New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-11-04

Two bun2red and sixty prisoners aud ten heavy guns
were captured Our loss was slight The troops ana
Transports under Gen A. j. Smith and the Marine
Rigade under Gen. Elci. with the gunboats, moved to
Alexandria which was occupied without opposition on
| the 10th of the same month.
! Cen / ee of INV command arrived at Alexandria on
b morning of the 10Th. The enemy in the meantime
n ID his retreat through Cheneyville in he Girec-
- 80 cl,.veport. Officers OF my stan were at Alex
andria on The and f1nade my headquarters there
on tbe 9TH me foifos uno.. Gen FIaIAn arriving on
40 oS,b md SGtS of Mech upt as the sSce of the
water in Red River was too low 10 edL the passage
OF the gunboat OF transports over the falls the troops
encamped near Alexandria, Gen. Sml'h ana his com
mRnd moving forward 81 miles 10 Bayou Rapids above
Alexandria. There was hut feet of water in the
channel while a necessary Tor the second class
and 10 feet for the frstelass gunboi. The river is
narrow the channel tortuous. changing with every
RISE making its navigation more difficult ard danger
Gus, probably than any Of the Western rivers. while
pilots for the transports were reluctant to enter the
Government service for the campaign. The first gun
boat was unable to cross the Rapids until the GOTH 9th
crossed the 2sth with transports and others
still the % and Sd of April the passage having been
made with difficulty and danger occupying several
days. Several gunboats and Transports being unable
then 10 ascend the river. remained at Alexandria
returned TO the Mississippi Willie at Alexandria,
Major. Gen. MCPHERSON, commanding at NiCksburg
called for the immediate return Of the Marine Brigade
"a part Of Gen. Smiths conmand-o protect the Mis-
sissppi for which purpose il had been specially organ
lied. The transports Of this brigade were unable to
pass above Alexandria. Tie hospital boat Woodiord
had been wrecked the Rapids in attempting the
passage up. The troops were suffering from small pox
which pervaded all the transports, and they were re
ported in condition Of partial mutiny ii was not sup
posed al that time that depot OF garrison a AeAAp
dria would be required. and this command being with
out available snd or water transportation was permit
he'd 70 return to the Mississippi in compliance with the
demands Of Gen Mcphorson. This reduced the
strength Of the advancing column about 1000 men.
Tie condition Of the river aud the inability OF the
transports pass the fails made II necessary 10 esiab
lsb a depot of supplies at Alexandria and a line Of
wagon transportatons from the steamers below To those
above the falls. This departure rom the plan OF
the campaign which did not contemplate port or de
cesSy OF leaving division at Alexandria for the pGr
pose Of protecting the depot, transports and supplies
Brig. Gen. c. Grover was placed IN command Of the
port and his division lett ior is defense ms reduced
The power of the advancing column about 1900 men.
While at Alexandria, on the 2lSt INST movement
was organized against the enemy posted llcndcsoLs
Jill % miles in advance The expedition consisted Of
three bTigades Of Gen. a. j. Smiths command ana a
brigade Of airy OF the Nineteenth Corps under cog
nand of Col Lucas OF the 10th Indiana Volunteers the
whole under command OF BRIG. Gen. Mower Of the SIX
teenih Corps. The enemy was surprised losing 30
prisoners 200 horses and four guns. With their casson
Col. H. H. Sargent Of nv staff was severely wounded IN
this action and disabled from service during the
pagn. This affair reflected the highest credit upon the
officers aud men engaged.
Anticipating by a few days the passage Of The gun.
boats the army marched and tic larger cunboas were
Unable 10 pass Grand FcOre. Tie troops under com.
mand of Gen 4. j. Smith had Hitherto moved in trans
ports by the river; now they marched by land from
seventeenth Corps. 900 men under Brig Gen. T.
