Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-21
Ole 4aiTu auuri1at.
another Disaster.

We publish this morning the painful
news Of another disaster 70 our arms.
The Spring campaign does not open very
auspiciousIy. We copy below the account
Of the battle which occurred near the
town Of Mansfield, Louisiana, as pub
iished in the Chicago Journal Iuo
We may add that q letter, or an ex-
tract from q better, vas Published
1 the daily Union Of yesterday, written
BY q member Of CAPT Klaus's battery,
which more than confirms the account
given by the Chicago Journal 40 less
than foar Of our batteries were captured.
seia's ID Massachusetts, the Chicago
Mercantile, Capt. Klaus,s lst Indiana,
and a battery Of regulars. The writer
Of the letter to the Union is q gentleman
whose word can be relied on, and who
has seen hot work before. having fought
at Pea Ridge and Vickslarg He says
be never witnessed any fighting like that
at Mansfield. Oar troops seem to have
been badly managed aud oyerpowered BY
superior numbers ii8Sss@A44 A4-sl
The writer says, however, that Gen, 4.
J. Smith attacked thefebels the next day
with his division, aud after hard Gght
routed them, capturing 20 guns aud
1000 prisoners This statement is con
filmed by dispatch which we publish
this morning from Chicago. This, il
true, indicates that our movements up
Red river have not received so serious a
check as the statement below would ia
dicate.
The news Of this repdIse seems Is
have been suppressed by the authorities
for what purpose we cannot conceive.
1t seems, too, that we are furnished
With another chapter Of Gen Stone Of
Balls Bluff notoriety
CHICAGO, April IA letter 10 the
Evening Journal, dated Grand Ecorr,
4 saJ our cavalry had been driving the
/ enemy for two days, bat on the forenoon
| Of the Sth, word was sent back for an
infantry support, and General Ransom,
10 command Of the 81 aud 18th divisions
Of the 18th army eorps, was ordered 10
send forward a brigade, and did so a
moon, himself following with the 9Th
! division. After advancing about five
miles from where the the Sd division d
his command and the nth corps we're en-
ehmped, the rebels ssade q stand, and
orr line, consi sting Of only 2, 400 iHfah.
\ try, formed ina belt OF woods with an
open Geld in front, and the enemy in the
woods ON the other side Gen. Stone Of
Balls Bluff fame, Chief Of Gen Banks
staff, was on the held and took the di
rection Of movements. Gen Ransom
was in favor Of advancing only in force
but his wish was disregar1ed
After keeping up a skirmish acros
this open held for about an hour, thi
eneuy advanced in overwhelming nun
J bera, estimated nj 10000. Genera
Ransom got all the available troops &
the front, and opened on then The en-
emy lost heavily, but advanced steadily
aud some Of our cavalry gave way, an
our infantry fell back. In few me
ments the enemy pressed us 40 closely
and the panic among the cavalry was 5
demoralizing, that ihe retreat became
rout Gen. Ransom did eli in his powe
to rally the men, boz finding Il isnposs
bic withoata engagements, be mad
every effort TO save the artillery. Will
endeavoring to get the Chicago Mercar
tile Battery. oft safely, he WAS seserel
wounded inthe lcg. Capt Encore Dick
ey, his Adjutant, was Instantly killed.
i. Gus loss is large, probably 1000. TIL
Mercantile Battery lost all its guns
Capt White is prisoner. Lieut.
Z Throop and Mcbride are killed.
a.. While the | 81 division was falling bar
in disorder, the I'D division, numberin
only l,sOO men, came un, and was in
mediately routed
Finally the 10Th Army Corps, wit
. 1000 men, came up, formed in lin,
checked the enemy aud held them unit
We got all trims of except that Of th
cavalry Ta fIrf ffrFsY
Tho whole army is now falling bac
here, where il must wait and re-orga,
ize before proceeding TO Shreveport.
> NEw YoRK, April 10 Late Richmon
!. papers contain the following dispatch;
= 10 Gen s. Cooper
e The following report was received
Baton Rouge on the Sd inst, from ii
Surgeon-G General Of Bauks army;
: I've met the enemy near Shreveport
The Union forces were repulSed wit
great loss. I How many can you accom-
modate in the hospitals at Baton Rouge
The steamer Essex or Benton Wa
. destroyed by torpedoes ia Red river, an
. transport captured BY the Confederate
~ Farragut is reported TO be preparing |
: attack Mobiles six Monitors are comm
10 him. The garrisons of New orlear
and Baton Rouge were very much p
dueed for the pnrposs of increasin
? Banks forces
= - [Signedl ID, II. MAuRS,
Maior-(i General commanding