The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-05-05
From the New Yoek Tribune.
Battle Of Pleasa mt Hill.

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We had barely finished our frugal meal a,
O'clock on Saturday afternoon, when Nie
previous luietude was suddenly disturbed
by the roar of the enemv's artillery and
quite rapid musketry firing on our lett
During the forenoon Gen. Banks had evil
IDENTIFY decided upon retreat, as large
body Of troops were ordered to fall back tc
Grand Ecore, 35 miles distant. Among the
troops sent back were Col Dudley's and
Col Goodings Cavalry Briga les. the rem.
nant the once formidable 18th Army Corps,
several batteries ard nearly. if not all Of
the colored troops, as I could not learn of
the latter participating in Saturdays fight.
Hundreds of wagons were likewise sent
to the rear. In fact, preparations were
made to fall back to Grand Ecore on Sat-
urday night. The reason for this retro
grade move nent was the lack of snb-
sistance for our troops and forage for
our horses. The report Of our anticipated
retreat was received with expressions of
dismay and disgust by the officers OF the
10th Army Corps, all expressing desire to
press on toward Mansfield, some fourteen
miles distant, the point where fridays dis
grace occurred. From Mansfield it was
Gen. A, j. Smiths intention to push
sufficient force toward Red River, eighteen
or twenty miles, where junction could
have been formed with the balance of his
forces, some 1000 men belonging to the
18th Army Corps and under the immediate
command Of Brig. Gen. Kirby Smith.
Here our transports were ordered to rem
devious until further instructions were re-
ceived. Our commissary and ammunition
boats were to be met at this point, and after
establishing communication it would have
been an easy matter to supply our men with
rations for ten days or more, enabling them
to pursue the enemy, who we learned from
undoubted authority were in want OF wa
ter, which could not be found within four
teen miles of the battle field. Our 70 ces
controlled all the water within circle OF
ten or twelve miles, and the Rebels sui
fered severely for want Of water. This feet
is corroborated by the prisoners whom we
captured on Saturday.
THE REBEL COLUMNS ADVANCE BOLDLY.
The weather on Saturday was most un
propitious for fair fight. The morning
air was intensely cold. and a more cheerless,
dishar,ened sea Of brnnzed countenances l
never beheid Each private seemed to
comprehend the vast magnitude of our
needless disaster. There was gloomy
silence apparently prevailing every camp,
and we could hear no gladstone shouts OF
victory ring Throughout the decimated
ranks. It is useless TO deny tLat the uni
versal opinion Of tho rank and file was that
our repulse was an ignominious defeat, which
ordinary generalship might have foreseen
and prevented. III
The wind howled pitcously through the
trees. tanning the long pendants of gray
funcreal like moss which decked the tops
of the tall, waving cypress and pines. The
sky was shrouded with protentons clouds,
while dense volumes of dust partially con,
cealed the long pontoon trains as they rum.
bled heavily to the rear. At ~ O'Clock pre-
cisely, the Rebel cavalry advanced toward
the right and center, the exaitant foe yelling
| in the most findish manner, at the same
time brandishing their sabers in the air.
On they came at slow trot in good order
as they neared our lines gradually quick
sning their pace, while close in their real
came the three solid battle lines Of the en-
envy. shouting an indescrihable battle cry
which yould cause the nerves Of the tiinit
to vibrats, remir ding one Of all the feroeity
Of savages. From out the woods helchet
the enemy's artillery, when there arose frou
the cronching- forms Of several thousant
Iloyal men fearful roll of muskstry. open
ling wide gaps in the Rebel lines; but they
were as speedily eiosed. and the enraged fo
with SUDDEN dash threw his gigantic fore,
against our 'front.' aud for q moment OH
whole line sce'nsd 70 wsvs', giving way
few yarda.