Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-04-29
THE GREAT eAfrLE IN LOUISIANA



vi detailed account Of the first great battle
fought by the Red river expedition, in which
our forces suffered so severely:
"GRAND Encore, La, April IL.
We lef Natchtoohes on the morning OF Apfil D, anu
marched until nearly dark when we enoamped in pine
forest On the morning Of the 9TH started again and
reached the town Of Pleasant Hill about i've o'clock
This the rtopen piece Of country that had found
since had left Na;chitoches and that was only
mile sqnare. The cavalry had been in brisk skrmish
during the afternoon. About ffty wounded men were
brought in aud hospital was established
At two O'Clock the morning Of the oih the Isl bfg
sde Of our divison--composed Of the 18Th Kentucky,
9Th Illinois, 23d Wisconsin, and the 9th Indiana mum
bering about 1900 men-was started in advance, and
about daylight commenced diminishing with the enemy
We-the Chicago Mercantile battery-staried Al day
break with the I'd brigade and TIC Sd division numbering
about $500 5000 men, marched through dense timber
until three O'Clock in the afternoon when order
cd the front. To get TO where the fighting was in
progress, had 10 the whole train Of Lees cavalry
division numbering 800 wagons and there was only
road through the timber they pulled Ia one
eide and We went BY them on gaop, with our guns,
csssons, battery wagon and forge We had just passed
the train, when came 70 opening about mile
square, and on the opposite side were our men engag
in diminishing.
BY this time our whole division was in action, and
brigade Of the 30 division We crossed the field, took
position the edge Of the opposite woods, and had
just got in battery when heard terrible yell and saw
line Of rebels, unbroken, charging OUT exhausted
men Who had been diminishing all day, and had only
few rounds Of ammunition lef
Then came whitening Tolley OF musketry, and then
poor boys commenced retreat but not in order for
there were not enough men TO form line We walked
a few moments, until had passed us, and com
menced hiring the rebel lines but could not stop their
progress, and received orders from Col Lam
drum 10 timber up and leave IL we ever expected get
our guns of. Two OF horses had been shot but
forced them the field and took up another Tos
ton in the edge Of the timber firing again on the rebel
lines which could with great dsnctness, cross
ing the field on the double quick
Here Gen. Ransom was shot in the knee, and was
oblis ed to leave the field Lieut. Ihroop was feled by
the windAge Of shell, which graSed his abdomen. Gen.
Banks here, trying to rally the cavalry which was
in great disorder The bugleTs sounded the rslJ--s
sound that shall forge-and line form
cd; but in few moments both our hanks TUNED,
and obliged to timber up and retire short dis
lance Here another line was formed and a few more
BY this time the rebels were both TANKS and
firing in every direction We got pieces
into the road and began retreat when Of great
confusion ensued In the road was that whole cavalry
train faced the rear and trying escape
his hook, and the road blocked up that II was an
impossbili,y for anything 10 move Our gun was next
the piece and fired Of the last shots that
fred by the artillery. When the rebels pot within two
rod, Of us We received orders 10 cut the and
possibe Mr.. Dyer, our gunner, vent 10 his limb, y
took file and hammer and when the rebels had al
ready reached the gun behind he commenced spik
ing his gun. aud captured at his post Whether he
wounded not cannot tell
nov began to think OF my own SAT ~, and ran down
the road short distance then struck into the woods
until vas exhausted. when caught mule mount
ed him. but immedia ely dsmounted by the factoes
animal. Soon after. ! found another mule, mounted
him. and was soon out Of danger behind the 18th army
corps
into about eight mites to our rear, and were
Aherward, but TOO late, brought up 10 our succor
OF uur whole division. numbering 5000 men, but 1000
left tell the fearful odds against which they
Wpdsd Two regiments Of our division consolida-
ted and had il all lao men and seven oioers-he high
est in rank remaining is Captain. In our battery
twenty-five men are missing, two are with wounded.
and only oficer-Lieut. Roofs LEFT. Capt White,
Lieuts. Gone, lhroop and Barr are all captured.
Not one Of our boys showed any oowadce, but stood
by their guns until the last and when len them rebels
Hath pft he cal nm wit
f oaths. TO halt but was determined to escape pos
sibe, and succeeded by the favor Of gracious Pro,
depce for surely only charmed life could have with
stood the shwerof bullets with whicWe surround
cd A. all times
The 18Th corps checked the rebels and held them for
about twenty-five minutes, when they forced to
re-which they did slowly, and as night came on, the
bloody conflict ended.
