Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-29

The Chicaeo Tribune Of the 25th publishe.
several accounts of the three days fighting in
Western Louisiana Con tho 7th. sth and 9tt
Of April,) from which It appears that the
fighting was terrific. and the casualties very
great. but there Gao be no doubt that the
blow has terribly impaired, il not destroyed
the rebel power in Louisiana.
The New Orleans papers do not state thu
loss sustained on either side. But the Tri.
6une learns from other sources that the Fed
esal loss in the three days battle. cannot ,be
less than 5000 men, viz: 700 killed, 2, 900
wounded and 1000 prisoners, besides the
wounded who fell into the hands OF the enc
my. Four steamboat loads of wour ded men
came down Red River on the 1lth list. Be-
sides these casualties, the army lost twenty
pieces of artillery and from 500 to 500 bag.
gage wagons and their con'ents Of munitione,
clothing, &c.
The rebel loss in killed and wounded il
fully equal to ours, but in prisoners only 500
anen also three or four pieces of cannon.
The accounts generally condemn Genera
Banks for incompetency, but bestow the
highest praise on General Ransom, who was
severely wounded. 1t is said that Genera
Banks ordered Gen. Lee to attack the enemy
under any circumstances whenever he came
up to him and that when Gen. Lee, meet
ing with severe repu'ss by overpowering
numbers, sent back for reinforcements. but Q
single brigade was sent up at that time; and
of course shared the fate OF the cavalry -
Finally, Gen. Smith, with the 10th and 18th
army corps came up, and the onslaught Of
the enemy was checked, and finally rrpulsed.
From all accounts that we receive there
must have been terrible mismanagement SINE
where. The army was struggling in detach-
cd regiments or brigades at intervals Of six
or eight miles, through dense pine forest, q
single narrow road through which was the
only communication, and this was blocked up
with ma!e teams and wagons of every des-
crption, SO tina. all communications were
choked up, and the safety Of our guns was
an impo ~si6iiity.
The result may be summed up as follows
10th as We are to recognize it. In the frst,
or more properly. second days fight, we
were badly whipped, and one corps nearly
cut to pieces. The next day We held them
in check vito fresh troops, and gained vic.
tory, If it may be SO called, repulsing the en-
emy, driving them three or four miles and
taking 800 prisoners, bat leaving US so badly
cut up that we were unable to follow up the
Advantage and were obliged to return without
accomplishing the object Of the expedition.
The whole army has fallen back to the
river a. Natchitoches, and will undoubtedly
soon absndon West Louisiana, at least in the
vicinity OF Red river, altogether. Indeed, il
was understood when Mr.. Goodingieft Match
itoches, that the 10th and 18th h'army corps :
which belong TO Gen. Sherman's army-had
been ordered to Cairo, and would thence pro
ceed to join Gen. Sherman at Chattanooga
These two corps do not at present number
over seven to eight thousand raen in the ag
gregate, large number of regiments belong
ing to them being North on furiough. Th'
remainder Of the army Of necessity mus
leave their present position soon, as there ar
mo supplies where it Is located, and the rive
D.. is falling very rapidly.
The cavalry, which numbered about 4, ,e0t
. men, lost their wagon and ammunition trains
and as stated above, at least 1000 men snt
horses. The largest share Of the loss j
pretty certainly in prisoners. Gen. Lee va
in command Of the cavalry but himself es
= capped injury.