The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-04-30
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITIONS !!

TWO BAnrnEs EOuGHTu 4
m. rius, . Rrt4tas5.;.nA si.,a vesery.
Reports Of disaster came to us last week
from Red River, and the details Of it are at
band. They tell the usual story. 1t was
want of Generalsbip which lost the first,
and Generalship which won the second bat
tie on Red River.
<f-,g THE ADVANCE.
Il was on the 9th Of April that the
Union army {ssder 6ensf frankliv) adssnc-
ed from Nacbitoches towards Shreveport.
This place is distant from Red River four
miles, Grand Ecorc being its shipping
poiut. y On the 7ih it encamped at night
iheayy skirmishing occurring during the
day) at Pleasant Hill, thirty miles north
east of Nachitocbes. The cavalry were in
advance. On the 9Th it moved towards
Mansfield, skirmishing oil the time.
THE FIGHT.
Our army seems TO have been badly scat.
terd. Concentration was not thought OF.
When Gen. Banks arrived at the Bayou,
the 10Th Army Corps were several miles in
the rear, the 18th Army Corps were cross
ing the newly constructed bridge, and Gen.
Lees cavalry, about Eve thousand men.
some three miles in advance, together with
Minis celebrated battery, the Chicago Mer-
camille battery, lst Indiana and battery G.,
of regular army. The fourth division,
18th Army Corps, under command of Gen.
Ransom, we're hurried forward as a support
to the cavalry. About 8 o'clock P. NJ,
when within two miles Of Mansfield, the
advance army, consisting of the cavalry,
artillery and fourth 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 Aanks and in the front.
he engagement soon became general, the
rebels suddenly opening with artillery and
musketry, charging our surprised aud panic
stricken columns with terrific yells, evinc
ing daring aud determination worthy Of q
better cause.
| CONFUSION AND RETREAT.
The Third Division, 18th Army Corps,
mastering about l 600 men, under command
Of Gen. Cameron, were sent forward, and
endeavored to make stand, but the effort
was futile. The rebels pressed so hard up-
on Gen. Cameron that be could not resist
them. After suffering terribly, he fell in
with the retreatiDg column. The 18th
Army Corps, numbering in all 4,600 men,
when the fight began, sustained loss. in
proportion to the number engaged, which
is perhaps without parallel in the history
nf this terrible war. The 18th Illinois,
commanded by Maj. Reed, attached to the
fourth division, could only find Fifty y-eight
men after the battle. So precipitate was
the retreat of the fourth division of this
corps, that the men only brought off elk
hundred and forty stand of small arms,
hundreds Of them throwing away their guns
to facilitate their movements. At least
one-half of the 18th corps we're killed,
wounded or captured. Gen. Lees cavalry
lost heavily, but some time must elapse
before correct estimates can be obtained.
The rctreating column fell back some four
or five miles, when the 10Th Army Corps.
under Gen. Emory, came up and succeeded
in making stand. The enemy charged
upon Gen. Emory's forces, but we're check
ed and repulsed with considerable loss.
Night came Oh, and thus ended the battle
f Mansfield.
| The stand was made By the 10Th Army
Corps, which remained on the field until
midnight, when it fell back to Pleasant
Hill, distance of about twelve miles, ar
riving there about daylight Saturday morn
ing. Gen. Lees cavalry and the 18th
Army Corps continued their precipitate
retreat from the battlefield to Pleasant
Hill.
| BATTLE OF PLEASANT HILL
On the 9th Banks ordered retreat to
Grand Ecore. 1t bad commenced. The
wagon train wss in motion. Just then,
the rebels made their FIRST assault.
OUR POSITION.
Our forces were posted 80 rs to effectually
cover our retreat. the right restiDg about
half mile to the northwest Of Pleasant
Hill, the centre about half mile to the
west, and the left still further west. about .
half q mile in the woods. The 10Th Army
Corps. commanded by Gen. A. j. Smith.
occupied the right up to the centre. and the
10Th Army Corps, under Gen. franklin,
the left up. to- the centre. The reserves
we're posted about half mile in the rear.
The forces supporting the 10th Army cerps
were the 49th Illinois, commanded BY Maj.
Thomas w. Morgan, 17Sth New York,
commanded by Col. Walker, 89.h indiana,
commanded by Col. Murray, and the 58tb
Illinois The rehela under Kirhv Ssn;,b
attacked our whole front in great force, and
after half hour of terrible fighting, With
musketry and Geld artillery. our, forces fell