The Louisiana Democrat., 1880-04-14
A CHAPTER OF HISTORY.
THE BATTLES OF MANSFIELD AND
PLEASANT HILL.

The present month and the pres
cnt week commemorate the most
memorable events which transpired
during the civil war, in the Depart
mcnt of the Trans Mississippi. The
sixteen years which have elapsed
since that time have dimmed the re.
collection of the military operations
whose theatre was confined mainly
to tie Valley Of the Red River, and
the brilliant achievements of the he.
roes in that sanguinary drama,
which, if it did not cu|minate, reach
ed crisis in the issues staked upon
the wager of battle ON the fields of
Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, are but
little better known to the younger
generation than the exploits of Green,
Gates, Francis Marion or mad"
Anthony Wayne, to the generation
whose last representatives must soon
vanish from the stage.
From the recent work of General
Richard Taylor, "Destruclion AID
Reconstruction" we have taken the
accounts of the battles Of Mansfield
and Pleasant Hill. To those who
were participants in that campaign,
and there are many such in this
community who have not read the
highly interesting volume from which
we borrow, the following extracts
will be found peculiarly interesting:
TX 4 4
"During this long retreat of two
hundred miles from the banks Of the
AtcbafaIaya to Mansfield, l had been
in correspondence with General Kirby
Smith ut Shreveport, and always ex-
pressed my intention to fight as soon
its re. e.enf0rcements reached NE. Gen.
eral Kirby Smith thou Int that l would
DC too weak to meet the snemy, even
with all possible re- endorsements, and
suggested two courses; one to hold the
works at Shreveport until he could
concentrate q force to relieve me; the
other, to retire into Texas and induce
the enemy to follow US.
My objection to the first suggestion
was, that it would result in the sur
render of the troops and Shreveport,
as it would be impossible to raise a
new force for their relief; and to the
second, that its consequences would be
qnite as disastrous as defeat, as it
should he an abandonment of Louisi.
ana and southern Arkansas. The men
rom these States might he expected
to leave MS, and small blame to them;
while from the interior of Texas we
could give no more aid to our breth-
rem on the east of the Mississippi.tham
from the Sandwich Islands. General
Kirby Smith did not insist on the
adoption of either of his own sugges
tions, nor express an approval oi mine;
but when Mansfield was reached, a
decision became necessary.
Three roads lead from this place tn
Shreveport the Kingston, Middle and
Keachie. The distance by the first,
the one nearest to the Valley of Red
River, is thirty eight miles; hy the
second, forty; and 10y the third, forty
five. From Keachi, five aud twenty
miles from Mansfield and twenty from
Shreveport, roads cross the Sabine iu
to Texas. Past Mansfield, then, the
enemy would have three roads, one nt
which would be near his fleet on the
river, and could avail himself of his
great superiority in numbers. This
was pointed out to the "Aulic Conu-
cil' at Shreveport, but failed to elici,
ahy definite response.
On the 2lst of March there had reach.
ed Shreveport, from Prices command,
in Arkansas. two brigades of Missouri
infantry aud two of Arkansas, nun
bering together forty four hundred
muskets. These troops I had repeat
edly asked tor, but they were retained
at Shreveport until tho afternoon OF
the 9th of April, when they marched
to Keachi, and reported to me from
that place on the morning of the 9th.
Supplies were far from abundant in
the vicinity of Mansfield; and, as
might at any moment receive an order
to retire to Keachi, they were directed
to remain there for the present. Green
now promoted to Major General, was
placed iu command Of all the horse
with Brigadiers Bee, Major and Bagby
under him.
On the morning of the 9TH Of April
Major, from Pleasant Hill, reported
the enemy advancing in force; where.
upon Green went to the front. Late
in the day the southerly wind brough,
such distinct sounds of firing to Mans
field as to induce me to join Green
Riding hard, suddenly met some IF
ty men from the front, and reined ur
to speak to them; but, before l coult
open my mouth, received the follow
ing rcbuke from one of the party for 8
bad habit: General, if you won'
curse us, we will go back with you.'
bowed to the implied l'omily, rode
on, followed by tile men, aud fount
Green fighting a superior force o
horse. Putting in my little re enforce
ment, l joined him, aud enjoyed hi!
method of managing his wild horse
men; and he certainly accomplished
more with them than any one else
could have done. After some sever,
work, the enemy's progress was arres
ted, and it became evident that Greer
could camp that night at a mill stream
seven miles from Pleasant Hill, mat
ter of importance.
The roads in this region follow tn.