The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-04-21
The Red River Expedition.
"a Union Disaster i'm E.onfsanm.
pecial Correspondence of the Chicago Evening Jour

"a Union Disaster i'm f.onisanm.
Special Correspondence of the Chicago Evening Jour-
nal. -...a ....
GRAND EooRE, La,
On RED RIVER, April Is, 1864.
q have very bad news to write you. We
have met with a severe disaster.
Our cavalry had been driving the enemy
for two days, but in the forenoon of tie 8th
instant they sent back word for infantry
support General Ransom, in command Of
the3d and 4th divisions of the 18th army
corps, was ordered to send forward u brig
ade, and did SO. At noon he was ordered
to send up all of the 4th division, and he
went with them. After advancing about
five miles from where the Sd division of his
command, and the 18th army corps were
encauped, the rebels made a stand, and our
line, consisting of only 2,400 infantry was
formed in belt Of woods, with an open field
in front, and the enemy i'll the woops on the
other side General Stone (of Balls Bluff
Chief Of Generals Banks staff, was on the
field, and took direction of the movements.
General Rransom was in favor of advancing
only in force but his wish was disregarded.
We were five miles from our reinforce
ments, with thick woods behind them,
through which ran a narrow road, complete
" filed with wagon trains, and making an
orderly retreat impossible.
After keeping up skirmish firing across
this open field for about an hour, the enemy
advanced upon us in overwhelming mum
bers-probably not less than ten thousand
Strong General Ransom got all his avail
able troops to the front and opened on them.
The enemy lost heavily, but they advanced
steadily, and soon made our cavalry, give
way, and our infantry fell back. In few
moments the enemy pressed us so closely
and the panic Of our cavalry was so demon
aIizing, that the retreat became rout The
General did all i'll his power to rally the men
but finding it impossible without reinforce
ments, he made every effort to save the ar
tillery. 1t was while endeavoring to get the
Chicago Mercantile Battery off safely that
General Ransom was severely wounded in
the leg, and Captain Cyrus T. Dickey, his
Adiutant (son Of Judge Dickey, Of Ottawa,
Ill.) was instantly killed by being shot
through the head Our loss was large
probably about 1000. The Mercantile Bat
terry lost all their guns, and Captain White
is prisoner, Lieutenants Throop and Mcbride
killed, and the loss of the Battery in killed
and captured, is thirty. The Battery boys
lost all their clothing. One hundred and
ten Of them returned to camp after the dis
aster.
While the 4th division was falling back
in disorder, the Sd division, numbering only |
l, 800 men, came up and was Immediately |
routed. This was after General Ransom had |
been wounded and taken to the rear FL I
nally, the 18th army corps, with 1000 men, !
came up formed line, and held them until !
we got all our trains off except that Of the
cavalry.
1t has been a terribly unfortunate affair,
but no one here attaches the least blame to |
General Rransonl, who acted under orders, I
and, until disabled, did all that any officer
could do under the circumstances; but with |
an overwhelming force to contend against,
and no reinforcenents, what could be ex-
pected but just such rout?
The whole army is now falling back here,
where it must wait to reorganize before
proceeding further towards Shreveport.
1t is at present impossible to obtain list
of the casualties. These you will receive
as soon as possible. HAwKEYE.
- ~--- 81
The War IN EOuisiana-The Eafe Rs
pulse Made "A Victory
CARo, April 20.-Information obtained
u SiA AAtbD1O ooLIOGo GOLIlIlLS Tie Lea ItlVGr
etter Of the 10th, concerning the battle at
Pleasant Hi on the Sth, thai account being
mainly correct.
Our loss however, was greater than there
n stated. {
The fight wound up in the enemy being :
handsomely whipped and driven from the !
ield with heavy loss.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1864.
The following dispatch was received at the :
Navy Department this noon:
CAIRO, April 90 4
TO Hon. Gideon Welles: c
q have received private letters from Red
River One dated Grand Ecore April 10TH
md one dated Alexandria, 18th, stating
hat the army under General Banks met
With reyerses on the 8th,anear Mansfield" !
Our army fell back and on the next day 2
be rebels attacked them, and were hand )
omely whipped. The loss is heavy on both :
tides.
Admiral Porter, when last heard from, !,
vas about forty miles above Grand Ecore. X
The river is low. Signed /
"A. NJ. PENYocK. Fleet Captain. :
The House Committee on Territories has .
gLeed with the action of the Senate in abolish v
ng distinctions of color in voting in the new !