The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-04-14
The Red River Expedition. ..How Yam.
kee General Out Witted the Rebels.
Correspondence of she n. Y. Tribune ]
HEADou aRrERs RRp RIVER EXPEDITION, \
On BOARD STEAMER CLARA.BELL,
AlEylSBgIA IA March 81 lSEI \


HEApou aRrERs REp RIVER EXPEDITION,
On BOARD STEAMER CLARA.BELL,
ALEXANDRIA, LA, March "a, lS6i.
BY steamer Lumiuary, Capt. Weaver,
l am enabled to send the details of the
successful expedition sent out by Gen.
A. ). Smith, commanding Red River
Expedition, on the morning Of tho 2lst
inst. Long before this reaches you, the
telegraph will have drawn the outlines of
this handsome victory gained by a fight.
ing General, John A. Mower, whose in
herent "lankceism" was so strongly
manifested on this victorious expedition
From scouts and rebel deserters General
Smith received sufficient information re-
garliug the rebel forces in this vicinity
to warrant him in ordering q thorough
reconnaissance toward Bayou lnpides
and Ienderson's Hill, the latter point
being twcnty-:uur miles from Alexandria
At midnight on Sunday, Gen. Smith
had maturcd his plans and orders were
forthwith sent to Gen. Mowers head
quarters, on board the steamer Des
Moincs, 10 prepare for an early march.
Gen. Mower promptly set his necessary
military machinery in running order,
and by working hard all night the COM
missary, ordnance and medical stores
necessary for the expedition were sup
piled and in complete readiness.
AT daylight Monday, with rain and
hail descending in torrents, the column
was in motion, comprising the I'd and
Sd brigades of the lst division, the s9th
Indiana volunteers, and the 9th Indiana
battery from the I'd brigade, Sd division,
10th army corps, together with one brig.
ade Of Gen. Lees cavalry, under com
mand of Col. Lucas, the cavalry being a
portion Of Gen. Banks forces. With
out unnecessary delay, tho expedition
marched rapidly to Bayou Rapides, where
we encountered the rebel pickets, and
drove them in, capturing several 1t
was at Bayou Rapides that COL Sargent,
of the Sd Massachusetts cavalry, received
an ugly bullet wound in his lett thigh,
while he was gal!antly leading his men
on to charge. Arriving at Henderson s
Hill at s o'clock Monday night General
Mower left the cavalry force to harrass
and threaten the enemy while he made a
rapid detour of twelve miles, through
mud and mirc, for the purpose of turning .
the enemy's right flank To do this it
was necessary to march round an impas-
sable swamp, which the rebels relied up
oa as a natural barrier. Without causing
any alarm General Mower very quietly
gained his desired position, having first
: captured two mounted rebel couriers
. who were hurrying to General Walker.
headquarters with important dispatche.
from Gen Dick Taylor, who ordered an
infantry regiment to be sent to reinforce
him, together with G,O00 rounds of En-.
field rifle ammunition. At the time these
couriers were taken prisoners, General
Walkers forces were six miles in Gen.
Mowers rear.
| should not omit mentioning the ma.
neuver which Gen, Mower practiccd up,
on the rebels, and by which he gained
the victory over the bewildcred chivalry.
Overtaking one Of the oouriers, General
Mower in very indignant tones accused
him Of being id Yankee spy, at
which the dispatch bearer became alarm
ed, and protested his innocence, asserting
that he was good Confederate, on his
way with highly important dispatches.
As proof of his identity, he handed
over his papers for the General to exam.
inc, asking him to read them quickly, as
he did not wish to be detained. Gen.
Mower pronounced the documents for
geries, and said, "You are Yankee,
sir, and | intend to take you before the
Colonel | am Gen. Walker, and you
cannot deceive mo in this way" The
astonished soldier replied, "Very VIII,
General, I will lead you to the Coloueps $
headquarters, and he will explain that
am not Yankee" Suiting the action
to the word, the deluded rebel piloted
Gen Mower and his staff some two miles.
As fast as the General neared the cavalry
pickoss, who were seated in picturesque
groups around their camp fires, scarcely
noticing our troops as they passed, they
were ordered to the rear. Approaching
the cncampment on Henderson's Hill,
Gen. Mower sent for two companies of
infantry to march forward. Before Civ.
ing this order he questioned the courier
, about the disposition of the cavalry and
artillery, telling him the "Yankees"
were not far eff Eager to bc of service,
the messenger explained tho precise To-
cation of each gun. As soon as the
courier overheard the order for infantry
to advance he discovered his terrible sit
uation, but it was too late. The terrified
soldier expected to be shot, and he be-
came highly excited, telling the General
to "hurry and take that gun on that
road" pointing out the various positions
of the cannon.
We were in the cavalry camp, captur.
ing prisoners at rapid rate, when some
of them attempted to take hasty de-
parture. The report of the muskets
frighted several of the artillery horses
who dashed off at furious rate sMonc
our men. 1t became necessary to snool
| several horses in order to save me guns
and cassons from destructio.. The fir
ing awoke several of the officers, some O,
!, whom were asleep in a fine mansion on
the plantation, and rushing out to ascer