The next morning the 9th, Gen. A. J. Smith came up
with his commsnd aud we ordered 10 accompany
wagons, which comprised all that had left, and
they ordered to come here quick as possible.
The town now In is four miles from Natchito-
ohcs, the Red River The fight took place four miles
from the town Of Mansfield De Soto parish, La.
On The 9th Gen A. J. Smith, who Immediately
lieved Gen franklin whipped the rebels badly and
captured IL guns and took 800 prisoners This is the
latest news that have from the 'front.'"
Another account in the Chicago Times
says:
e We held our second position until the rebels
nassne TO outhank our left. At this time they were
pouring upon perfect Of shells and bullets
Throop directing Are the left with the great
spirit. Suddenly heard him cry, I'm shot Nash
and Chase Dickinson TO his aid and carried him off
the field helped timber up squad SIS gun four own,
squad 6s having been disabled and sent of the field
few minutes beore) caught TROOPS horse and galoped
TO the rear for ambulance and stretcher found
both returned, aud took him to surgeon, who pro-
uounced his wound mortal III had been struck by
piece Of shell in the abdomen. The skin not broken
but badly bruised aud much swollen. He was put into
the ambulance, with Hugh Wilson TO take care OF him,
and sent 20 the rear.
BY this time the rebels had into the woods whtre
We were, and we're coming upon us pell NELL General
Banks and staff along, trying with and i'm
preeSuons to stop our cavalry but all in vain me
division had been brought up and now entirely blocked
mp the road through the pine forest. We got
battery sbout mile from the field, through the
woods over trees and sumps, when, the blockade in
front being perfectly impossible the order given by
Capt White to unhitch and make escape as best we
could The rebels less than fifty yards from u.s.
Every for himself and the devil take the hindmost
was the motto, Bull run was outdone. A few miles
further back upon the 10Th corps drawn up in
lire Of battle They stayed the rebel advance with
tremendous are Of musketry. We Of the 18th corps
ordered to continue our retreat TO Pleasant Hill
twelve miles back where arrived about three o'clock
Saturday morning. Here we found A. j. Smith. with
his 1000 Of the 10th and 18th corps, to reinforce
Indiana, the 9Th Missouri, and two guns of battery g.
reguiMs22 pieces in all Every piece Of artillery could
has been saved had not tho provision train been brought
Everybody is euIsing Gems. Banks and Franklin -
The defeat Ia attributed TO the conduct VI the battle
tireiy A single regiment was sent in time when
that cut off, then smother and until we were
defeated Then the 18th corps not in supporting
distance IL is said that Gen Rsnsom and Gen Lee
three times for the 10Th corps imporing them
come and save the day and that Franklin would moi
bulge until ordered by Banks.
A private letter from one Of Gen. Bank ?
staff officers, dated April 8, received in this
city, thus refers 10 the late battles (:
I'VE had very severe fight yesterday with an out
numbering force Of The enemy 1t equal to anything
ever cav. am perfectly ssfe--many poor fellow
though has gone believe Il wa: the closest work dur
Ten O'clock, p. M--Another tremendous fight TO- lay
elegant fighting. They running into Texas.
have but moment TO tell you thsss Of course you
am writing this the hospital amid the cries Of the
wounded and dying. have been TIRES day,
~i,hou, food, sleep or bed, except the ground"
Additional Incidents--The General Result
From the army correspondence Of the New
York Herald we copy some further interest
ing particulars respecting the late battles in
Louisiana. In the account of the second
day's fighting, when our forces were repulsed,
the writer says;
Z" Minis battery, when the time approaching that
II could hold out but little longer, loaded each piece with
Of grape and canister spherical shell and
sack OF bullets containing about three hundred Ths
hurled death and destruction into the ranks Of the
my, who wavered and fell back at every disohAFge Of
and pryates, sixty -four horses and eighteen mules.
Capt. Crosby, Of General Banks staff, had his hAn'
injured by the jam between the trains and huuyinl
cavalIymAn.
The capture Of Gen. Lees headquarters train at
tended with much Inconvenience 10 the General and hi
tai To tha dapfa xhn nwnd rtfI