Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-04-27
Great Battle i'm Louisiana
Splendid Fighting by our
Troops, and Decisive Union
victory,


The late battles in Louisiana were some
what similar to the battles at Shiloh
The Union forces we're repulsed on the
first day, but rallied and defeated the
rebels on the second day.
The following from the New Orleans
Era is an account of the final victory of
the Union force:
After some terrific fighting at 7 o'clock
Saturday morning, our forces were at
Pleasant Hill and the rebels were advan-
cling, the cavalry in front endeayoring to
discover our position. Col. o. P. Good
ing. with his brigade of Lees cavalry
corps WAS sent out on the Shreveport road
10 meet the enemy and draw him on
He had gone about a mile when he came
upon the rebel advance and skirmishing
Immediately ensued, and according to
the plan he slowly fell back.
The skirmishing was kept up with con-
siderable vigor until about five o'clock in
the afternoon, when the rebels had COM
pleted their arrangements for the attack.
At about this hour , Gen. Emery's skir-
mish line was driven in on the right by
the rebels, who in large force came thro'
the timber above mentioned They soon
reached the open ground and moved on
to the attack in three lines of battle.
Our batteries and infantry opened with
terrible effect, doing great slaughter with
grape and canister, while the enemy's ar
tilIery, being in the woods and in bad po-
sition, did scarcely any damage.
Col. Benedict's brigade, on the left,
- CA 49, --a- .An~ A.Vl-w-aA
by Dwight's and McMillan's. The fight
ing was terrific. Old soldiers say it never
was surpassed for desperation. Notwith-
standing the terrible havoc in their ranks,
the enemy pressed fercely on, slowly
pushing the men of the 9Th corps back up
the hill, but not breaking their line OF
battle.
A sudden and bold dash of the rebels
on the right gave them possession of Tay-
lor's battery, and they forced our lines
still further back.
Now came the grand coup de MAIN
The 18th, on arriving at the top of the
hill suddenly fled over the hill and pass
ed through the lines of Gen. Smith.
We must here mention that the rebels
were in but two lines of battle, the first
having been almost annIhilated by Gen.
Emory. What remained were forced
back into the second line, but these two
lines came on exultant, and sure Of sue
cess. The first passed oyer the knoll,
and all Needless of the long line of can
non and crouching guns, pressed on.
The second line appeared or the crest
and the death signal was sounded
Words cannot describe the awful effects
of this discharge. Seven thousand rifles
and several batteries of artillery loaded
to the muzzle with grape and canister
were fired simultaneously and the
whole center of the rebel line was crush
ed down frightfully mangled by this one
discharge. No time was given them to
recover their good order, but Gen. Smith
ordered a charge and his men dashed
rapidly forward, the boys of the 10Th
joining in.
The rebels fought boldly and desper-
ately back to the timber, on reaching
which a large portion broke and fed,
fully 1900 throwing aside their guns. In
this charge Taylor's battery wal retaken,
as were also two of the guns of Minis bat
terry. The Parrot gun taken from US at
Carton Crow last fall, and one or two 9th.
ers belonging to the rebels, one of which
was considerably shattered, besides zoe
prisoners.
a pursuit and de~sultory fight was kept
up for three miles, when Jul men return.
ed to the field of battle, and thus ended
this fearful and bloody struggle for the
control of Western Louisiana.
The st. Louis Republicans Red River
correspondence of the 18th says:
Gen. Smiths command began crossing
the river opposite Grand Ecore that day
for the overland trip to Vicksburg, it be
ing understood that Gen. Grant had SEN
orders for Smiths return to that place.
Rebel prisoners say they had Is, 00t
men in the late battles-that they los
5000 in last Saturdays fight. They lef
their killed and wounded on the field
Our loss on Saturday was about 1900
Our wounded were taken to Grand Ecore
The killed were left on the field, but re
ports afterwards say they were buried b,
cavalry.
1t is difficult to determine what the re
suit of the expedition will be. 1t viii
take time to reorganize, and if the rive
continues falling Alexandra will necessa
rily become the base of operations instead
of some point above. All the forces al
at Alexandria have been ordered to Grano
Ecore, and fears are entertained that the
rebels may attack the former place anC
destroy the large amount of army stores
there.
GRAND EcoRE, April II.
Gen. Banks having fallen back TO Crane
Ecore, IS miles from Pleasant Hill, S;
miles from Mansfield, and IS from shreys