New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-27
NOVEL NODE OF CLEARING A ROAD.

Gen. Andrew jackson Smith, commanding
de.achmcnts 10th and 18th Army Corps after being de.
nyed hours by brigade cavalry wagon traa long
enough FOR transporting the troops Of a gOod.szed
srpr, reached Pleasant Hill at sundown yesterday &C.
eording 20 his promise with Gen. Banks several davs
previous. 1t was only through the greatest PERSONA
sxertions Of Gen Smith that his troops we're hurried
through the thick pine country Will the narrow road
wa completely blocked up Wit this long train half Of
The wagons filed with nks chairs valises and ohor
cumbersome baggage, snch as greatly embarrass and
o'entmes' as In the disaster Of yesterday DpeTl the
Nes OF mon Sands q men.
lung the officers in charge were hot competent
men, Gen. Smith at once ordered Col Shaw. command
ing Sd Brigade to place the 18th Iowa Infantry in
front with fixed bsyonets and II necessary fight their
nay through the road. Finding it useless to daily
longer the sleepy INDECENT crowd got walked up and
rather than submit 10 bayonet charge they concluded
D. get up and git" as the soldiers say. Late in the
afternoon quite heavy eannonsding was heard about
fourteen miles distant and shortly after one Of Gen.
Bankss staff officers reported TO Gen. Smith with dis
patches From this officer learned that Gen. Lees
cavalry forces and a portion Of the 18th Army Corps
were indulging in pretty heavy. skImshng with
Tie enemy about four miles beyond Pleasant 1iill.
Gen. Smith sent back Yosd that notwithstanding the
needless delay Of five hours he would have his COM
nand at Pleasant Lii at the promised time, Friday
night. At sunset on Friday the sound of flies and
drums innnmerable whistlDg and beating their lively
martial music told Of the arrival Of Whitley Smith,
o. the boys call him. and Smiths Guerras, they
delight to be called In hours time the troops were
snugly eBeamped on the old Methodist camp.meeting
grounds not however. before vigorous assault was
made on the buildings. which disappeared as If by
magic. There is peculiar style of legerdemain prac
heed by soldiers in relation to the procurement OF
arewood which must be seen 20 be appreciated.
We hai retired to our sunptuous oouches, with the
brad canopy Of clear starlight sky above stretched
Our exhausted forms upon the eonsecrated soil where in
days Of yore the gospel Of Christ preached TO listen
Ing and repentant sinners, when solitary horseInsn
dashed to headquarters with the doefu tdngs OF the
great calamity that had bealen forces SO extern
awe disaster supposed 10 be impossible, and the
eavalrymsn who brought the startling intelligence
being placed under arrest for making false 81 sie
monts. An hour later Col CLARK Of Gen. Bankss staff
arrived at Gen. Smiths headquarters end impaired the
gloomy Information. An order was at once issued by
Gen smith for his troops to be in readiness before day.
light for a msrch. Nothing beyond some slight Skin
mishing along our front Pleasant Ill., disturbed the
s1onotOny Of Saturday forenoon
Al noon two or three buildings were set On FIRE and
burnt to the ground in order to give our artillery full
range the low belt Of woods that skrted the omen
hollow in front of the Rebel lines The nature OF the
ground which our lines Of defense were FORMED rem
dered il necessary for an.open field fight IL the enemy
shCuh venture to attack Pleasant Hill is small
village Of abou- two hundred inhabitants situated on
sli.t eIninence, IS miles from Grand Ecore The town
boasts Of q miserable isory hut which was digni
fed with the Of hotel three stories and an acad
sDy. At Il O'Clock Saturday afternoon. while the
wagon ;rains Of the 10th Army Corps wero moving
rapidly fhe rear the enemy suddenly opened on our
right ard center with four pieces Of artillery, which
was promptly responded to by the 25h n. T. Battery.
AID the Let Vermont Battery.
Tho disposition Of our troops was follows; On the
len. Col Lynch I'd Brigade. 81 Division. 10th Army
Corps. consisting of the 5sth and llsth Illinois Regi
nents and s9th Indiana with the LIST Vermont Battery
Of the 18th Army Corps Center--Col. Moores LIST
brigade, comprising tie 19th and ll7th Illinois Regi.
nents with The l7sth View. York while Immediately in
'sir rear. for support. the Sd Indiana Battery wns
uassed with the 47th Illinois Regiment Of Infantry and
we Se indiana Battery. Gen. Franklin, with lhs 10th