Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-05-12

him from their parlors as you do Sc
Poys from the month of your cannon.
@We are permitted to copy the
following from a letter written by
S. l. Wood of Co. D 55th O. ",
who was in the battle on Red River.
CAMP Seth o. v. vi.
GRAND EcoRE La.
April l7th 1864.
Since we left Berwick
we have marched between $50 and
400 miles, and fought two battles,
the particulars of which you will
have learned before this comes to
hand We left Natchitoches which
Is four miles from here, on the 9Th
and arrived ut Pleasant Hill on the
evening of the 7th, distance 35 miles.
The morning Of the 9Th we started
at day light and moved slowly for
two miles, and had stopped to rest
when the order came for onr brigade
to move. We did so at the double
quick" and passed the lst Brigade
lying in the road. We went at this
rate 6 or miles hearing canonnading
IN front all the time. At tlis time
we were ordered to halt and camp
The 1st Brigade and two batteries
which we had also passed, came ID
in about two hours and went into
camp. About ] p. N. the order to
move was given, and in a few NC
ments we were on the way; marched
6 or Z miles. We here found that
the 4th Division had driven the reb-
els. and forming line advanced four
or five hundred yards, found the
rebels driving the 4th Division. We
poured in volley and the rebels fell
back, leaving one of their batteries.
We were then in an open field about
one mile wide, with a rebel battery
hailing grape and canister shot into
us. We stood their fire for half an
hour, and were ordered to fall back
to fence in the edge ofthe woods,
which we did. leaving one poor fel-
low in our company dead with sever
al more Of the regiment. The reb-
els advanced in plain view, and in
three lines. some going to the right,
some to the left.
Schaefer was ordered to go back
and inform Col. Ranger thai the reb-
els were 6anking us, which he did,
informing Gen. Franklin also Of it.
A Brigade of our cavalry was order
ed to the left to protect our flank,
which they did, fred one volley and
fell back.
BY this time the rebs were within
rs yards of US, pressing on very
leisurely, carrying arms at q right
shoulder shift, paying no regard to
our incessant rain of bullets in their
ranks. Our ammunition became e..
hausted, did not have a roand left.
We were ordered to retreat, which
we did every man for himself
1t was now sundown, and we re-
treated four miles leaving over 100
wagons loaded with ammunition ra-
tions &c, and abont % pieces OF
artillery The rebels were following
us closely all the time and calling
out to MS to halt, but ''nary halt ex-
cept those who gave cut At dusk
we came up with the 18th corps. and
formed in their rear The rebels
came on, but few volleys from the
18th stopped them. We then star
ted for Pleasant Hill, marched all
night, reached this place next morn
ing. Here we found Gen. Smith
with about 1000 men of the 16 and
IT A. C.
Our Division was again ordered
ahead with the train. Gen. Smith
remained with the 10th corps. The
rebels attacked him about P. N.
but were repulsed at every point,
and captured 500 prisoners. We
marched nearly all of that night and
finally landed at this place, where we
are under cover of the gun boats.
The 56th. o. V. lost 20 men, our
company two killed, one missing.
1t may be, we will be home by the
last OF MaY.---- --s----s