The Portland daily press., 1864-05-04
The Battles OF Mansfield and Pleasant
Hill, La.

Hill, La.
The following is AN official report of the
part performed by the Fifteenth Maine Vols,
In the severe engagement Of Mansfield, La,
on the 9Th of April and Of Pleasant Hill, La,
on the 9th; our forces being under command
of Major General Banks, and the rebel forces
under General Dick Taylor. The battles are
reported as being the most severe ever fought
In the Gulf Department. We are assured by
an officer who participated in both battles,
and with whom we are personally acquainted,
that officers of the 10th Corps who fought on
the bloody field of Shiloh, represent the firing
at Pleasant Hill as more severe and deadly
than at Shiloh. We have already given the
particulars OF the two battles The following
Is the official report OF the Fifteenth Maine,
Col. Isaac Dyer, which we publish for the
benefit Of those Of our readers having friends
In the Regiment:
HEADQUARTERS 18TH Me. VET. Vols,
GRAND EcoRE, LA, April II, 1864.
Sir IL have the honor herewith TO trans
NIT report OF the doings of the Fifteenth
Regiment of Maine Veteran Vols, since leay-
ing Natchitoches, La, on the 9th inst, until
our return to Grand Ecore, La, on the llth
inst, together with the part which the Regi-
ment performed in the engagements at Mans
field, La, and Pleasant Hill, La, on the sih
and 9th insts.
We struck tents at Nachitoches on the
morning OF the 9th inst, aud took up our line
OF march for Pleasant Hill, where we arrived
on the evening of the 7th. On the morning
OF the 9Th resumed our march in the direction
OF Mansfield, hating at about p. NJ. having
marched distance of eight miles. AT A. NJ.
we were ordered 10 Mansfield where Gen.
Lees Cavalry and detachment of the 18th
Army Corps were actively engaged with the
enemy. We Immediately proceeded to the
front, making the distance OF six miles in an
hour and quarter. As we arrived upon the
field general stampede was taking place on
the part of stragglers and others, creating a
great panic among the teamsters, negroes and
army followers. To such an extent did the
panic prevail, that the road leading TO the
field was literally bockaded with terror-strick-
en- teamsters and fleeing cayalrymen, render
ing our progress extremely difficult. AT this
critical juncture the order was given for
our regiment TO halt fir bdyonets load
These orders being promptly executed we add
vanced through the panic-stricken crowd and
arrived upon the field without further deten-
ton. Arriving upon the field our regiment,
with the l60th N. Y. Vols, was ordered into
position on the extreme left of the line, where
the enemy had thrown large force and were
making desperate effort TO flank US. We
took position upon the crest of small ravine,
forming under q heavy fire of the enemy.
The line being established, we opened a sharp
FIRE upon the enemy, TO which he briskly re-
sponded. Three desperate efforts were made
by the enemy to gain the crest of the rayine,
but in each instance he was repulsed and
driven back by the well-directed fire of our
men. We held our position at this point UNI
til the enemy retreated from the field, at about
SPIN.
Although the enemy directed severe fire
upon our position, so inaccurate was their
aim and so well protected our line, that our
regiment sustained but little loss the follow
Ing being the casualties during the engage
ment, viz:
Kitied--Private James p. William, Co. L.
Wounded-PIiyate Cornelius Fish, Co. L,
slightly In arm; Private Joseph Carey, Co. L,
slightly in hand; Private William L. Sxllin,
Co. II, seriously in left side Private Charles
Wool, Co. /, seriously in fore arm.
Missing-Privates John +. Leighton and
Angus McGilvery, Co. A; Sergeant Joseph
K. Latham; Privates Page f. Grover, John
II. Hayden, Lemon II. Bard and Abrsm T.
Green, Co b; Priyats John 4 IN a p g. y,
Thomas Mcdonald and George Morrison, Co.
X.
At about Ii p. NJ. orders were received TO
fall back to Pleasant Hill, which we did in
good order, arriving at about 8 A. NJ, on the
9th. Immediately upon our arrival AZ Pleas
Hill, we were ordered into line OF battle on
the left Of the position on the eastern side of
the clearing, where we remained until IL A.
NJ, when we were relieved by regiment of
the 10th Army Corps. We then retired
short distance to the rear for the purpose of
allowing our men to rest, they having marched
twenty-eight miles and endured the fatigue
OF an engagement without sleep or rest since
the morning of the Sth. We here held our
selves In reserve until p. NJ, when, our line
being hard pressed, we were ordered into ac-
ton.
At the moment ofour being ordered into ac-
ton, the situation was most critical. The
enemy had thrown heavy force upon the
right OF our line, and were endeavoring to
flank us, concealed by thick clump of woods,
at the same time pressing our front with des-
peration. We were first ordered into a posi-
ton on the extreme right, but before estab-
fishing our line, so severe was the pressure
upon the centre Of the position that we were
ordererd back 10 support the right of the CEN
tire. We arrived in position at most oppor-
tune moment, when our line was being
gradually pushed back by the pressure up
on It. The enemy had gained the clearing,
and were seeking to effect a position behind
the buildings. We were moviHg by the left
flank down the road running parallel with
our lines, and when arriving opposite the CEN
ire, took position under cover of a fence in
rear OF the buildings the enemy were seeking
10 gain possession Of and opened a sharn IRE
upon them. The struggle was a fierce one