New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-22
The Battle OF Cane Rivera Victory for
the Union Perces-The Rebels Driven
firm. the FicId-A Cavalry Charge on
their FIsnk--The Enemy Lsses roo In
Killed, Wounded, and Prisoners.
From Our Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent
BATTLE FIELD OF CANE RIVE, March q. 1864.
Your correspondent is constrained to send
but brief account Of the important engagement be-
tween Gen Smiths forces and the Confederate Army at
this place to-day he has but opportunity Of send
ing Lis letter 10 Alexandria and that will not last
lOng.
Cane River. IS miles above Alexandria, is one 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 divided
at short intervals by sorghs or bayous As they are
called by the natives, that sometimes magnihed by
rains into small rivers and sometimes AZ dry as brick
sidewalk They are inconceiyably crooked, and when
swollen By rains they are now II Is difficult for one
unacquainted with the topography Of the country to
tell which is Cane River and which the tributary. This
stream. however which viii now become historic
name on account Of its association with brilliant
Union success Ia fixed institution. its waters being
supplied by the drainage from The higher lands on its
west side. As its 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.
Tie fact that we would come upon the enemy at this
Mace was suspec ted when we started from Alexandria
learned that force of IL 90 Rebels stood ready 10 con-
test our advance and advantageously 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 Mowers
division and Dudlcy's cavalry in advance The roads
we're very heavy and at times almost impossible The
men often had to wade through water waist deep and
doia NJ half hour he
before the march could be continued We had not been
en- route than an hour. when half dozen shots
So far ahead to be scarcely dstngushable told that
We were in the enemys vicinity. Tho main body was
urged forward with all possible speed but when ii
rived near 10 where ii seemed the advance about
to become engaged it was found that the Rebel out
posts had been withdrawn TO the far side Of the river
bayou and formed into strong skirmishing line in the
forest.
The advance forces Of Gen. Movers division were
deployed as administers and moved forward through
mud and water to test the enemys strength and posi-
ton and became engaged in few minutes Tho firing
from the beginning was very rapid-so rapid indeed
that Gen Mower saw fit to send heavy reGnorcements
to the diminishing line upon the arrival Of whom the
firing was Of course redOubled. This the situation
Of affairs for about 30 minutes when 1t became evident
that the Rebels were giving way. Prisoners, sDgiy
and in squads emerged nom the woods in which the
engagement was going on. and were conducted TO the
rear, while at the time the firing of small
from our advancing line increased or diminished
at different points, became engaged with rallied
squads OF Rebels forced them TO retreat out Of range
But it no feeble resistance with which men
met
The enemy gave ground stubbornly and fred some
times in solid voeys and in irregular discharges
all the time covering themselves with the standing tim
Der fallen trees and Whatever else might serve for the
purpose The great end TO be obtained now was to
dive them entirely out Of We woeds aud into the oVea