Kirby Smith, which by order Of Gen. 4. j. smith,
continued Its movements by the river IN company with
the feet for the protection OF the transports. Tie
Arrangement OF land transportation by THIS portion OF
the column the repenishing OF supply trains from TIE
transports and the distribution Of raiions me troops
we're made AT this point; but the fleet was unable 10
ascend tie river mill the 9Th Of April The condition
Of the river would have justified the suspension oil the
movement altogether az either point eAeep, lor 'he
anticipation OF such change as 10 render II naNgabe
Upon this subject the counsel Of the naval officers was
implicitly followed =.
brigade Of cavalry engaged upon q reconnois'ahec
north Of the Red River. encountered hnrrisons com
mand lsOO strong IN which the enemy was defeated
with considerable loss our loss was about 80 ~ keu
wounded and missing. The enenys repulse was
decisive The army was put IN motion Tor ShTeNe
port via Pleasant Hin and Mansfield, ATd g.
zen. Lee with the cavalry division. led me ad
vance followed by detachment Of two divisions
Of the Thirteenth Corps under Cen hHh'viD'
First Division Nineteenth Corps, under Gen
Emery and brigade OF coored troops under tho com
nand Of Col. Drkcn the whole under TIE immediate
command OF Major Gen. FRANKLIN The detachmeut ol
the Sixteenth Army Corps, under commhhd ol DIFF. I,
Gen A j. Smith. followed on the 'th. ana DIVISION OF
Inc Seventeenth ARMY Corps under Brig Cen l. Kirby
Smith accompanied Admiral Porter on the riNeF hs
guard for the Transports.
The feet directed TO Soggy Bayou opposie
Sprir gfeld where it expected communication
would be established with the land forces at Shhm
Cross Roads distance of a mile by lard iroin nTahd
TcOre ard 100 miles by water. RENAMED WIN = POT
lion of NV staff TO superIntcnd the departure OF the
river and land forces from Grand Ecore until the morn
ing of the It'll and then made rapidly forward reaching
the head Of the column at Pleasant i the same even
ipg where the main body encaiuped. ten. Shilth ;
command al the of the column on the h"Ioh
but Joined the Negro Brigade on the ronie to iehsan
Hill very heavy rain fell all day on Inc 'lh NAi'h
greatly rrpcded the movement Of the rear oil The column
making the road almost impassaDe Tor Troop fhl OF
artillery Tie storm did not reach tie htad C' tlo
column In passing the troops from Natchliocir- 10
pleasant Hili endeayored much az possible TO &c
CELEBRATE their movements
The enemy offered opposition 10 their march on
the 9Th. On the 7h the advance dIoye sna ioiee 70
Pleasant Hill and from there 90 Wilson's farm three
miles beyond where a sharp light occurred WIZ the
enemy posted In livery strong position from when
they were driven with serious oss aud pursued 70 -
Patricks Bayou CAROLS Mil. about nine Ihles
from Pleasant Hill where our forces bYouacked iof
the night We sustained in tins action hoes OF men
killed 80 wounded and missing We captured many
r,isoners and the enemy sustained severe losses III
killed and wounded. During the engagemeW ueh
&c sent 10 Gen. Franklin for reeniofceinehts anu
brigade OF infantry was sent forward but the hilhg
having ceased ii was withdrawn INC oniesfs ana
mon fought with great spirit IN TINS hilhlr. ~ uuf
break the 9Th Gen Lee TO whose suppoia ae
Of the Thirteenth Corps under Col sandruh hau Den
sent by NV order advanced upon the enemy. oio.o
him from his position the opposite sac OF ~ ray
ricks Bayou, and pressed mn 70 H The odyaScc was
steady but slow and the resistance OF the enemy stud
horn lie was only driven from his defensive posti9hs
on the road BY artillery AZ noon % .ne -. @.
R0ade of the Thirteenth Corps arrived al the tioss
Roads under Brighten. Ransom 10 TeieVe the IlFst
brigade The infantry moved from Pleasant nm az
break on the eth the head Of the column hatbS al
81 Patricks Bayon In order that the rear might come
M | passed zen. Franklns headquarters at ~ - m
giving directions 10 close up the column az speedily as
possible and made forward 10 ascertain the concition
~ affair. n the front, where arrived between ana
oioIock Gen Ransom arrived nearly nj the same tine
with the Second Brigade Thirteenth Corps when was
under bis command at the action at the Gross Roads
found the troops in line Of battle; the skirInshers
harnlv engaged The main BODY Of the enemy posted
The crest of bill in thick woods on both sides OF road
leading over the hill TO Mansfield on our line oil march
1t apparent that the enemy wns IN iuIh sI1hgor
N the march. and be-