The National tribune., 1884-02-21

one. believe firmly that had renewed the bat
tie on the morning of the 9Th ut the point where
the cneniy's pursuit checked, re-ep!orced by
A. J. Smiths command would have not only
gone to Shreveport. but have recovered much OF
the property lost at Sabine Cross roads aud am
strengt hened in my belief BIZ what did actually
occur the 9th at Pleasant Hill. where recap
tured Il bclieve) two OF our lost guns, number OF
prisoners, and put the enemy TO rout.
To advance after the victory at Pleasant Hill was
impracticable owing to the matter of provisions
and (f am correct} the turning of the fleet down
the river orders being sent 10 it to do, and car
ried by u MIR. Young, who knew the country and
was employed in the engineer department.
Before closing, would state that have il on the
most reliable authority that General Banks under
took the Red River campaign only urgent
demand (orders) from Washington, finally doing
so under strong protest, which. l understand IL
on file in the War Department.
HOW AND WHERE COLONEL VANCE DIED.
DIR. J. C. Tressel, Cleveland, O., writes:
Up the Red River'' was read by me with great
pleasure, aud the account written by Couirade j.
II. Craven, member of my own company, brought
to my mind memories both sad and pleasant. In
the letter the battle of Sabine Crossroads is de-
scrbed SO well that nothing can be added, except
personal observations and as bat few persons wit
messed Colonel VaTce's death, will give an ac-
count of it, for it is indeliby impressed upon my
mind. Colonel Vance colonel of the 95th o.
vi, and had command OF the "a brigade "a divis-
ion, 18th army corps on the day of the battle. II
Drawer man never drew sword and his boys, as
he was wont to term us, would have followed him
| anywhere After the retreat commenced and the
panic became general and each WAS doing his best
to get out of that about five SIX of us found our
selves in the vicinity OF the cotton-gin near Banks
headquarters and were doing best to get TO the
rear when one in the building shouted out 10
us to rally in here; make stand in here and we
rushed into the building, which was open on the
side TO the rebels, and began firing from behind tfe
cotton press, when Colonel Vance rode past and
called TO us to retreat and ourselves and just
as he lifted his horse partially tImbled iown
fence he was struck in the back of the head by g
! muslSet ball, and fell from his horse-the horse
iimping off to the rear. wounded in the leg.
Some one q think it was Perry Bottiesl proposed
ts rush out to his rescue, when, as we looked
around us, saw the rebs all around lis in small
squads, demanding our surrender. There was
nothing else to 90, and we gave ourselves up 1he
next day rebel wearing Colonel Vance 5
clothes, his gold watch. and long pateat-leathsr
boots he was stripped of all his valuabes as well
as his clothes. After confinement of six months
| and half at Camp Ford, and while on tue road TO
be exchanged, we passed over the battlefield and
| visited the spot where Colonel Vance fell, and
found depression in the fence-eorner where he
fell, covered over with rails Ito keep the hogs from
rootingl with D board, on which was peneiied
Here lies Yankee colonel by the name oil
Vance, which all that marked the resting
place OF as brave q man as ever lived. will here
| mention that the day after the battle conyersed
with one of the guards who happened to be a
member OF the Crescent regiment, of New Orleans
and he stated that his regiment lost in the charge
| when General Mouton killed, all but thirty
men, who were nearly all slightly wounded, but
able to do guard duty and that he never saw men
fall as they fell that day The order of our lieuten
ant-colonel to fire low-to aim at their bels-die
| the work for them that day. Now, want some o
the twenty-o members of regiment who
messed together at Camp Ford to write TO TIL
TRIBUNE Let me hear of them through its col
umns or by mail.
WITH GEN. KILBY SMITH.
Lieutenant j. J. Fitzgerrell, of Las Vegas
New Mexico, NOW Commander of that Depart
ment G. A. r. was with Kilby Smith on th'
transports. He says:
The 10th army corps followed after the 18th anC
| 18th corps their march overland on April eth
We were ordered TO guard fourteen transports, be
sides the hospital and commissary boats. Apr
10th the fleet moved up the mouth of Loggy Bayou
At p. M. the second brigade was disembarked ant
ordered above the sunken rebel steamer, New Fall
City, remaining there until late III the evening
when we re-embarked Just at this time q courie
from Gen. Banks announced his defeat and orderet
us back to Grand EcoFe. We started back I'M
mediatey and the river at this point yer.
narrow we had to back down about twenty mile
before were able to turn. Our troubles thei
began We had skirmished with sharpShooter
going up, but now that were behind the rebe
army they made every effort to cut US off, On tn
18th attacked by the rebel army, unde
Gen. Green, but after lively fight, in which tn
rebels lost go men, including Gen. Green, the
: Withdrew. On the 18th we had continuous fgh
from every bend on the river In the afternoon w
found batteries posted on the banks TO dispute on
further passage We engaged them, and much t
our surprise, they soon withdrew, but the weicom
appearance of the 18th corps soon showed US I'll
cause for their sudden retreat. am satisfied, ror
all the information gained at the time and since
that had Gen. a. J. Smith been in command of on
) army we never should have been ordered to re
treat, as the rebel army retreatng at the sam
: time that Gen. Banks was engaged in doing th
same thing.