The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-30
The Final Victory en- Red River
A Terrible Battle Great SLAUGHTER

A Terrible Battle Great Slaughter
New YORK, April 23.-The following,
from the New Orleans Era, is an account
Of the final victory Of the Union forces, af-
VI some terrible lighting:
"At o'clock Saturday morning, our
forces were at Pleasant Hill, and the rebels
wers advancing, cavalry in front, endeav-
oring to discover our position. Col. o. p.
Cooling, with his brigade of Lees cavalry
corps, was sent out on the Shreveport road
to meet the enemy aud draw him on. He
had gone about mile, when he came upon
the rebel advance. lSkirmishing immedi-
ately ensued, and according to the plan he
slowly fell back. The tight was very sharp
between these cavalry bodies, and Colonel
Cooling lost nearly 40 men killed and
wounded; intiicting,. however, ~ much
damage as he received.
The 18th corps was reserve in the rear,
under Gen. Cameron, Gen. Ransom hav-
ing been wounded the day before. Glen.
Smith was the commander.in.chief of the
second lines back of the crest, while Gen.
Mower was the commander Of the men,
The commander Of the right brigade in
Cen. Smith's west line WINS Col. Lynch ;
second brigade Crawford's. The Sd Indi-
ana battery was posted to the right Of the
0eth Indiana infantry, and the 9th Indiana
battery on the right Of the line Of battle
The Missouri Iron Battery, and others
whose names and numbers we could not
ascertain, were also in this section Of the
battle.
The skirmishing was kept up with con-
siderable vigor until about O'Clock in the
afternoon. when the rebels had completed
their arrangements for the attack. AT
about this hour Gen. Every's skirmish line
was driven in ON the right by the rebels,
who appearedin large force coming through
the timber above mentioned. They soon
reached the open ground, and moved on to
the attack in three lines Of battle. Our
batteries and infantry opened with terrible
effect. doing great slaughter with grape and
canister, while the enemy's artillery, be-
ing in the woods aud in bad position, did
scarcely any damage. Gen. Benedicts
brigade, on the left, was first engaged, soon
followed by Dwiyht's and McMillan's.-
Tie fighting was terrific. Old soldiers say
it never was surpassed for desperation
Notwithstanding the terrible havoc In their
ranks, the enemy pressed 6ercely on, slow
~ pushing the men Of the 10Th corps back
up the hill, but not breaking their line OF
battle. A sudden and bold dash of the reb-
els on the right, gave them possession o.
Taylor's battery, and forced our line still
farther back.
Now came the grand coup de main. The
10Th, on arriving At the top Of the hill, sud.
denly filed over the hill, and passed through
the line Of Gen. Smith. We must here
mention that the rebels were now in two
lines of battle, the first having been almost
annihilated by Gen. Mowery; what re-
NAMED having been forced back into the
second line. But these two lines came on
exultant and sure Of victory. The first
passed over the knoll, and all needless o.
the long line of cannon and crouchinp
forms, pressed on. The second line up.
peared on the instant, and the death-signal
was sounded. Words cannot describe the
effects Of this discharge. Seven thousand
rites, and several batteries Of artillery load
ed to the muxxlee with grape and canister
were fired simultaneously, and the whole
center of the rebel line was crushed down
ffightfully mangled by this one discharge
No time was given them to recover theil
good order. but Gen. Smith ordered Z
charge, and his mon dashed rapidly for
ward, the boys Of the 18th joining in. Thu
rebels fought boldly and desperately bach
to the timber, on feeching which. : large
number broke and, ded, fully 900 throw
aug aside their arms. In this charge Tay
lors Battery was retaken, - were also twt
OF the guns Of Minis Battery. The Par
rott guns taken from u ct Carton Grow
last fall, and one or two others belonging
to the rebels, one of which was consider
ably shattered, were also taken, besides
100 prisoners. 9ag ia
Apursuit and desultory eight was KEEP
up TOR three miles, when our men returned
70 the field Of battle. And thus ended thu
fearful and bloody struggle for the contro
or western IOuisiana. 59