The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02
PLEASANT HILL.
Some Interesting "reminiscences OF the Red River
Campaign.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In your issue of June 2Sth, appeared letter
from Comrade Scott, of the Fifth Illinois yolun-
teers, Third division, Sixteenth Corps, giving an
account of the part his division took in the Red
River campaign of 1864, which is calculated to
create a wrong impression. He speaks of the
capture of Fort DE Russey !" by assault"
have always understood that the gnnboats, I'M
der Admiral Porter had considerable to do with
the capture Of that fort. Then he says: En-
barking on the transports again we were sent to
Alexandria From Alexandria we
went by boat TO Grand Eeore, and from there
proceeded TO Pleasant Hill, and totally de-
feated Dick Taylor, thus saving Banks, with
what wagons and artillery he had left, from
capture Had our victory been followed up at
Pleasant Hill. Shreveport would have been
taken and the war in the Trans Mississippi De-
partment at an end" The forces comprising
Banks army in this campaign were thirteen
regiments from the Thirteenth Corps, under
Brigadier- General Ransom; the Third division
of the Sixteenth Corps, commanded by Gen
eral Mower, and the First division, Nineteenth
Corps commanded by General Emory, with the
cavalry under General A. L. Lee These troops
with the exception of the Sixteenth Corps
marched from Franklin, La, to Alexandria,
over go miles; then marched TO Natchitoches,
seventy miles from Alexandria, and six miles
from Grand Ecore (where the Sixteenth Corps
left the transports, according to COmrade Scott
then thirty-fiYe miles to Pleasant Hill, where
we arrived in the afternoon of April Z, 1864.
The next day we marched thirteen miles to Sa-
bine Gross roads, arriving there about sunset,
and just in time TO save Ransom from utter
rout. We repulsed the enemy at all points; but
at about IL y. II. were ordered 10 retire toward
Pleasant Hill, our regiment being rear guard.
We reached Pleasant Hill about a. ~, April
9th, and there found the Sixteenth Corps Dur
= - IL l.
teenth) was engaged, as well as the Sixteenth
Corps; Benedict's Third brigade, First diyis-
ion, Nineteenth Corps, being on the extreme
left of the infantry, and being attacked and
driven back at the same time that Col. Shaw's
brigade of the Sixteenth Corps was driven from
the position they were holding on the road to
Sabine Crossroads The result Of the battle of
Pleasant Hill was precisely like that of Sabine
Cross roads, I. e., we repulsed the attack of the
Johnnies and held our ground until some
time IN the night, when we all started back for
Grand Ecore. Abont D. IN. my regiment
passed by brigade Of the Sixteenth Corps, who
said that they had not fired gun; neither had
we, though under fire all the time.
THE SHREVEPORT MOVE
] do not believe that we could have got to
/ Shreveport if we had tried. The river was un-
usually low; the gunboats and transports upon
! which we depended for our supplies could not
get up there; our force was and would grow less
! every day, while the time that General Banks
could retain the Sixteenth Corps had nearly
expired. Had we got there, it is doubtful If we
could have held our own long or have saved a
gunboat, transport, or ourselves And further,
for totally defeated army, those men of
Dick TaylOr's were much like Zach"
/ Taylor at Buna Yista-they would not STAY
whipped
Comrade Scott must surely remember that
they followed us TO Grand Ecore, and came near
cutting OF our retreat at Cane River Crossing
on Monet's Bluf, april 23d, they were above
and below US at Alexandria, while Col Bailey,
Of the Thirteenth Corps, was building the IA
nous dam spelled differently by the Sixteeath
Corps. at Mansura, mot Mansula," as Com
rade Scott has it, the Nineteenth Corps had
just as much fighting as the Sixteenth Corps,
and did it IS well. give the Sixteenth Corps
credit for what they did. They did noble serv-
ice at Pleasant Hill-why should they not
They were portion of General Banks army
had been there all night while the rest of us
were fighting and marching; were under the
orders of General Banks that day, the same as
we were. but that the credit Of the repulse OF
Dick Taylor belongs to the Sixteenth Corps