The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-06
were wounded. Lieut. Snow MORALLY, he hav-


Inc lighting on all parts OF our line was now
ut short range, and, to use the expression of
one OF the participants, 1--WE were holding on
by the skin of our teeth only" 1t was known
that Franklin's troops had been sent for, and
anxious and wistful were the chances cast to
the rear. Gen. Cameron with his brigade came
up, and going at once into action on the right,
where the battle again waxed hottest, created
the impression that the veterans of the Nine
teenth had arrived, and a glad and exultant
shout went up from our wearied and desper-
ately situated little band. This belief was
strengthened by the arrival of Gen. Franklin,
who dashed boldly into the thickest of the
tray, cap in hand and cheering on the men.
Gen. Banks too, seemed ubiquitous, riding
Wherever the men wavered, and by personal
example melting them to renewed deeds of
daring and reckless valor. Colonies Clark and
wilson, with other members of the staff saber
IN hand, mixed with the soldiers on foot and
horseback, and cheered aud encouraged them
to continue the unequal fight
But human beings could not longer with
stand such fierce and empowering onslaughts
rs our men were bearing up against, and our
line finally gave way at all points, and the
men fell back tiercey contesting the ground
they Yielded. Unfortunately sad mishap be-
fell them at this time. The large and cumber-
some wagon train blocked up the way; the
frightened horses dashed through the Infantry
lines, enangled themselves with the artillery
and created momentary but unfortunate con-
fusion. This gave the rebels. who were rapidly
pressing US, possession of several pieces Of ar
tillery.
The enemy followed our men step by step
for three and 4 half miles. The 10Th army
corps had been ordered to stop and form its
line OF battle-the retreating Union troops
passed through this line and formed in the
rear. The rebels, thinking they had repulsed
our whole army, dashed impetuouslv on and
thought the line, but half visible in the woods
before them, was another feeble but desperate
stand of a few men.
Gen. Emory commanded this force consist
ing of two full brgades, and he ordered the
fire to be reserved until the rebels were within
short range, when from both infantry and ar
ti!lery posted thickly along his line, storm
OF iron and lead was hurled down upon the
Toe that literally moved them down. The
rebels halted in amazement, but still they
fought and bravely. Volley after voIlev was
discharged from each side full into the ranks
of their opponents, but neither gave signs
OF yielding, and night charitab!y threw her
mantle over the CHASTITY scene, and enforced
cessation of hostilities
The two divisions under command of Gen.
A. j. Smith, belonging to the 10th and 18th
army corps had reached Pleasant Hill. and
were there halted. Gen. Banks determined to
withdraw his army to that point, for the sake
OF the advantageous position which he could
there occupy knowing that the enemy would
1oiiOW what they supposed to be democrat
lied army. In accordance with this plan of
operations, all our men were quietly with
drawn from the enemy's front, and the line of
march taken up for Pleasant Hill. This con-
junction OF his forces was satisfactorily effected,
and the result confidently awited. So we'll
was the movement conducted that although
the first body started at 10 O'clock and the
remainder were not all under way until nearly
day, the rebels had not the slightest suspicion
OF what was going on.
THE THIRD DAYS FIGHT AND VICTORY.
At o'clock on Saturday morning our forces
were all at Pleasant HILL and the rebels were
advancing, cavalry in front, endeavoring to dis
cover our position. Col. o. p. Gooding with
his brigade of Lees cavalry corps. was sent out
On the Shreveport road, to meet the enemy and
draw him on. He had gone about mile when
he came upon the rebel Advance. Skirmishing
Immediately ensued, and according to the plan,
he slowly fell back. The fight was very sharp
between these cavalry bodies, and Gooding lost
nearly forty men killed and wounded, infiict-
ing, however, as much damage as he received.
Among his casualties are Captain Becker and
Lieut.. Hall, of the I'd New York veteran cayal-
ry. Lieut.. Hall has since died of his wounds.
Colonel GoOding made a narrow escape, ball
passing throurh the crown of his hat, and graz
ing the skin. The brigade behaved verv gal
lantly, covering Gen. EmOry's front until his
line was Covered.
The battlefield of Pleasant Hill is large,
open field, which had once been cultivated, but
is now OvergrOwn with weeds and bushes. The
slightly elevated center of the field, from which
the name Pleasant Hill is taken, is nothing
more than long mound hardly worthy the
name of hill. A semicrcular belt of timber
runs around the field on the Shreveport side.
Gen. Emory formed his line of battle on the
side of these woods. Gen. McNlilans brigade
being posted on the right Gen. Dwight's on
the center. and Col Benedict's on the left.
Taylors battery, L LIST Regulars. had four guns
in the rear on the left wing, on the left Of the
Shreveport road and two on the road in the
rear of Gen. DwightS line. Hibbard's Vermont
battery was on the right.
In the rear of Emery, and concealed by the
rising ground were Gen. Smiths tried troops.
formed in two lines of battle fifty yards apart
All his artillery was in the front line, piece.
section or battery being on the flank of each
regiment the infantry lying between them.
The 18th corps was in reserve in the rear UNI
Ger General Cameron. General Ransom having
been wounded the day before. General Smith
was commander in chief of the two lines back
of the crest, while Gen. Mower was the imme-
date commander of the men. The comman
der of the right brigade in Gen. Smiths first
line was Col. Lynch; the left brigade was Col.
Shaws. The second line also consisted of two
brigads, the right under control of Col. -,
and the left commanded by Col. HILL Craw-
ford''s Sd Indiana battery was posted on the
right of the S9th Indiana infantry. and the 9th
Indiana battery on the right of the line of bat
IT,. The Missouri Iron Sun battery, and 9TH
ers whose names and numbers we could not
ascertain, were also in this section of the
battle.
The skirmishing was kept up with consider
able vigOr until abcut O'Clock in the after.
noon, when the rebels had completed their ar
engagements for attack. At about this hour
Zen. Emory's skirmish line was driven in on
Inc right by the rebels, who appeared in large
iorce coming through the timber above mem
tloned- They soon reached the open ground,
ana moved on to the attack in three lines of
oatlie; Our batteries and infantry opened with
terrible effect, doing great slaughter with grape
ana canister, while the enemy's artillery being
IN the WOODS and in bad position, did scarcely
any damage,
Col. Benedict's brigade on the left was first
engaged soon followed by Dwight's and Nc
Millans. The fighting was terrific-old sol
diers cay 1t never was surpassed for despera-
ton. Notwithstanding the terrible havoc in
their ranks. the enemy pressed fiercelv On
slowly pushing the men of the 18th Eorns
back up the hill, but not breaking their line IF
battle. A sudden and bold dash of the rebels
'on the right gave them possession of TayIor's
battery and forced our line still further back
Now came the grand coup de main. The 10Th.
on arriving at the top of the hill, suddenly filed
off over the hill and passed through the lines