The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1864-04-28

More about the Red River EXpedttlOn
/, Special Correspondence of St. Louis Republican
GRAND EcoRE, April l3.
The grand expedition up Red River, which
promised such beneficial results, has m ell
with an unexpected and disastrous check
On the 9Th of April. the Union army
under command of Maj. Gen. franklin
moved from Natitoches pronounced Mack.
itosh. toward Shreveport. Natchitoches is
four miles from Red River the nearest point
on the river being Grand Ecore, the place
from which this letter is dated. The road
from Nacitoches is through dense forest OF
pine woods, the surface of the country be-
ing broken and billy. There are but few
/ plantations opened ard nothing upon which
to subsist an army. On Thursday night,
the 7.;army camped at P Ieasaut Hill, SIN all
town in the pine woods, about 80 miles
North east of Natchitoches, on the road to
Shreveport. The wagon road leaves the
river to the right some Is or 20 miles. rem
dering the cooperation of the gunboats i'm
possible. Before encamping at Pleasant
Hill, there was sharp cavalry skirmish,
about two miles beyond that place. result
ing in no important ad vantage to either par
| ty. The cavalry eucamped about 2 miles
in advance of the main army. Next morn
| ing CFridsy the 8th) the army started to-
ward Man field, distance Of IL miles from
Pleasant Hill. About noon, while the en-
envy was in line of march, arrived at a small
bay on. where bridge was being built
Gen. Banks at once assumed command OF
the army in the field. There was almost
constant skirmisbing all the way from Pies
ant Hill to the place where the battle af-
forwards occurred. When Gen. Banks ar
rived at the Bayou, the 18th Armv corps
were several miles in the rear, the 18Th Ar
my Corps were crossing the newly con-
structeh bridge, aud General Lees cavalry
about 5 600 men, some three miles in ad-
vance. toge Their with Mines celebrated bat
terry, the Chicago Mercantile battery. First
Indiana, and battery g. of regular army =
The 4th division, 18th Army corps. under
command Of Gen. Ransom. were hurried
forward as a support to the cavalry. About
three O'Clock in the afternoon, when within
two miles of Mansfield, the advance army
consisting Of the cavalry, artillery and 4th
division, 18th Army corps, above mentioned
while marching through dense pine forest,
there being thick underground of pines on
either side of the road, were attacked by
the rebels in great force. on both tanks and
in the front. The engagement soon became
general, the rebels suddenly opening with
artillery, and musk try, charging our sur
prised and panic stricken columns with ter
rife yells, evincing daring and determi-
nation worthy Of better cause. Gen.
Banks and Gen. Franklin hurried to the
front, and were in the thickest of the fight.
The artillery was speedily put in position
at the extreme front. and for a while did
excellent service. Finding the front rath-
or too dangerous for major generals, Banks
and franklin returned to the rear OF the
wagon train, just in time to save themselves
rom capture, as the rebels pressed upon both |
sid es of our army with crushing effect. a |
ball passed through Gen. Banks hat. Ev
erythirg was sUon in the widest confusion.
the wagon train, being in the rear, and a
barrow road, attempted to turn round to fall |
back, and completely blocked up the way. |
cutting off the advance both from a wsv of
retreat and from re-enforceme The
rebels bad formed in the shape of an isos-
celes triangle, leaving the base open. and at
the apex planting their artillery. Our ad-
vance marched directly into the triangle,
having the two wings of the rebel forces on
either side of them. These wings were
speedily connected, compelling our forces to
retreat or surrender. The batteries above
mentioned, consisting of twenty pieces IN
all, were now captured, together with near.
" all the officers and men. The Chicago
NJ ercantile Battery was captured entire, aod
am informed that all her officers and men
fell into the hands of the enemv. The 4th
Division. 18th Army Corps, 2 800 men, un-
Ger Gen. Ransom. and Gen Lees cavalry.
about 3 600 strong, and the batteries above
1f the wagon train. These forces fought
desperately for a while, but gave way uR-
der superior numbers of the rebels. and re-
treated in great precipitation. The scene
of this retreat leggars all description. Gen.
sral franklin said Of it, that Bull Run was
rot circumstances in comparison Gen. {
Ransom was wounded 10 the knee, bnt rode
IF the field before he was compelled, by
oss of blood. to dismount. Capt. Dickey,
e Gen. Ranson's staff, was shot through
be head and killed instantly. His body
vas left on the field. The position of the I
wagon train in the narrow road, was the {
reat blunder Of the affair. The rear was !
mpletely blocked up. rendering the re-
reat very difficult, and in fact almost i'm Z
ossible. Cavalry horses were dashing at
Ill speed through the roads, endangering
lfaDtry and other pedestrians more than I
,bel musketry. the retreat having become z
} precipitate that all attempts to make a
and for a while seemed impossible Y
The immense baggage and supply train q
Gen. Lees cavalry. consisting of 269 2
agons, nearly all fell into the hands of the :
1emy, together with the mules attached =
hereto. 4
The Sd Division. 18th Army Corps, mus. a
ring about Is ,OCO men, under com m and of =
en-. Cam eron, were sent forward, and en- n,
Favored to make stand. But the effort n
as futile. The rebels pressed so hard up q,
, Gen. Cameron that he could not resist ~
em. After suffering terribly, he fell in "
it the retreating column. The 18th Army n
orps, numbering in all 4 900 men, when T
e e yht began, sustained loss in proper III
on to the number engaged which is per- 81
Fps without a parallel in the history Of v
ia terrible war The I20tb IlIino;s 49,,