The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-05-24
Correspondence Of the Guardian.
HEADQUARTERS 27TH Iowa ISFANTRY,1
GRAND EcoRE, April 10, 1864.

| NhAND ISSohh, -hpaii ~ ASo1'
| FRIEND RlcH The period which has
elapsed since | wrote to you has been TO
us the most even,ful one Of the war. On
the morning Of the 7tb, the forces of the
18th army corps, Gen. Ransom, com
manding the 10th and 18th army corps.
Gen. Smith commanding the 18th army
corps, Gen. Franklin commanding, and
all commanded by Major General N. P.
BANKS, left Grand Ecore for an advance
towards Shreveport. The 18th corps
was in the advance, followed by the 10Th,
aud Gen. Smiths command in the rear
The weather was fine, the roads good,
and the march was conducted with little
or no opposition until Pleasant Hill was
reached AT Mansfield, 10 or 12 miles
in advance Of Pleasant Hill, the enemy
had taken position, and determined to
give us battle. When the 18th corps
had reached within striking distance of
the enemy, consultation was held, and
Gen. Ransom was permitted by General
Banks, against the wishes of Gen. Frank
lin, to move up and provoke fight
Our army Of $4,000 was scattered thro'
the woods of Louisiana for twenty five
miles. A large cavalry train, together
with numerous ambuances, had bee
pushed to the front. Everything con.
nected with the whole force was wholly
unarranged for general engagement
The 10Th corps had gone into camp 7
miles in the rear of the 18th.
In this unprotected and irregular con
dition, the rebel general, Taylor, com
menced the fight. Some 1000 of the
18th corps were thu own out to contest the
field with 10000 rebels. OF course they
were hastily beaten back with tremen-
, dous slaughter A small force was
: thrown out second time, and gobbled
: By this time the enemy knew his power
end our weakness, and pushed boldly
: forward, capturing men, horses. mules,
wagons, artillery, ambulances. and what
ever else they passed, which had been
showed to the front The 18th corps
fought we'll for an hour, and retreated
two miles, when the 10Th arrived, and
after desperate fight checked the fur
Their pursuit of the foe. Night came on
and spread her sad and sable mantle ov-
er the scene. One hundred and thirty
;, wagons. loaded with cavalry equipage.
ammunition and rations, hundreds OF
horses and mules, numerous ambulances,
: 90 pieces Of artillery, 1900 men of the
: 18th corps, and 500 or more Of the 10Th
corps, with all their guns-all were
gone.
General Banks thought he was whip.
:, ped land retreat was ordered. By this
time (the evening of the 8th), Smith e
forces had reached Pleasant Hill. We
had received no news from the front, and
all lay down as quietly as at our own
peaceful homes. At2 A. NJ. reveille was
ordered A few moments elapsed. and
COL Gilbert was sent for by brigade
commander. Soon it was understood
that Gen. Banks had been whipped. and
that there had been fearful slaughter OF
troops. Our fires were extinguished,
our men ordered under arms, and all
looked forward with touching interest to
events in the future. Soon the train ap.
peared. Hour after hour the heavily la
dened wagons moved rapidly back What
an immense train ! There is probabil.
iiy that many wagons could yet be spar
ed proftably to this army. Wagons load.
ed with flooring for tents, with goats and
bird cages, are Of but little service to
the government, and generals who allow
their trains to be thus loaded are of less
use.
!. All could see that a retreat had been
ordered. Brig. General Smith. it is
said, expressed much dissatisfaction, and
n desired to remain and fight alone. but all
he was allowed to do was simply to COW
er the retreat to Grand Ecore.
i l send the official report of Col. Gil.
bert of the action. 1t will speak for 1t.
self. | should state that the report sent
up gives a more minute history of The az.
fair, showing. as it does, where each sol.
der and officer was wounded, the nature
of the wound, and the appropriate re
marks in each case. 1t will be seen that
Co. c does not appear in the list. They
were on detached service as guards at
Brig. Gen. Smiths headqusrters on the
transport Clara Bell.
Headquarters 27TH REG, Iowa Vol. I'M.
GRAND EcoRE, April 18th, 1864.
CAPTAIN Il have the honor to report the