Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-25
Saturday Evenings Report.
FROM NEW YORK.

New York, April %.
The following from the N. o. Era is an
secount Of the final victory Of the Union
forces. After some terrific fighting at
o'clock Saturday merning, our forces were
at Pleasant Hill, and the rebels were ad.
vsneing cavalry in front, endesVoring to
discover our position. Col o. P. Gooding
with his brigade of Lees cavalry corps
was sent out on the Shreveport road to
meet the enemy and draw him on. He had
gone about mile, when he came upon the
rebel advance, skirmishing Immediately
ensued, and according to the plan, he
slowly fell back. The fight was very sharp
between these cavalry bodies, and Col.
Gooding lost nearly 40 men, killed and
wounded, intiicting however as muon dam
age as he received. The 18Th Corps was
reserve in the rear under General Came
ron-General Ransom having been wound
ed the day before. General Smith was the
commander in chief Of the men. The COM
msnder Of the right brigade in General
Smiths west line was Col. Lynch, the left
REs RE5g&ds Ess Col 81 shsB4 RspORd line
fight Of the 59tkH -ThdiSSSia Infantry, and
the 9th Indiana battery on the right Of the
line Of battle.
The Missouri Iron Gun battery and 9TH
eFs whose names and numbers we could
not learn, were also in this section of the
battle. The skiFmishing was kept up with
considerable vigor until about o'clock
in the afternoon, when the rebels had
completed their arrangements for the at
tack. At about this hour General Emo
ry's skirmish line was driven in on the
right by the rebels who in large numbers
come through the timber above mentioned.
They soon reached the open ground and
moved on 10 to the attack in three lines Of
battle. Our batteries and infantry opened
with terrible effect, doing great slaughter
with grape and esnnister, while the enc.
my's artillery being in the woods and in a
bad position, did scarcely any damage.
Colonel Benediot's brigade on the left was
first engaged, soon followed by Dwights
and McMillsn's.
The fighting was terrific. Old soldiers
say it never was surpassed for despers-
ton. Notwithstanding the terrible havoc
in their ranks the enemy pressed iercely
on, slowly pushing the men Of the 18th
corps back up the hill, but not breaking
their.line Of battle. A subdued and bold
dash Of the rebels on the right gave them
possession Of Tsyloi's battery and forced
our lines sill further back. Now came
| the grand coup de main. The 18th on ar
irving at the top Of the hill suddenly filed
over the hill and passed through the lines
Of General s Nth. We must here men,
ton that the rebels were now in but two
! lines Of battle, the first having been almost
snnihslsted by General Emory, what re.
msined having been forced back into the
second line, but these two lines came on
exultsnt and sure Of victory. The first
passed over the knoll and all needless Of
the long line of cannons and crushing
forces pressed on.
The second line appeared on the crest,
and the death signal was sounded. Words
cannot describe the awful effects Of this
discharge. Seven thousand rifles and sew.
ersl batteries Of artillery, loaded TO the
muzzle with grape and canister, are fired
simultaneously, and the whole center Of
the rebel line was crushed down frightful
ly mangled BY this one discharge. Nc
time was given them to recover their good
order, but General Smith ordered charge
and his men dashed rapidly forward, the
boys Of the 10Th joining in. The rebels
fought boldly and desperately back to the
timber, on reschingawhich large portion
broke and fed, fully 1000 throwing ssidr
their arms.
In this charge Taylors Battery wat
taken, ss were also two Of the guns oi
Minis Battery. Also the PARROT CUR
taken taken from US at Gsrrion Crow las
fall, and one or two others belonging Il
the rebels, one Of which was considerably
shattered, besides seven hundred pris.
oners.
A pursuit and desultory fight was KEEP
up for three miles, when our men returned
TO the ield Of battle. Thus ended tht
fearful and bloody struggle for the contro
Of Western Louisisns.