The Louisiana Democrat., 1880-04-14

twilight faded into darkness. Twenty
five hundred prisoners, twenty pieces
of artillery, several stands Of colors,
many thousands of small arms, aud
two hundred and fifty wagons were the
fruits of victory in the battle OF Mans
field. Eight thousand of the enemy,
his horse and two divisions ct infantry,
had been utterly routed, and over i've
thousand OF the 18th corps driven back
at sunset. With mucl, smaller force
on the field, we invariably "n'n'mber-
I'd the enemy ut the fighting point and
foreseeing the possibility of this, was
Justified in my confidence OF surcess.-
The defeat Of the Federal army was
largely due to the ignorance and arro-
gance of its commander, General Banks,
who attributed my long retreat'to his
own wonderfuistrategy Night put an
end to the struggle along the little
stream, and my troops camped by the
water.
A dispatch was sent to General Kirby
Smith, at Shreveport, to inform him OF
the result of the days fighting, and OF
my intention to push the enemy on the
following morning. Leaving instruc.
tions for Green, with all the mounted
force, to pursue at dawn, l rode to
Mansfield to look after our wounded
and meet Churchhill. The precautions
taken had preserved order III the VIII
lage throughout the day. Hospitals
had been prepared, the wounded
brought in and cared for, prisoners and
captured property disposed of. Church
hill came and reported his command in
camp four miles from Manifold, on the
Keachi road; and he was directed to
prepare two days. rations, and march
toward Pleasant Hill at o'clock A. NJ.
Sitting by my camp fire to await the
movement of Churchhill's column,
was saddened by recollection OF the
many dead, and the pleasure of victory
was turned to grief rs counted the
fearful cost at which it had been won.
OF the Louisianians fallen, most were
acqnaintances, many had been neigh
bors and friends; and they were gone
Above all. the death of gallant Mouton
affected NE. He had joined me soon
after reached Western Louisiana, and
had ever proved faithful to duty. Mod
est, unseltish, and patriotic, he showed
best in action, always leading his men.
thought of his wife and children, and
of his father, Governor Momton, whose
noble character I have attempted to
portray.
Churchhill's march disturbed these
solemn reveries, and returned to the
front, where Walker and Green were
awaiting the approaching day. The
horse, with battery, moved early to
Pleasant Hill, fourteen miles, leaving
Walker and Polignac to follow Church.
hills column as soon as it had passed.
rode with Green, and we found many
stragglcrs, scattered arms and burning
wagons, showing the haste of the ene-
my s retreat. The mill stream. seven
miles distant, was reached, then the VI
cinity of Pleasant Hill, before a shot
was fired. A short mile III front of the
latter place the enemy was found; and
as our rapid advance had left the in
fantry far to the r .ar, feints were made
to the right anl left to develop his po-
sition and strength.
CROPS AND BU>ISESs.-For the past
ten days the weather has been exceed
ingly pleasant and very favorable for
the planters We had, however, on the
nights OF the Sth aud 9Th, slight frosts,
but the trn,irrr>t vegetation was not in
the least Injured. The corn is growing
finely, and most of it las had the first
plowing. Cation planting is about
over, and our planters are determined
to make the most of the highly favora-
bic weather we are now having, aud
will push the work OF cultivation as
rapidly as possible. From the sngar
Planters we hear reports equally as sat
isfactory, and without some untowartl
accident, we may expect by far the lar
gest and most remunerative crops rails
ell in this Parish since the war. Labor
is settled, and We have experienced, it,
that respect, none Of the aeitations
which other sections have felt so seri-
Onily. With our merchants, business
has not been as brisk recently as it
might have been, but it may be taken
us evidence of the healthy condition of
the farmers finances. We are happy
to state that much the greater number
of thos" engaged in farming are able to
provide for themselves, and IRE asking
no advances, n state of things which
has not been the ease, to the same cx-
tent, sitlcc tie war.
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On the way to New Orleans I saw
that the river was high very and rising.
Those crevaSses aae being rapidly
closed. On this occasion water is not
so cheering. The craytsh having bored
the Levees the water streams through.