The Portland daily press., 1864-04-20
GEN. RANSOM SEVERELY WOUNDED.
OUR TROOPS FALLING BACK.


CHICAGO, H., April 49,
The Evening Journal publishes letters from
the Red River expedition, giving the details of
a severe Union disaster at Pleasant Hill. De
Sofa Parish, La. Our cavalry OF the Sd and
4th divisions of the 18th Army Corps, after a
hard fought battle, were put to rout by a
largely superior rebel force. Gen. Stoneman
was In command of the movement. The 10Th
Army corps finally came up and checked the
enemy. Our loss was over 1000. The reb-
els also lost heavily. Gen. Ransom, who COM
maaded the Sd and 4th divisions, was wound
ed in the earlier part of the fight. The Chi
cago Mercantile battery lost all its guns and
officers and 20 men.
The above is dated Grand Ecore on the 10th
and 18th insts
Second Dispatch. - The Journals letter
from Grand Encore of the 10th inst. saws:
Our cavalry had been driving the enemy for
two days, but on the forenoon of the Sth sent
back word Cor infantry supports. Gen. Ran
som, in command of the I'd and 4th divisions
OF the 18th Corps, was ordered to send for
ward brigade, aud he did so. At noon he
followed with the fourth division. After ad-
vancing about five miles from where the Sd
division OF his command and the 10Th Corps
were encamped, the rebels made a stand, and
our line, consisting only of 2,400 infantry,
formed in belt OF woods with an open field
IN front OF the enemy in the woods on the 9TH
er side. Gen. Stone, OF Balls Bluff fame.
chief of Gen. Banks staff was on the field
and took the direction of movements. Gen.
Ransom was in favor OF advancing only in
force, but his wish was disregarded. After a
sklrmish across the field for about an hour, the
enemy advanced on us in overwhelming num-
bers, estimated at 10000. Gen. Ransom got
all the available troops to the 'front.' and open
ed on them. The enemy lost heavily, but ad-
vanced steadily; soon all the cavalry gave
way and fell back. The panic of the cavalry
so demoraized the army that the retreat be-
came general rout. The General did all in
his power to rally the men, but finding 1t i'm
possible without reinforcements, he made
every effort TO save the artillery While en-
deavoring to get the Chicago Mercantile Bat
terry of, Gen. Ransom was wounded in the
leg, and Capt. G. L. Dckey his Adutant,was
instantly killed. Tue battery lost all its guns.
Our loss was large, probably 1000.
While the 18th Division was falling back in
disorder, the Sd Division, numbering only
1900 men. came up and was Immediately
routed. Finally, the 10Th Army corps, with
1000 men, came up and checked the enemy
and held the ground until we got off all the
trains, except that Of the cavalry. The whole
army is falling back, where it must wait to
reorganize before proceeding further towards
Shreveport.
ST.. LOUIS, April 10.
The Democrat has several dispatches from
Red River, containing nothing of special i'm
portance. Little had occurred except Skin
,nishing. Gen. Banks army LEFT Grand Eeore
on the 9th and the boats last out Of Red
River reported the feet within 100 miles of
Shreveport and expected to reach there OH
the 18th.
NEW YORK. April 10.
Late Richmond papers contain the follow
ing dispatches:
To Gen. $. Cooper:-The following report
was received at Baton Rouge on the 3D. lust,
from the Surgeon General of Gen. Banks ar
my:
We met the enemy near Shreveport. The
Union force was repulsed with great loss
How many can you accommodate in the hos
pital at Baton Rouge?"
The steamer Essex or Benton has been des-
troyed by torpedoes in Red River, and trans
port was captured by the Confederates.
Farragut is reported TO be preparing to at
tack Mobile, six monitors coming TO him.
The garrison of New Orleans aud Baton
Rouge were very much reduced for the pur-
pose OF increasing Banks force.
tSigned) ID. ii. MAURY,
Major General Commanding.