The National tribune., 1903-08-06


BATTLE OF SABINE CROSSROADS.
Lee attacked the enemy's skirmishers
sharply. Smiths force was massed i'll a
dense pine wood covered by hill of some
altitude, on the Shreveport road While
the skirmishing was in progress the Con
federate commander quickly formed his
battle line and opened furiously upon Lees
devoted troopers as they advanced, driv-
ing the rebel skirmishers. Gen. Banks ap-
peared at the front soon after the firing
began, and saw at a glance that Lee had
struck formidable obstacle and could not
long hold his ground unsupported.
Gen. Ransom at that moment arrived
with division of the Thirteenth Corps,
and moved instantly to Lees support.
Banks. alarmed for Lee and Ransom, sent
hurried message back to Gen. Frank
lin, some miles in the rear, with a divi-
sion each of the Thirteenth and Nineteenth
Corps, to hurry forward, as the advance
was hard pressed. Banks waited long for
Franklin's arrival, but he still delayed.
The battle was now raging furiOusly,
and Banks grew anxious. Another Aid
was sent back to Franklin with an earn
est request, for Heavens sake, to move
forward quickly.
The battle in the meantime had in
creased in fury, and still Franklin did not
appear.
Banks instructed Lee to hold his posi-
ton, if possible, but in no case to at
tempt to advance his lines.
Under cover of heavy fire by his line
of skirmishers Smith, at 4 80 p. m, sue
ceeded in gaining the exposed flank of our
light forces, which had fought with al
most unprecedented valor from the be-
ginning of the fray, and charged in heavy
force. Our two thin divisions-one of
cavalry and the other infantry-fought
brayely to repel the assailants: but it was
five to one, and they were driven back
with heavy loss to another body of woods.
where a new line was formed and stand
made about ) o'clock.
AT this junction Cameron's Division of
the Thirteenth Corps came up and took
position in the new line.
On came the flushed and yelling rebels,
drunk, as we afterward learned, with
drugged Louisiana rum, and again charged
our flank with terrific force, doubling and
rolling it back; our troops, meanwhile,
fighting desperately against fearful odds,
being greatly overmatched.
The intoxicated and maddened rebels
dashed among our men with fiendish yells,
thrusting wildly with their bayonets and
striking savagely with dubbed muskets.
1t was wild and frightful scene.
The overpOwered, crushed and bleeding
divisions were again forced to yield their
position, and, staggering with exhaustion
and loss Of blod, retired to find a new
position.
A PANIC AND A RoUT.
Now a frghtful disaster ensued, be-
cause of a stupid and criminal blunder
committed by some one. Lees supply
train had been pushed up to the front for
some reason to us unknown, and the mar
row road whereon our troops were now re-
treating, pursued by the drunken, howl
ing and exultant foe, was jammed and
packed and blockaded by the wagons and
teams to such an extent that an orderly
retreat was out of the question. The re-
treat, which up to the time this blockade
was met, had been orderly and circum-
spect, now became wild and panicky.
| The panic began among the teamsters,
and the train soon became a wild and CON
fused mass Of braying mules, tangled
wagons, white duck covers and shrinking
and cursing mule whackers.' The road
winding through the dense pine wood was
completely choked and blockaded by the
conslomerate mass, and the screeching
rebels were just behind.
1t is not surprising, then, that the panic
of the teamsters rapidly spread among
the soldiers.
In the confusion of the moment the
enemy captured two of Ransoai's cannon
with about 1000 Of our men. Among the
leaders wounded were: Gen. w. B.
Franklin, who had arrived on the field al
Q o'clock-several hours too late-Gen
Ransom and Col. Robinson, who com.
manded one Of Lees Brigades. Col
Joseph W. Vance, Of the Goth Ohio, and