The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-05-04
From the Chicago Tribune, Republican.
The Red River Battles.

!
The later and fuller accounts from
the battles in Northwestern Louisiana
do not materially change our former
estimate of them, so far as the main
results are concerned They prove,
however, to be more serious than at
! first reported. Our losses, mainly in
prisoners, are now put as high as
1000 to 5000, with % guns, train
of wagons, and the various smaller de-
bris of arms, ambulanccs, animals, etc.
Against these we have a few hundred
prisoners, three or four guns, and lit
tie else, except the losses inflicted up>
on the enemy in killed and wounded;
Of which our claim is, that twas large;
and from the circumstances, as given,
the claim may be allowed as just.
1t would seem also, that our defeat
on the 8th inst, though quite as com
plete as before stated, was finally
checked at dark by the stubborn fight
ing of Gen. Emery and the 18th
Corps; allowing thus our troops to be
drawn off in safety for the next days
work.
The battle, too, on the 9th, is ap-
parently much more satisfactory than
was feared. The enemy were thor
oughly repulsed and most signally pun
ished. The history of the war scarce
ly records a more terrific administra-
ton of vengeance than was si7en at
Pleasant Hill under Gen. Smith, when
a thousand men were swept from their
feet by single volley. As the enemy
were then charged, and chased some
three OF four miles without venturing
to make stand, the final victory re.
mains with us, but with very serious
drawbacks. .
The disorder Of Our cavalry forces,
and the thorough punishment of the
day before, foiled any suitable follows
ing up of the victory, and give US on
ly meagre rewards in prisoners and
captured guns and materials. The dis
tance, too, of the retrcat-some ff:
teen miles-left the battle field of the
day before, the 9Th, in possession of
the enemy; with all its wreck of spoil
and wounded; and thus the latter are
rclinquished to the tender mercies of
the rebels, to suffer all the want of care
and positive barbarlty which belong to
their treatment of prisoners.
In summing up, the advantages are
largely with the rebels. They gain
much in the way of material, and
which is of considerable Importance to
them west of the Mississippi. They
gain in prestige; for their success on
the Sth was more showy, and gives
better ground of Dragging than ours of
the 9th, And finally, they have effec-
tually broken up the Red River expc,
dition, so far as Banks is concerned;
and if their repulse of him does not
endanger also Steele's command, it
will be a matter of profound congratu-
lation. Banks may talk plucky about
advancing, and taking Shreveport yet;
but without some new rove upon the
chess board not now visible, he will
return to New Orleans in bed aggled
feathers. AS to the blame of bltn,
dering, it does not now appear that
Stone had anything to do with it. If
any blame is attached to it, there
seems to be but one head and pair cf
shoulders for it to rest upon. That
there was q want of caution, seems to
admit of no doubt. When such men
as Ransom, who is brave as lion, and
who never kept out of fight mos
ment yet, when there was a chance to
go in-when such as he suggest doubt
and caution, generals with less expert
ence, though superior in command,
will do well to psy him some attention.
There seems to have been no want
of good conduct on the field after the
battle began. The great blunder con-
sisted in bringing on the fight with
the advance guard while the bulk of
the army were out of supporting dis
tance. We fought in detachments; the
enemy in solid mass. We failed in
Our men did their duty
nobly. There was terrific fighting and
special instances of good generalship
--and had there been half d chance,
it is evident we should not be obliged
to report else than splendid victory.