The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-04-29
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
Further Particulars of the Federal De-
feat at Mansfield, La.
Reiteration of the Rumor that the
Rebels were Defeated on tho
Following Day.
Grand Ecore La ApriI II

Grand Ecors La. April IL.
We eft Na'chitoches on the mcrn,ng 81
April 9Th, and marched until nearl, dark.
when We encamped in piLe forest on
the morning Of rbe IN we started again,
aud reached the town of Plea-ant Hill
aoou 8 O'Clock This WAS the FIST open
piece Of countr. that we had found since
we l-ft N~,chltoche-. aud tha, WAS only =
mi. square The cavalry had been n n
brisk skir,t1f.h during ,he af,ernoon.-
About fifty wou--Asa> .Ipsn we've broughi
III, and IA hospital ~ss established
Al 2 o'c'ock on The norning Of the
S'h, he l., Brigade of our division. con.
posed Of the 10 kentuck,. II h llIl.oi.,
23 Wisconsin,. and 67t1 Indiana. nun
bering about 500 men. was started in
advance and bv daylight commenced
sklrm'shing with the enemy We Uhe
Chicago Mercantile Battery } stared =,
day break with 2 Brigade and he 3 y
Division. numbering about 500 or 3.
900 men and marched through dense tim
Der until 3 o'clork in the af ernosn. when
we were ordered 10 the front. 10 get to
where the fighting WAS in progress, We
! bad 10 pass the whole train OF Less cav
airy division. NUN beriug 800 wagons :
and, as there was only one road through
ths timber. they we're pulled up to our
side, aud we went by them on galIop
with our guns, cassons, battery wagon
ard forge. We had jus. passed the train,
when We came to an opening abeu. a
mile square, and on the opposite side ws-e
our men engaged IN skrmishing
BY this time our whole division was ip
action, and q brigade Of the 81 Division
We crossed the field, took position near
the edge of the opposite woods, and had
ju.t got in the battery. when We heard a
terrible yell. and saw . line Of rebels, uu-
broken, charging on our exhausted men,
who had been skir.Dishing all day. and
had on. few rounds of ammunition loft.
Then came a withsring voIey of musl-
stry, and then our poor boys ommssc.d
. retreat, but no. in order. for there var.
not enough men TO form . lise We
waited few m"nsIss until our Aaen bad
passed u. and commenced firing on tho
rebel lilies, but could not atop their pro-
gresa, and We soon received mders from
Col Landrum 10 ii.ts5 up and leave. if
we ever expected to get eur guns Oft
Two Of our horass bad heau shot, byl We
'n're1 Their, acress the 6rId and took NO
another position in IL. edgs f tie TIM
her firing agaIn on the 'ebcj Enss which
We cduIt see, wl,h graa, i...lnc,ue,>, cross
my the 6ed o" the douhl--auick
Here Gen Ransom was .hot IN ,h.
knee, and was obliged 70 leave the haid
Lieut.. Th'oop was fal!.l by the ~iu!.y-
Of a she'll which QrssaG hls abdomen
Gen Banks wa. hers. irving to rsIlv ,ha
cavalry, which was in great disorder
The bug'srs sounded the raly-a sound
ths: shall never forget, and q new lima
wa. formed; but in a few momsu,s both
onr flankS were turned, and We were oh
liged 70 timber up and retire a short di.
sance. HeIe another line was formed, and
few more shots were delivered.
By This time the rebel were on both Of
our t1anks. and firing across us in every
direction We got our piece. n'o tn.
road and began to retrear, when a scene
of grea. confusion sn-ued. In the road
was that whole cavalry ,rsia, faced to ,he
rear, and each mAn irving 10 escape on
his own hook. anb the road so III ,cked 40
that j. was an impo,sibIi,y for any hing
TO move. Dur gun WAS next TO the rear
piece. and fired one Of the last .hots ,ha.
we're fired bv the artillery. When ,h.
rebels got within two rods Of u.. We re-
ceived elders 10 Gu, the trace. and escape
If pos-lble. Mr. Dyer, our gunner. wen,
To his timber, took on, file and ham
mer, and. when the rebels had alrssd,
reacnsd ,l!e gun behini onr. be commence
ed srlk'ng hi- gun, and VAS captured a,
his post. Whether he wee wounded or
n"'. canno, tell
nov began tn think Of my own safe
", and ran down the road A short d.
'anre then sirurk in,o ih., woods until /
-as exhausted. when ! causht mule !.
mounted hun. hni wss Immediately dis
by the fr.cIiors animal soon |
at'er ! found another mule, mounted him
nd Wa. soon on. Of danger, behind The |
l9 Arm, Corps
While our division WA frh,Irc the
l9 . Arm, Corps went INTO camp abcu,
eight miles IN our rear, anil xete after
wards, bat too late, brought up to our
,uCcor.
Of our whole division numIerinc 2
100 'nen but ( t0G0 are left 10 tell of ,,,.
-sr'nl odds agnln.t wh ch they conterded
wo regiments of our division were con
and had in all l4O men and
even officers. Ofth. regimen Al officers.
he highest in r.Hk remaining is aCa,-
ain. In our battery twentv-two men are
Missing; two are with us. wounded and
MY one ofticer-Lieut Roe. left
;apt. Whi'e Lieurs Cone. Throop. and
'sTr, are all captured Nor one Of our
'oys showed any cowardce. bu, stood bv
heir gun. until the last, and, when Left
hem, rebels on both sides Of the wood,
'eEe calling on u,, "ith ffgh,fu oa,hs, 10
alt; but was determined to escape. ;fI
osslb'e, and succeeded by the favor of
racions Providence, for surely only a
harmed life cou.d bave withstood the
hover OF bullets with which We were su,. l.
esnfel st al .;mes ,