Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-29

TaE RED RIVER BATrLE.-The last Of the
two battles Of April Sth and 9th is thus
described
The batle-heId OF Pleasan; Hill is large
open field, slightly elevated in the centre. from
which It's name IS taken. 4 sami-crc.e belt OF
timber runs around the field on the Shreveport
side. Gen. Emory formed his line Of battle on
the side facing these woois, Gen McNillan's
brigade beng posted on the right. Gen. Dwight
in the centre, and Col. Benedict on the len
Tsylor'- Battery, lst egulars, had four guns
IN the rear Of the left wing on the left Of the
Shreveport road and two on the road in rear Of
Gen. Dwghi's line Hbhard's Vermont bat
terry was on the right. ~ the rear o. Gen.
Emory. aud concealed by the rising ground.
were cen SMITH tried troops, formed IN two
lines Of battle, 50 yards apart
All o. hrs artillery was in the front line a
section of the battery being on the flank Of each.
the Infantry lying between them. The 18th
corps was IN the rear, being a reserve, under
Gen. Cameron, Gen. Ransom having been
Wounlei the DAY before. Gen Smith was CONF
mtnder-in-chief Of the two lines. Gen Mower
being the immediate commander of the trooTs.
Cmwfori's 81 Indiana battery WAS pos-ci on
the rilht Of the seth Indiana infantry and The
9th Indiana battery on the right Of the line q
battle
Skirmishing was KEEP, up with considerable
vgor until about t. NJ. when the rebels had
completed their arrangements for tine attack -
Al about this time, however, Gen. Emory'- line
OF sarm.shers was driven in on the right hv the
rebels, VINO appeared IN large numbers coming
through the woods They soon reached the
open ground. and moved 10 three lines Of battle
To- the attack. Oar battery and infantry opened
with terrd, effect, dong great slaughter With
grape and canister, while the rebel artillery. be-
ING 10 the woods and IN a bad position, did
scarcely any damage. Col. Beueiicts hrigaie,
on The .eft. Wa first engaged, soon followed by
Gels. Dwight, and McNIiliAn's
The hght was terrific. O'i soldiers say u yvas
never surpassed Tor desperation Notuith-
standing the terrible havoc 10 their ranks the
reosis pressed iisrcey on, slowly pushing the
men % the Nineteenth corps back up the hill,
HIt uot breaking their line Of battle A sudden
lul bold dash Of the rebels ou thc riaht gave
them possession Of Taylor's Battery ana forced
our lines st.l further back. Now came the
grand coup de main The Nineteenth corus ON
arriving at the top Of the hill suddenly ilei of
over the bill and passed through the lines of
Gen. Smith. The rebels were we're nov hut in
two lines Of battle, the first having been almost
aunihiAied by Gen. Emory, what remained be-
ing forced back in the second line.
Bat the two lines came on exultant AMI SIRE
Of victory. The first passed over the knoll. and
al needless Of the long line Of cannon AMI
cr1uching forms Of as brave men as ever troi
mother earth, pressed on. The second line an
peared on the crest and the death-signal was
sounded Words cannot describe the awful ef-
feet Of this discharge; 700 rifles aud several bat
teries Of artillery, each loaded to the mu1,le
with grape and canister, were fired simultane-
ously, and the whole centre Of the rebel line was
crushed down as a field Of ripe wheat through
which a tornado had passed
Il is estimated that 1000 men were hurried
into eternity or frightfully msngled by this one
discharge. Nc time was given them 10 recover
their good order, but Gen. Smith ordered
charge, and his men dashed rapidly forward.
the boys Of the 18th corps joining in. The
rebels fought bravely and desperately back 70
the timber, on reaching which large portion
broke and fed, fully 1000 throwing aside their
arms. In the charge, Taylor's battery was re-
taken, also two guns Of Nims' battery. the Par
rott guns taken from Us last fall al Carbon
Grow and one or two others belonging 10 the
rebels. besides 700 prisoners
pursuit and desultory fight WAS ken, m |
three miles, when our men returned 10 the held
Of battle; thus ended this fearful and bloody |
struggle for the control Of Western Louisiana.