Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-04-22
THE nED RIVER rxprDrrroy.


AUnion Disaster In Eouistaua.
The 7as-d and Fourth Divisions Of he 71iyy,snfs
Army Corps Badly Cut np-Onr Loss about 2,Ooo
Special Correspondence OF the Chicago Evening Journal
On RED EiyHa April 10, 1854.
havo very bad news to write TO you.-
We have met with severe disaster.
Our cavalry bad been driving the enemy
for two days, but in the forenoon of the 9Th
instant they sent back word for infantry
support. General Ransom in command of
the Sd and 4th divisions of the 18th Army
Corps, was ordered to send forward a brig.
aie, and did SO. AT noon he was ordered to
send up MI Of the 4,h division, and be went
with them After advancing about FIVE miles
from where the Sd division of his command
and the 10th Army Corps were encamped
the rebels made stand, and our line, con.
sisting Of only 2,4Oo infantry, was formed
in belt of woods, with an open field in
the front, and the enemy in the woods on
the other SIDE General Stone (of Balls Bluff
fameb, Chief Of General Banks starf, was
ON the field, and took direction of the move
mcnts. General Ransom was in favor OF ad
vancing only in force, but his wish was dis.
regarded. es
We were five miles from our reinforce
ments, with thick woods behind them
through which ran narrow road, complete
ly Elied with wagon trains, and making all
orderly retreat impossible.
After keeping up skirmish firing across
this open field for about an hour, the enemy
advanced upon us in overwhelming numbers
probably not less than 10000 strong
General Ransom got all his available troops
to The front and opened on them The enc
my lost heavily. but they advanced steadily,
and soon made our cavalry give way, and
the infantry fell back. In few moments
the enemy pressed US SO closely, and the
panic Of the cavalry was SO dcmorazng,
that the retreat became . rvnt. Thc Geperal
did all in his powcrto raily the men, but,
finding it impossible without rcinforeements,
he made every effort to save the artillery. 1t
was while cndeavoring to get the Chicago
Mercantile Battery off safely that Gen. Ran.
som was severely wounded in the leg, and
Captain Cyrus E. Dickey, his Adjutant (son
OF Judge D;ckey, of Ottawa, HI, was in
stantly killed by being shot through the
head. Our loss was large probably about
400. The Mercantile Battery lost all their
guns, and Captain White is prisoner, Lieu
tenants Throop and Barr killed and the loss
Of tho battery in killed and captured is thir-
~. The battery boys lost all their clothing.
One hundred and Ten of them returned to
camp after the disaster. ....
Nhile the 4th division was Ealing back in
disorder, the Cd division, numbering only |
1850 men, came up and was Immediately |
routed. This was after General Ransom had |
been wounded and taken 10 the rear. Final
ly the 18th Army Corps, with 400 men,
cnmc up, formed line, checked the enemy,
and held them until We got all our trains off |
except that OF the cavalry. ..
II has been a terribly unfortunate affair.
but no one here attaches tho least blame to
General Ransom, who acted under orders,
and. until disabled, did all that any officer
could do under the circumstances; but with
an overwhelming force to contend against,
and no reinforcements, what could be expect
cd but just such rout?
The whole army is now falling back here,
where il must wait to reorganizc before pro,
ceeding further towards Shreveport.
1t is at present impossible to obtain list
OF the casualties. These you will receive as
soon rs possible.