Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-06-18

you have for u.s. l feel justified in commenc-
| ing from where dated my last letter. and
will give you the dangers we have passed.
rs | recolect them.
Our sojouru at Grand Ecore was for
eleven days, during which time our position
was we'll fortified by entertainments for a
| length of five miles, made of heavy logs,
| five feet high and six feet wide, filled in
with dirt In front of this, trees were fellcd
for q distance of two hundred yards, so that
! if the enemy attacked we had an open space
| before us which would enable our forces to
repcl them and follow if necessary. But our
labor seemed to the men as useless, for on
the morning of 22d April, the army aban-
doncd these works and started for AleXan-
dra From our scouts it was ascertained
that the enemy had passed some miles to
our left with the intention of making a
| stand against our right at Bayou Cane,
where there is high buliand dense woods.
and at the same attack Smiths forces who
were bringing up the rear. This first day
| was hard one on the boys, for by ten
! o'clock at night they made Cloutervile a
| distance of torty-fve miles. On that day
the rear was attacked which caused our
forces to reverse their front and form in line
of battle, expecting too, to 90 back to the
relief of Smith, but he needed no assistance,
sending word to the front that he had
whipped them, and could do it again" 1t
was well that Banks made so long march
on that day, for on the next we found the
enemy prepared to carry out their design of
attacking us front and rear Skirmishing
commenced early in the morning and as our
columns advanced he fell back towards the
bayou. when we soon discovered the posi-
tion of their batteries on the bluff. There
II, Il l,,.4 a,
pieces and some sharp fighting by the ca
valrv. when the "mule battery" twenty
pound Parott guns, opened heavy fire.
which soon dislodgcd them, forcing the
chyalry to flee in a manner not at all suita-
bic to their b0aStc} courage. Before this our
cavalry, the 3d Brigade 0i the 1st Div, and
Briggs brigade of the second, had crossed
the bayou and were doing good service,
which, with the other work, aade the enc
my show their heels. The 3D. brigade done
some daring deeds in this fight as also did
the cavalry. In one instance the Sd charged
up II hill almost perpendicular, driving the
enemy back by the bayonet without firing
gun. The woods on this bluffwas so thick
that the cavalry had to dismount and fight
on foot. During the whole Of the day. our
brigade, the 2d was supporting artillery.
under fire all the time and could not give
Mr.. Rcb Il return shot.
While we were fighting in 'front.' Smith
was engaged some miles in the rear but he
done his part well and drove them back.
The rebel commanders thought by attacking
us in the rear, and having a large face on
the bluffs, they would he able to capture our
train and take us all prisoners, but in this
they were mistaken, for our march was so
rapid that we were on them before they had
thrown up the necessary earthworks. Be
sides they undcrrated the amount of our ar.
tiliery calculating from the number engaged
at Pleasant ill. The rebel prisoners say it
seems as though the Yankees manufacture.
on short notice, artillery to order, and the
men are furnished with wings when they
wish to maEea certain point
The damage done to the Confederate cause
by the burning Of cotton was immense. On
the night OF the 22d our route was lighted
up for miles and millions of dollars worth
ofthis production was DESTROYED. This loss
Will be felt more by Davis d Co.. than sew
eral defeats in this region. for the basis of the
loan in England was on the cotton of West
ern Louisiana.
After the rebels had fed from the bluff
the negro troops pet down the pontoons.
and by ten that night we were six miles
beyond the bayou safely cncamprd The
next morning we moved forward and IN
two days were in Alexandria. Johnnvs fol-
lowed Smiths forces, keeping ont of range
of his guns. except when he had gained the
cmincnce across the BAYOU. when he punish
cd them (thc rcbs) sever. ".
We were at Alexandria seventeen DAYS,
during which time the men were kept busy
at throwing up carthworks. foraging and
three times went ont some distance to meet
the enemy. but they did not make their ap-
pcarancc in numbers large enough for an
engagement. The water in the Red river
/ had fallen so much that it prevented the
| gunhoats from operating with us. and kept
! our transports from supplying the troops
with rations, land YOU know soldiers. like
other people. will eaU so Banks was com
PEELED to rcIinguish his designs on Shrevc-
( port and fall bacl: to the Mississippi. To
do this large dam had to be built ON the
falls at Alexandria to get the iron cad ;
down the river. After a urcat deal labor
this was accomplished and bv the morning
of May 18th the last one was through the
shute. when we bade adicu to Alexandria.
marching through the town with banners
| tlying and keeping step to the music of
Rally around the flag and "Whcn this
cruel war is over" The next morning, at
our camping place. the feet of boats passed
us, when we were informed that Alexandria
had been DESTROYED by fre--the act of n
. dissatisfied citizen and several NEGROES In