The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-04-23
RATTLE on RED RIVER,

A letter from Grand Encore, dated
the llth inst, says our cavalry had been
driving the enemy for TWO days, but on
the forenoon of the 9th sent back word
for infantry supports. General Ransom,
in command of the Third and Fourth
divisions of the Thirteenth Corps, was
ordered to send forward q brigade, and
he did so at noon. He followed with
the Fourth Division, and after advancing
about FIVE miles from where the Third
Division Of his command and the Nine-
teenth Corps were encamped the Rebels
made stand, and orr line, consisting of
only twenty-four hundred infantry, form
ed in belt of woods, with an open field
in front, and the enemy in the woods on
the other side.
General Stone, of Balls Bluff fame,
was chief Of General Banks staff In the
field and took direction of the movements.
General Ransom was in favor of advan-
cling only in force, But his wish was dis
regarded. After skirn.ish across this
open field for about an hour, the enemy
advanced upon us in overwhelming num-
bers, estimated at ten thousand strong.
General Ransom got all the available
troops in front and opened on the enemy,
who lost heavily, but advanced steadily.
Soon all the cavalry gave way and the
infantry fell back. In few moments
the enemy pressed US closely. The panic
of the cavalry so demoralized our army
that the retreat became rout. The
General did all in his power to rally
them, but finding it impossible, Without
reinforcemcnts, made every effort to save
his artillery.
While endeavoring to get the Chicago
Mercantile Battery off safely, Genera!
Ransom was severely wounded in the
leg. Captain Cyrus f. Dickey, his
Adjutant, was instantly killed. Our
loss is heavy; probably two thousand.
The Mercantile Battery lost all is guns.
Captain White is prisoner, and Lieuts.
Throop and Mcbride are killed. The
loss of the battery in killed, wounded
and captured is thirty-onc. While the
Fourth Division was falling back in dis
order, the Third Division, numbering
eighteen hundred men, came up and were
Immediately routed.
Finally, the Nineteenth Army Corps,
with seven thousand men, came up and
formed In line Of battle. They checked
the enemy and held them until we got
al. the trains, except that of the cavalry.
LArER.-A despatch to the secretary
of the Navy, dated Cairo the 10Th, from
fleet Captain Pennock, says: l have
received private letters from Red river,
one dated Grand Ecorc, La, April 10,
aud one dated Alexandria, April 18th,
stating that the army under Gen. Banks
met with reverses on tho Sth, near Mans
field. Our army fell back to Pleasant
Hill, and the next day the rebels attacked
them and were handsomely whipped
The loss is heavy on both sides. The
Admiral, when last heard from, was forty
miles above Grand Ecore.
The latest news from Red River confirms
the overwhelming defeat of the rebels after
two days fight The rebel generals Nor
ton and Parsons we're killed. The rebels
also attacked the feet on its return down
Red river with supplies to the army mt Pleas.
ant Hill, but were driven off by the gun
boats with loss of 500 or GOO killed, and
large number wounded. Gen. Green com.
handing the rebels in this action, had his
head blown off by she'll