Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-28
The Red River Expedition Two
Great battles.

Great battles.
Special Correspondence q the st. Louis Republican.
GRAND EcoRE. April ID.
The grand expedition up Red river, which
promised such beneficial results. has met with an
unex pected and disastrous check.
On the 9th of April the Union army, under
command of M-or General Franklin. moved
from Nschitoches pronounced Nackitosh,J to-
ward Shreveport Nachitoches is four miles
from Red river. the nearest point on the river
being Grand Ecore, the place from which this
let,ec is dated The road from Nachtoches is
through dense forest of pine woods. the sur
face of the country being broken and hilly.
There are but few plantations opened. and moth
Ing upon which TO subsist army On Thurs
day night. the .th. the army camped near Pleas
ant Hill. u small town in the pine woods. about
thirty miles northeast of Nachitoches. the
road to Shreveport The wagon road leIyes the
river To the right some ID or 30 miles rendering
the co operation of the gunboats impossible.
Before encampng at Pleasant Hill. there a
sharp cavalry skirmish. about two miles beyond
that place. resulting in no important advantage
To either side.
The cavalry encamped about seven miles in
advance of the main army Next morning
Friday. the Sth,) the army started toward Mans
held. distance Of IL miles from Pleasant Hill
About noon. while the enemy in the line Of
march. arrived at the front, at SIN all bayou.
where bridge being built. Gen. Banks
Mt once assumed command of the army in the
field. There almost constant diminishing
oil the way from Pleasant Hill to the place where
the battle afterward occurred When General
Banks arrived at the BAYOU. the 18th army corps
several miles in the rear. the 18th army
corps crossing the newly constructed bridge. !
and Gen. Lees cavalry. about 900 men. some |
three miles in advance, together with MIN 5
celebrated battery. the Chicago Mercantile
Battery, lst Indiana and Battery G OF regular
army.
The 18th Division OF the 18th Army Corps. un- !
der command OF General Ransom. were hurried /
forward support to the cavalry AbOu, 3
o'clock in the afternoon. when within two miles /
oi Mansfield. the advance army consisting of the /
cavalry, artillery and fourth division. 18th armv
corps above mentioned. while marching through I
dense forest. there being thick underground of |
pines on either side of the road. attacked by
the rebels IN great force. on both TANKS aud IN /
she front. The engagement soon became gener
al. the rebels opening with artillery and musketry.
charging our surprised and panic-strcken col
umns with terrific yells. evincng daring and
determination worthy OF better c.srse General
Banks and General Franklin hurrisi to the front.
and for while did excellent ser ice Finding
the front rather too dangerous for tAjor generals.
Banks and franklin returned 20 tHe OF the
capture ~ the rebels pressed upon both sides of
our army with crushing effect. A bail pissed
through General Banks hat Everything was
soon i'm the widest confusion: the wagon train.
being IN the rear. and in narrow road. attempted
TO turn round 10 fall back, and completely
Blocked the way. cutting off the advance both
from wav Of retreat aud from reinforcements.
The rebels bad formed in the shape OF an isos
cele- triangle. Lowing the b ,se open, aud At the
nj. ntr Hrat
marche, directly into the triangle. having the
two wings of the rebel forces on either side If
them. These wings were speedily connected.
compelling forces To retreat or surrender.
The batteries above mentioned. consisting Of
twenty pieces in all. were now captured. together
with nearly ali the officers and men. The Chi
csgo Mercantile Battery was captured entire and
| am informed that all its officers and men fell
into the hands of the enemv The 4ih division
OF the 18th army corps. $500 men. under Gen
Ransom, and Gen. Lees cavalry, about 5000
strong. and the batteries above mentioned were
the forces in advance OF the wagon train These
forces fought desperately for a while but gave
way under superior numbers of the rebels, and
retreatei in great precipitation. The scene of
this retreat beggars al description General
Franklin said of It. that Bull Run WAS not a
circumstance in comparison Gen Ransom vas
wounded in the knee. but rode off the field before
he compellei By loss OF blood In dismount
Capt Dickey. Of Gen Ransoms staff, was shot
through the head and killed instantly The bofy
vas lett the Geld The position of the wagon
train in the narrow road was the greatest hlunder
of the affair. The rear completely blocked
up. rendering the retreat very difficult. and in
fact almOs, impossible Cavalry horses we're
dssains iul speed through the roads. eudan-
gering infantry aud other peie>trans-more than
rebel mussetry did-the retreat having become
30 Freeipittte that all attempts To make stand.
Tor while seemed impossible
The immense baggage and supply train OF Gen
Lees cavalry. 2oS wagons. nearly all fell into
toe hands OF the enemy, together sth the mules
attached thereto
The 3. division. 18Th army corps numbering
about lsOO men, under command OF Gen Cam. I
eron. were seut forward aud endeavorei TO make +
stand But the effort futile The rebels I
pressed so hard upon Gen Cameron that he could
lot resist them. After suffering terribly he tell
in With the retreating column.
The 18th army corps numbering IN all i.6OO
men when the light began. sustained loss IN
proportion % the number engaged which Is per
haps without parable. in the history OF this ter
rible var rhe I30th Illinois. comm ,nded bv
MAJOR Reed. attached TO the 9TH division, could
onl, hnd ,, men after the battle 80 precipitate
~as the retreat of the fth division of this corps
that the men ONLY brought of go stand OF small /
arms. hundreds of them throwing away their
guns % facilitate their movements At least one 4
half Of the 18th corps were killed. wounded or
captured Gen. Lees cavalry lost heavily. but /
some time must elApse before correct estimates
be obtained
The retfeatiug column fell back some four or
i've miles When he 18th army corps under Gen /
Ewing. came up and succeeded in making
-tand. The rebels charged upon Geo Ewings /
forces. bu' repulssd 9TH considerable loss i