Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-04-26
Grand Ecore, La. !
On Red River, April 10. 1861 I

| have very bad news to write to you.-
We have met With a severe disaster.
Our cavalry had been driving the enc
my for two days, but in the forenoon of
the 9Th inst they sent back word for in
fantry support. General Ransom, 10 com.
mand Of the % and 4ih divisions of the
18Th Army Corps, was ordered to send
forward brigade, and did 81. At noon
he was ordered to send up all of the 4th
division, and went with them. After ad
vanclng about five miles from where the
Sd division Of his command and the 18th
Army Corps were encamped, the rebels
made stand, and our line, consisting of
ouly 2. 400 infantry, was formed in belt
OF woods. With an open field III front, and
the enemy in the woods on the other side
General stone (uf Balls Bluff famel, Chief
of Gen. Banks staff was On the field, and
took direction Of the movements. General
Rams m was in favor Of advancing only in
force, but his wish was d,sregarded.
We were five miles from our reinforce
meDts, with thick woods behind them.
through which ran a narrow road, COM
ple,ely filed with wagon trains, aud max
ing an orderly retreat impossible.
Alter keeping up skirmish firing
across this open field for about an hour,
the enemy advanced upon US in over
whelming numbers - probably not less
than ten thousand strong. General Raa-
som got ell his available troops to the
front and opened on them. The enemy
lost heavily, but they advanced steadily,
and soon made our cavalry give way. and
the infantry fell back. 10 few moments
the enemy pressed US 80 closely, end the
psblc OF the cavalry was so demOra!isiug,
that the retreat became a rOut. The Gen
eraI did all 10 his power to rally the men,
but finding it impossible without rein
forccments, he made every effcrt to save
the artillery. 1t was while endeavorIng
to get the Chicago Mercantile Battery off
safely that General Ransom was severely
sounded in the leg. and Captain Cyrus E.
hickey. his Adjutaut (son CT Judge Dick
eey, OF Ottawa, Ill, was instantly killed
by being shot through the head
Our 'ss was iarge-probsbly about g.
OO0. The Mercantile Battery lost all their
guns; and Captain White is a prisoner,
Lieutenants Throop and Barr killed, and
the loss OF the battery ia killed and capt
ured is thirty. The battery boys lost all
their clothing. One hundred aud ten of
them returned to the camp after the disas.
te'.
While the 4th division was falling back
IN disorder. tie Sd division, numbering
only 800 men, came up and was immedi.
ately routed. This was after General Ran
som had been wounded and taken to the
rear: FnalIy the 10Th Army Corps, with
OOO men came up, formed line check
ed the enemy, and held them until we
got all our trains except that of the cav
airy.
1t has been terribly unfortunate sfair,
but no one here attaches the least blame
90 0eneral Ransom, who acted under Or
ders, and. until disabled, did all that snv
officer could do under the circumstances
but with an overwhelming force to con,
tend against, aid no feincorcements,
what could be expected but Just such
rout?
The whole army is now falling back
here. where it must wait to reorea1ize be.
fore proceeding further towards Shrevs.
port.