, 1864-05-05
TIE RED RIVER DISASTER.
The Cavalry Train and why 1t Was
Captured.
DETAILED REPORT OF LOSSES.

DETAILED REPORT OF LOSSES.
From the Red River correspondence Of the
Il. 7. Herald, May 1st, VIC gather the follow
irg additional particulars Of interest relltiYe
10 tho Red River disaster: -. -
THE CAPTURED CAVALRY TRAIN.
Those who accompanied General Lee IN his
late advance know how anxious he was for
the safely Of his train. They know that the
necessity for it6 protection as he penetrated
new country, over single narrow road,
through densely wooded country, where he
enemy, who might spring upon him from
some OF the numerous cross roads, or dash
at him from some chosen position In his
front, Was to him great embarrassment.
They knew that he was desirous not to be OBJ
structed, By bis train, which be made in effort
to keep to the rear, with the advance Of the
infantry. But the apprehensiona for the safe
t. Of his train, though shared iu by his brig
ade commanders, were not sufficiently un-
derstood elsewhere. Ifthey had been the
cavalry train would hare been kept to the
rear, with the advance Of the infantry.
he communicated with the officer In COM
nund Of the forcea on that subject, from
whom bis general instructions were to press
the enemy as rapidly as possible and to Keep
his tratpe close up.
At o'clock p. m. on Tho day Of the Will
sons farm skirmish Gen. Lee, who Was In.
frequent communication with Gen. Franklin,
informed him that the cuetny had driven us
with considerabIe loss: that We had driven
them In turu. ana rcrained Onr Ground: that
the enemy had then lust diss6peared from
our front and firing had ceased, aud thtt he
should advance little cautiously.
Gen. Franklin, at Pleasant Hill, In ack-
noWledging the receipt of that dispatch, In
formed Gen. Lee that brigade Of infantry
went to the front, but the firing having
ceased it Vas withdrawn; that the infantry
WAS then all at Pleasant Hill, and directed
him to proceed that night as far IS possible
with his whole train, iu order to give the ln-
dantry room to advance on the following
At21@ o'clock p. m. Gen. Lee again ad.
dressed Gen. Franklin, informing hin that
he must go forward some si1 miles for water,
expressing the opinion that q division of in
fantry should approach near to him, and
stating That he should advance d short dis
tance. Ala o'clock p. m. Gen. Leo again
communicated with Gen. franklin, inf0rm-
ing him that lie was driving the enemy, with
sharp Diminishing.
At nine O'Clock ?. m. General Lee, then
eight miles from Pleasant Hill, aaliu ad-
dressed General franklin, apprisiug him
that at sundown the enemy were inst in
his advance, in strong position, with four
that We suffered somewhat, and we're then
simply holding the ground. General Lee, In
that dispatch, deemed 1t much more expeus-
i've IN lie fo f}t lit thc enemy IN that i,,mp.
diatt country With dis,nopnted and nccss.a-
1ily somewhat confused cavalry, than with
infantry. With entire Difference to General
Franllin's Judgment, General Lee 1herejore
sureestgd tla7 q brieade Of infantry ehnni5
be ordered to the front at m e,rlv hnnr The
eneuinp norninr. tn art viii, lin in a.
conducf Of the advance. ne rhscrveft a1sn
tint If a resistance s1,on1d hc moda !, = shoni3
ike fo ieave his fr,in win thc eauona. ~
The inf.rtrv He c,osoI IN Stain IL. snas;
ncss ~ nova bIs cnnr.n3 st Az T;nhe r. 'suu ;a
Inv tint there VIVA littIe ~ M watsr ~ ~a ~
nc,r hfs con,n Tho r.,,ir - th,s ,,s,,ota., ~,
woa dotrS at ho1f 1,et twoire '7 a "'ets.s% 4. ~
hnrrs AR, }o1f Later IN Viii, Ear 49,
lin informed Cen I,ee that Gnn R.nta "xM. IN.
tl,ere and hv-his orde, hr;rndc ~ ;nf,atas "as
onfa 7nnrs ~ bfs snn,sort =, 49, " .u.10s'5
At fnr4 r.f1re r;nntas ~ ono - -, g. A. a-r,,
twn or three honrs hrTors 1ha e,,e,, M, -
facted A. soh;n. Cross pna,,s -, I.a hs,, ~,
tivc miss fro1n M.nst;aIJ ;oFo-,.a5 Hn.. LEV
Front In fhat H. cnoTS Ia3 I'm. ~ ua'
81 onr nrcn-esa a. ara-y E'soS'h1a "u I s;tI
int W. E snIie-ea ~ l;1,sa ond 1.n,dId pusipn b
aJronno5 sto.311,. r., Sar1.. 4 - M oLt
Gen FranEiin 4ho, oic, ,,o, ~ 'sIls ~ US
ex1,re..e3 = hs1tcrthoi Con- ~ had ,IH +. ~
lime hecr ;oined ~ nen R,nsn, a ~ ,1;.h III.
another hrig1dc If ;n}niFn e sna ,ans W.T. TIT
he shon1d he ah1e ~ ~ "nu .st aets r. sna'
Emnrx,s force thc neSt aaor - p-a,;aua ~ n n'
Isnsa .o'ee LIE neA1 Gay IL relieve den.
Abont Ills time Gen I,ce occom,,,;ed h.
Gen. Stoue, approachcd The hiIl whera r.
was subsequently attacked. Thn nosjt;nn IN
lis front was strour. and. If tho cne,nv 10. L..
Tended it with ARTILLERY, it could not be gained
cxccpt with immense IA loss of 1ife M enrmv
etnt M and Il was occnnfed a9ss Mod "a "eae re
uete1m!Eeo "" noL 70 MAKE tnat ADVANCE, and
the enemy afterwards held that hill with their
batteries, he Wou1a have been censured for
timidity, and on him would have fallen the
responsibility Of a serious check to the ad. M
lion t,1ee or fnnr hany. htf,rs M as'u ~ aae posi-
aua sase " tout Aoa1s ueaoIe tue attack
"as made, Which no one aPprehended- The
result need not be repeated. In his own Ian
guage, our march hitherto had been stbright-
eued ty yictorirs and safdened h7 rrave. !,
The fortunes of war and the distsnc. 1fb;ch
-s-n.etnJ 49, 3C. 49, ~ -. .@!ssAueI "Atc4 !
s,t"~s i"s..y ~ tu.a4y HoA t1e ct"!ty, icu
" ~ u"4ePiItous opeuiHF u tne nGht that
evening. winch W43 not. however. dncfRfYA