Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-04-14
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
How a Yankee General 0utwitted
- the Rebels. .s.t
lCorrcs pondence of the N. Y. Tribune,
III. Q's RED RIVER ExrEpIrIoN.) ]
OS BoAED STEAMER CLARA BELL, +
y ALEXANDRIA, La, March a. !

lCorrcs pondence OF the N Y. Tribune.
& II. Q's RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
OK BoAED STEAMER CLARA Bell,
- = ALEXANDRIA, La, March "a
/ BY steamer Luminary, Capt. Weaver. 1
am enabled to, send the details of the sue
cessfui expedition sent ont by Gen. A. J.
Smith. commanding Red River expedition,
on the morning of the 2lst inst. Long
before this reaches you, the telegraph will
have drawn the outlines of this handsome
victory gained by fighting General. Jno
A. Mower, whose inherent "Yankeeism"
was SO strongly manifested on this victo-
rious expedition. From scouts and rebel
deserters Gen. Smith received sufficient in
formation regarding the rebel forces in
this vicinity, to warrant him in ordering
a thorough reconnaissance towards Bayou
Rapides and Henderson's Hill. the latter
point being twenty -four miles from Alex
andria. At midnight, on Sunday, Gen.
Smith h d matured his plans. and, orders
were forthwith sent to Gen. Mowers head
quarters. on board the steamer Des Moines.
to prepare for an early march. General
Mower promptly set his necessary militia
ry ma hinery in running ORDER and by
working hard all night the commissary,
oSlnance and medical stores necessary for
the expedition were supplied and in COM
plete readiness. -Isv
AT daylight Monday. with rain and hail
descending in torrents. the column was in
motion, comprising the 2'l and 81 brigades
of the lst division. the S9lh Indiana vol
! unteers, and the 9th Indiana battery from
the 2d brigade, 81 division. 10th army
corrs. together with enc brigade Of Gen
Lees cavalry under command of Colonel
Lncas, the cavalry being portion Of Gen.
Banks forces. Without unnecessary de-
lay the expedition marched rapidly to
Bayou Rapides, where we encountered the
| rebel pickets. and drove them in, captur-
| ing several. 1t was at Bayou Rapides
that Col. Sargent. Of the 81 Massachusetts
cavalry, received an ugly bullet wound in
his left thigh. while he was gallautly lead
ing his men on to a charge. Arriving at
Iienderson's Hill at s o'clock on Monday
night Gen. Mower left the caval.,y force to
harrass and threaten the enemy. while he
made rapid detour of twelve miles,
through mud and mire. for the purpose of
turning the ehemy's right fians. To do
this 1t was necessary to march around an
impossible swamp which the rebels re-
lied upon as a natural ba rier. Without
causing any alarm Gen. Mower very qui-
etly gained his desired position. having
| irst captured two mounted rebel couriers
who we're hurrying to General Walkers
headquarters with important dispatches
from Gen. Dick lay lor, who ordered an
infantry regiment TO be sent to reinforce
him. together with 5000 rounds of Enfield
rifle ammunition. At the time these con-
riers were taken prisoners. Gen. Walkers
forces were six miles in Gen Mowers
rear. -rf- rsa q 3e tle
l should not omit mentioning the ma
nouvre which Gen. Mower practiced upon
the rebels. and by which he gained the VIC
tory over the bewildered chivalry. Over
taking one Of the couricrs, Gen. Mower
in very indignant tones accused him Of be-
ing d--d Yankee spy. at which the dis
patch bearer became alarmed and protest.
ed his innocence, asserting that he was a
good Confederate. on his way with highly
important dispatches. Asa proof Of his !
identity. he handed over his papers for the |
General to examine. asking him to read
them quickly. rs he did not wish to be de-
tanned. Gen. Mower pronoun ,ed the doc
uments forgeries and said. .sYou are
Yankee, sir, and / intend to take Won be-
fore the Colonel. / am Gen. Walker.
and yon cannot deceive me in this way"
The astonished soldier replied. "Very well.
Geneial. will lead you to the Golonel's |
headquarters, and he will explain that
am not Yankee Suiting the action to
the word, the dcluded rebel p iloted Gen.
Mower and his staff some two miles. As
fast as the General neared the cavalry pick
cts, who were seated in picturesque groups
around their camp fires, scarcely noticing
our troops as they passed, they were or
dered to the rear. Approaching the en-
equipment on Headerson's Hill, General
Mower sent for two companies OF infantry
to march forward. Before giving this, or
der be questioned the courier about the !
disposition Of the cavalry and artillery. |
telling him the YANKEES" were not far
of. Eager to be OF service, the messenger
explsined the precise location Of each gun.
As soon rs the courier overheard the order
for infantry to advance he discovered his
terrible situation. but it was too Late
The terrified soldier expected to be shot,
and be became highly excited. telling the /
General to "hnrry and take that gun on
ihatsroad." pointing out the various posi-
tions OF the cannon. li4aa p lst- Q 1si |
We were in the cavalry camp capturing
prisoners ct . rapid rate. when some Of
them attempted to tako hasty departure.
The report Of che muskets frightened sew
cral of the artillery horses. who dashed off
at furious rate among our men. It be-
camc necessary to shoot several horses in
order to save the guns and caissons from
destruction. The firing swoke several of /
the officers, some Of whom were asleep in
a fine mansion on the plantation, and rush
ing QUITO ascertain the cause Of the trou
be. they were met Al the door by several
Of Gen. Movers staff officers. y ho den1an-
ded them to surrender Staggered With
unuttssable dismay. the 'chivalry" stood
"a ss~<~n~I L.. xl,~~y bo1.oll