Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-28
The Battle Of Cane Rivera
Victory for the Union Forces
The Rebels Driven from the
Field--A Cavalry Charge on
their FIank--The Enemy Loss
100 in Killed, wounded, and
PFfSAnprs.
pecial Correspondence n. Y. Tribune.
BATTLE FIELD OF CANE RIVER,


March %, 1864
Your correspondent is consrained.to TO send
but brief account Of the important
engagement between Gen. Smiths forces
and he Confederate Army at this place
to-day, as he has but one opportunity ofsend-
ing his letter to Alexandria, and that one
will not last. long.
Cane Il yer, % miles above Alexandria,
is one Of the more considerable streams that
flow into or out OF Red River according to
the relative hight of the water in the two
streams. Like Red River, its banks are
divided at short intervals by sloughs, or
bayous, as they are called by the natives.
that are sometimes magni6cd by rains into
small rivers, and sometimes as dry us brick
sidewalk. They are inconceivably crooked,
and when swollen by rains, AS they are now
it is difficult for ona una"quaintsd with the
topography of the country TO tell which is
Cane River and which the tributary. This
stream, however, which will now become
historic name on account of its association
with brilliant Union success, is fixed
institution, its waters being supplied by the
drainage from the higher lands on its west
side. As its name implies its banks are
lined with extensive cane brakes which
in some places cover many thousand acres
and furnish grazing for large herds of cattle
The fact that we would come upon the
enemy at this place was suspected when wo
started from Alexandra, and became
positively known last night, when it was
learned that force Of 1900 Rebels stood
ready to contest our advance, aud were 81
advantag geously disposed that we would find
much difficulty in dislodging them.
We broke camp at an early hour this
morning. and by sunrise the whole army was
in motion, with Movers division and
Dudleys cavalry in advance. The roads
were very heavy and at times almost
i'm passable The men often had to wade
through water waist deep, and frequently a
delay of halfa hour would be incurred
before tho march could be continued We
had not beene en- route more than an hour
when a halfdozen shots, so far ahead as to
be'scarcely distinguishabls, told that we were
in the enemy vicinity. The main body wa,
urged forward with all possible speed, hut
when it arrived near to where it seemed the
advance was about to become engaged, il
was found that the Rebel Outposts had beer
withdrawn to the far side of the river ol
bayou, and iSrmed into strong skirmishinl
line in the forest.
The advance fo,ces Of Gen. Mower:
division were deployea as skirmisshers' and
moved forward through mud and water tC
test the enemy's strength anu position, an anc
became engaged in q few minrtes, Ih'
firing frem the beginning was very rapid
so rapid indeed that Gen. Mower saw HI tc
send heavy reenforoements to the skirmish.
ing line, upon the arrival of whom the firing
was, OF course redoubled This was the
situation of affairs for about 30 minutes
when il became evident that the Rebels were
, giving way. Prisoners, singly and in squads
emerged from the woods in which the en-
gagement was going on, and were conducted
to the rear, while at the same tine the firing
! ofsnall arms from our now advancing line
: increased or diminished ut different points,
as we became engaged with rallied squad,
, OF Rebels or forced them to retreat out o
range. BUTT was no feeble resistance with
, which our men met.
: The enemy gave ground stubbornly. and
, fred sometimes in solid volleys, and anon il
irregular discharges. all the time covering
, themselves with the standing timber. fallen
, trees, and whatever else might serve for the
, purpose. The great end to be obtained nov
was to drive them entirely out Of the woods
and into the open space beyond where oul
men would have the advantage of the timber
' for covering, and the Rebels be obliged t.
iall back to the main line, and thus expose
I their points Of defense.
As our troops came near the further edg,
ofthe woods, the enemy was discovered few
; hundred yards off in our immediate front
and apparently concentrating either to max,
/ au onset upon our lines or to repel an as
, sault upon their own. Both wings wer,
. partially screened by woods aud unever
+ ground, while the center seemed to be pro
8 tectsd from assault in some measure by shal
Z low ravines and sloughs.
. The Rebel skirmishers who had beer
steadily reinforced from the commencement
: OF the fight, aad whose line had. therefore
!. become almost as strong rs y connected lin,
!, Of battle, now withdrew with, some pre-
!. cipitancy across the 6eldin 'front.' while oul
men. pushed boldly after them until within
good range Of the msiu line, upon which