Washington telegraph., 1864-07-13

weak and unprepared. there to become {
true attack, and result in the occupancy
and devastation of the heart OF the grea
agricultural districts of the State. 1'c
ward off this attack Gen. Smith sent hitb.
er the gallant Green's division, but al
ways under orders to its commandine 9
officers TO be ready to move at moment (
warning. Here it accordingly remained
until the latest safe moment, arriving in
Louisiana just in time to encounter the
enemy-so well did Gen. Smith time his
every movement. There may have been
another reason for not moving the divis-
ion of Gen. Green to the Louisiana front
until the last moment; il is that Gen.
Banks supposing this front TO be feebly
defended, might be rendered confident
and careless. and thus his feint and d.
version in Western Texas be turned
against himself. Such, indeed. was one
effect, but whether it was a reason with
the Gen. Commanding is known, it is be-
lieved, only to himself
in the last days of March. portion
Of Gen. Banks forces, the 10Th and 18th
army corps, under Gen. A. j. Smith,
landed at Siminsport, near the mouth of
Of Red River; they captured fort De
iiussey, situated on that river several
miles above. Gen. Walkers division fall
ing back before him. Simultaneously
the 18th and 18th army corps, under
command Of Gen. Franklin and of Gen
Banks as commander-in-chief, moved up
the Techs to Opelousas. driving Gen.
Douton's division before ;hem. The
Two Yankee armies proceeding onwards,
fen. Banks united them at Alexandria,
where Admiral Porter, with his feet OF
gunbosts and transports ascending Red
River. had arrived about tile same time.
&c Banks here dividing his forces again.
moved them aorthward towards Shreve-
port in two parallel columns, taking the
Natchitoches roads, marching the 18th
and 10Th army corps ON the river road,
and 10th and 18th army corps on the
Fort Jesup road; Admiral Porter at the
same time ascending the river with his
transports and gunboais. These Yam
zee columns We're to be united at Match
i;ochcs. though they did not in fact c, m
together till the battle of Pleasant Hill.
Gems. Walker and Mouton in the mean
time falling back before the advancing
columns of the enemy as stated, united
their forces. the whole under command
of Maj. Gen. Taylor, at McNutts Hill,
some sixteen or eighteen miles west Of
Alexandria. After their union our armv
moved northward tow ards Shreveport.
on liae parallel with Red river aud
with the routes soon after taken, as Jus;
-. 81, 4 u
in advance OF tie eHemy's columns AT
the same time. too. Gen. Kirby Smith
was concentrating towards Shreveport
and in reference TO the movements OF the
enemy, ali the other disposable forces of
his department, and with the greatest
and most soldierly celerity--n CELEBRITY
seldom parallelled in this war, having to
move some of the troops, for the reason
hinted at above, 800 and 400 miles
About the lst of April, Gen. Green q
! Division Of cavalry, commenced crossing y
the Sabine river at various points from
Burr's ferry to Mansfield. Soon after
crossing, our cavalry commenced skir-
mishing with the enemy. and continued
to do SO till the 9Th OF April, when the
]
took place. This was the battle of Mans
field. fought on the evening Of the Sth OF
Aprii-the Confederate infantry under
command OF Gems. Mouion and Walker,
the cavalry under Gen. Green. the whole
commanded by Maj.-Gen. Taylor. Night
put an end to the battle. During the
night Of the Sth and morning Of the Oil
the enemy retreated Ii miles, and ut 4
p. M, the 9th. formed in line Of battle
Gen. Kirby Smith reinforced Gen. Tay-
lers army by the divisions of Generals
Churchill and Monroe Parsons. which
had come bv forced marches from Gen.
Prices army in Arkansas; Gen. Kirby
Smith himself arrived on the field AT the
same time. These reinforcements were
very opportune-and as far rs can hc
seen. decisive. At s p. m. our army at
tackled the Yankee lines near Pleasant
Hill. For two hours the battle ragged
with great fury. but owing TO the ground
and the strength Of the envmy's position,
no decisive advantage seemed TO be gain
ed. for at night both armies occupied
their original positions. Daring the
night the enemy commenced his retreat
towards Natcbitoches.
With the first reports Of the battle ~
Mansfield came the report TINT it was
fought by Gen. Taylor without, or rather
contrary to the orders of Gen. Kirby
Smith. This is p mistake; the battle ot
Mansfield was brought on BY General
Mouton, and without the orders Of Gen
Taylor. then commanding in chief
W Whether it was wisely done or not. by
General Mouton, who fell on that glorious
field, or whether it would not have been
wiser to defer. and withdraw the enemy
farther from his base, and from the sup
port of his gunboats, that his discomfit-
ure might have been more complete and
overwhelming, is a matter Of opinion
Gen. Taylor we are informed, on what
we deem good authority, acquiesced in
this part of the strategical plans of Gen,
. Smith. 1t would, too, be most ungra-
cious to find fault with what, on the
{ whole, eventuated so gloriously.
u +I,a 1ntb Horaro1