The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-31

Il runDu1IS lSidiiu. AlSAdiiuiift Oh bnC
22d. 1t marched with the expedition, under
command of Col. VIM. I'll. Dickey This brigade
was composed of the 1st, I'd, 3d. 18th, and 22d
regiments, United States coiored infantry. Its
numerical strength is given in the return for
March 39th, at eighty -eght officers and ], AL
men.
REHABILITATION.
Officers Men
Cavalry division w 4'dds s
LIST division, 18th corps .............. 233 4.996
Sd and 4th divisions 18th eorps-..... 226 s,oio
1st and 3D. divisions, 10th corps sos I,iz2
Corps d Antique s. Liz
LILO 22s61
The above figures probably overestimate the
strength of the column nearly, if not quite,
1900 men. General Banks estimate of its
strength was 1900.
WHAT WAS GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE.
At this time the Confederate trans Mississippi
department was commanded by Major General
f. Kirby Smith. The territorial limits of his
department comprised all the country west OF
the Mississippi. On the north, General Sterling
Price, in Arkansas, confronted General Steele,
who was on the Little Missouri with force
of 10000 to 10000 infantry, cavalry, and artil-
lery. General Maxey had succeeded Pike in
command OF the Indians, and could at any
time support Price with a contingent of 5000
Indian cavalry. General Dick Taylors dis
trict comprised west Louisiana and northern
Texas. while General Magruder commanded
the coast defenses along the lower MISSISSIPPI
and the Gulf General Banks maneuyerS
along the coast caused the movement of Green's
division to Galveston and the mouth of the
Brazos, to meet Banks force on the Matagorda
Peninsula where Magruder was kept busy
watching and foling Banks attempts TO gain
permanent foothold upon the soil of Texas
The long line defended by General Kirby
Smith, extending from the Indian Territory
through Arkansas, western Louisiana, and Texas
TO the Mexican line, required the utmost vigi-
lance on his part to meet any formidable expe-
dition against given point, and simultane-
Gus movement by the forces in his front, by pre-
venting concentration of his troops, must have
resulted in his overthrow.
PREPARING TO RECEIVE COMPANY.
General Smith had knowledge as early as
the fall of 1863 that a combined movement
against him was IN contemplation on the line
of the Red River, and in anticipation of the
necessity OF concentrating his forces at Mar
shall and Shreveport, had established depots of
provisions and forage at those points and along
the roads leading through the barren country
lying between the Texas line and Red River
and between Camden and Natchitoches Early
in March information that Banks was about to
| attempt an expedition up the Red River reached
! Smith, and he at once formed his plans to meet
it. Magruder was directed TO hold Green's
division in readiness to move at moments
notice, and Maxey was ordered to march with
all his available force, Indians and ALL to the
support of Price, who in turn was ordered to
send his infantry to Taylor. BY reducing
the garTlsoDs along the coast to a minimum he
was enabled TO concentrate at Marshall aud
Shreveport by the 1stof April force of veteran
troops numbering, as be says in his report,
/ 10000 electives. This is exclusive of officers
| and non-combatantS which, If counted, as they
are in the otfiPial rpfpr1lS nf TTuInrl forcnS
would increase the numerical strength of the
Confederate army fully one tenth. The strength
| of Prices force of cavalry, including Mayey's
| Indians, was 5000, and with it he was directed
| TO obstruet Steele's march upon Shreveport.
The distance to be Travelled by Steele and
! Banks was about equal lone hundred miles,, and
| Smith hoped to meet and overthrow one before
| the arrival of the other. The character of the
country did not admit of the junction of Steele
/ and Banks before their arrival at Shreveport,
/ and it will be readily perceived that Smith,
with his headquarters at that point, holding
| his army well in hand. with cavalry well ad-
vanced towards both, had the advantage of
concentrating his army against the nearest
enemy.
Steele was expected first, and for this reason
Price'e infantry Of 5000 electives was halted
/ at keachi,--a point where the road divides, one
| leading TO Marshall and the other to Shreve-
port, within twenty miles of Mansfield, where
it was ordered to report to General Taylor.
a CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT.
About noon On the 7th of April, six miles
! beyond Pleasant Hill, Lee came upon General
Majors cavalry advance, and a brisk engage
ment ensued. Major occupied position
slight elevation-all the surrounding country
being wooded. Lee put brigade in action at
first. but was soon obliged to REINFORCE it and
/ call upon General Franklin for infantry.
While this fight was in progress on the after
noon of the 7th, General Taylor visited the
field, in company with General Green, and
after satisfying himself that the advance was
serious" left General Green in command Of
the forces in front, and returned to his head
quarters at Mansfield and made his arrange
ments for a general engagement at point that
| he had selected three miles IN front of Mans
/ field, near the point where Lee met him on
the following day. In response to Lees request
for infantry, Franklin declined to re-enforce
him, ordering him, if pressed, TO fall back upon
| Pleasant Hill. Lee held his ground, however,
| with his own DIVISION losing in the action
seventy-fve killed and wounded, when Green
retired, leaving twenty-five prisoners in the
hands of the Union troops. On the arrival of
General Banks at Franklins headquarters, he
at once ordered Lees request to be complied
with, and Colonel Landram advanced with one
brigade OF his division to Lees assistance, but
did not arrive IN time to participate in the
action Lee continued his advance to Carroll s
Mill, ten miles beyond Pleasant Hill, at which
point Landram reported to him. Lee had his
entire train with him, by order of General
Franklin, which, considering the nature of the
country, may be regarded as the prime cause OF
the disaster that befel him On the following
day.
THE TWO ARMIES OBSERVE EACH OTHER.
General Lee moved out early next morning,
reaching point five and half miles from ST.
Patrick's Bayou about 10 a. m, followed by his
supply train. Franklin reached Carroll's Mills
at IL o'clock, where messenger from Lee met
him with a request for an infantry brigade to
replace that of Colonel Landram. which was
utterly exhausted by hard marching and skir-
nishing through the dense woods during the
forenoon. In compliance yith request from
Colonel Landram to the same effect, General
Ransom advanced with Colonel Vance's bri-
gade which reached the field at 2 p. m. Gen
eTal Banks army was at this time STRING out a
distance of thirty miles, and there being a
stream of water convenient, General Franklin
concluded to halt at this point and allow the
18th corps to close up. General Banks came up
while Franklin with Camerons division OF
the 18th corps, was building bridge, and hear
ing firing in 'front.' proposed to ride forward
There win be no fghting," said Franklin
Banks reached Lees position at o'clock, and
found brisk skirnish going on. Franklin
seems TO have believed that the policy of the
Confederates would be to draw Banks army
farther away from its base before resisting its
advance, and had thus been betrayed into al