The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-23
from Red River.
Nlrdmronass. la, Arlil I.

AAItHiehhASi 1AA-i Ahlh +,
This quaint old town was considera-
bly, astonished yesterday BY the sudden
entry of Lees cavalry, the advance Of
Franklin's army Gen Lee left Alex
andria on the 18th Of March, and NOV
ell TO Henderson Hill The next day
he advanced to Cane River crossing
where he built floating bridge, and
next day pushed on, the rebel cavalry
just in front Of him and keeping up n
running fight
Cane River is what Is laid down on
most maps as portion OF Red BiYer
between Natchitoches and Cotiile Tie
navigable channel, however, IS now
through the upper bend, called the Rig
olet Gle Bon DIcU, the iaitLless river
having left its old bed fer q more at
tractiye one So Natchitoches Is now
four miles from a real river, the nearest
landing IN ordinary stage Of water
being at Grand Ecore To get OF the
island enclosed by Cane River, General
Lee, on the night Of the 30th, built
another floating bridge, and at halfpast
two in the afternoon, his advance had
marched tWenty-foUT miles, and taken
possession Of Natchitoches.
About six hundred rebel cavalry were
IN our front on the last days march,
and attempted to make a stand, but
were driven on, leaving several dead
and about twenty prisoners in our
hands. The enemy retired Up the
Shreveport road We Immediately made
ourselves at home in the town, the
alarmed inhabitants looking timidly at
Us from behind closed shutters, and
wondering, doubtless, what manner OF
men We were.
In the course Of the same evening a
party OF printers detailed from Dudley
brigade, feopsncd the Office of the
Nathitocbes Union, (whose editor had
run away and at daylight next morn
ing an extra edition Of the paper was
issued, giving particulars of the capture
Of the place and the latest news from
the north, east and west.
Between Alexandria and this point
there are many fine plantations, and
an abundance Of the richest and
strongest land. IN times past immense
crops OF corn and cotton have been
raised in this region But the rebel
cavalry Just in front Of US, made sad
havoc among the planters. You can
not conceive Of the destruction we saw
ON every haud-COtton was in flames in
every direction Gin houses had been
burned to destroy the cotton which was
in them In many instances, the fire
had communicated to corn-cribs, and
even dwelling houses. From every
direction for fifty miles, the smoke Of
the torment Of secession assembled Do
not fancy tbat the planters themselves
committed this immense arson, and
with that Spartan spirit Of which we
have heard so much in the past thrr-
years Not bit Of it. The destruction
was committed by gangs Of rebel cav
airy, acting under the insane orders Of
the rebel military authorities.
you liketo have this Confederate
cavalry about p 1 said to citizen who
had been IN theory q Secessionist
No, indeed he replied: they
arc nothing but a pack Of thieves.
They have not only burned my cotton,
bat they have shot my cows, fed up my
corn, and taken my hogs"
"And SO you don't like the war l sup
poser
II wish, sir, Lcould go on and finish
it. I don care much how"
And such, l think, is the opinion Of
tho common mind all through this part
Of the State. The hope Of all IS that
the war may come to an end, and as to
how i5shallend, the citizens do not care.