Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-04-29
The Battle. in tn. Red River District.
NEW ORLEANS, Friday, April Is, 1856

NEW ORLEANS, Friday, April Is, 1854.
1t appears that on the morning of the 7th
cavalry brigade of Lees corps, under COM
mand of the gallant Col. Haria Robinson,
was far ahead of the remainder of our forces
between Natchitoches and Shreveport, when
they came suddenly upon body of mounted
rebels. An engagement Immediately took
place and the enemy were driven back IA
miles, to two miles beyond a place called
Pleasant Hill. Here they met force of
$500 rebel cavalry, under Gen. Green, very
strongly posted. Col Robinson again attack
ed them, and after two hours desperate fight
ing, in which we lost 40 killed and wounded,
and the enemy equal, if not more, the latter
were driven from the field and pursued as far
as Cayou de Paul, where, night coming on,
Col. Robinson halted to await the events of
the next day.
Early the next morning, Friday, 8!h,)
they moved forward again, Col. Lundrum's
brigade of infantry and the cavalry brigade OF
Col. Lucas having come up during the night
The enemy were prepared for them, and there
was some hard fighting, with great losses on
both sides, but by about o'clock P. M. the
rebels had been forced back some seven miles.
It was about that hour that, in the vicinity of
Sabine Cross Roads, we came upon force of
from $4,000 to 10000 rebels, concealed in a
dense wood. Gen. Ransom had by this time
arrived with his command, and formed them
into line as best he could. Gen. Banks hav-
ing arrived with his staff at the time and see
ing the enemy in overwhelming force, imme-
diately dispatched an order for Gen. Franklin
to come up, evidently wishing to avoid battle
until all his forces were got together. Kirby
Smith, however, seeing his advantage, at once
commenced the attack with great fury.
Ths fighting at about five o'clock had be-
come terrible, and although cOntestiug every
foot Of ground manfully, our brave fellows
could not Withstand the overwhelming press
ure, and kept steadily loosing ground. By
dextrous concentration of strength upon one
point, Minis battery was overpoWered and
taken by the enemy, although belching out
havoc among them to the last moment. Gen
Stone, foreseeing the enemys intent, had or
dersd Gen. Lee to withdraw the battery, but |
it was impossible to save it, as all the horses |
were killed. 1t was in this desperate encoun- |
ter that one Of the senior officers of the bat
terry, Lieut., Snow, was mortally wounded, and
that the rebel General Mouton lost his life.
Everything now seemed to depend upon
Franklin, and sure enough, he came up with |
his men, daShing forward With them, and
with uncovered head cheering them on. Gen. |
Banks and his staff, were to be seen every |
where, urging and encouraging them. Gen.
Franklin had two horses killed under him |
Capt. Franklin, his son and aid, had also |
horse killed; Capt. Chapman, one of his staff,
had both his feet shot of. But all was OF no |
avail; the work our men had was beyond their
strength, and at last they gave way every
where. To add to their dificulty, that ever
lasting stumbling block OF cur armies-the !
WSgon-train-had somehow got in the way,
the AfriRhted horses dashing through our lines
getting mixed up with our artillery, and ere. !