF the cavalry
thought the rebel force small, and sent a message TO
Gen. Banks to that effect but asked for reinforeements.
Ransom's division was sent forward BY ~brigades,
which were successfully defeated, by placing them
selves between the rebels, who were on both sides of
the road, and closed in on one before the other could
come up. The enemy took the supply trains. and
killed and wounded a large number. They took
many prisoners and threw the remainder into confu-
sion, so that they retreated rapidly, the rebels in hot
pursuit. As they approached Gen. Smiths forces.
which were drawn up in line of battle, the latter
opened his lines and let the fleeing troops pass before
the enemy came up. He then closed his lines and
prevented further chase, driving the enemy back.
The next morning Gen. Smith attacked the enemy
under Kirby Smith, Dick Taylor, Magruder and
Holmes. defeating them badly and driving them back.
The Federals took a large number of them prisoners.
and killed and wounded more than the rebels did the
day before. The fighting was desperate. Gen. Smith
is considered to have saved the whole army.
Gen. Banks finally fell back to Grand Ecore on &C.
count of the scarcity of rations, and sent a message
to Admiral Porter who was 10 miles above, to re-
turn with the transports containing supplies for the
army. As the boats came down the enemy appeared
on the banks or the river, ana the stream 0elng mar
row, tried to get on board of them. The gunboats
Cricket, the flagship ChillicOthe, the Usage, the
NeoSho, Fort Heiman. Ga-eile and Lexington, and
the armed transport BrOUn, opened on them, killing
and wounding, during the 11th and 18th, about 500.
But few on the gunboats were killed or wounded.
The rebels have sunk the steamer .Nelc Falls City
formerly the 81. LOUIS, a New Orleans packet, direct
ly across the river. so miles below Shreveport. The
feet had reached it and made preparations to blow it
up, when the order was given to return to Grand
Ecore.
Gen. Banks whole loss is at least 1000. The
hibited a great deal of recklessness, and on the
Our loss during the first days fight was 1000 men,
% cannon and 100 wages.
The Capture of Plymouth, N. G., by the
Rebels.
New YORK, April 25th.-The Richmond Sentinel
of the ODD, says the following dispatches were re-
ceived by Gen. Bragg:
"PLYMoUTH, N. c., April 20th.-To Gen. Braxton
Bragg: | have stormed and carried this place, cap
turing one Brigadier- General. sixteen hundred men,
stores and fifteen pieces of artillery.
(Signed) r. F. HoKE, Brighten.
A telegram has been received by President Davis
from Col. Wood, the 21st, giving further particulars
of the capture of Plymouth by the forces under Gen.
Hoke, with naval cooperation. He says "About
twenty-five hundred prisoners were taken, three to
four hundred of them were negroes, thirty pieces OF
artillery, 1000 pounds meat. 1000 barrels -four
and full garrison outfit. Our loss is about three
hundred in all. Coils. Rice and Along we're killed.
Two gunboats were sunk, another disabled and
another small steamer captured"