The National tribune., 1908-07-23
RED RIVER EXPERIENCES.
Hard Marching, Scanty Supplies, Stiff
Fighting.

Editor National Tribune: In your
paper Frank s. Vernon. LIST Del. Bat
terry, in his communication concern
ing the battle of Sabine Crossroads,
April 8, 1864, says that two brigades
of the Nineteenth Corps participated.
There were two divisions of infantry
of the Nineteenth Corps in the Red
was engaged in the battles above
Alexandria. The Second Division, I'M
der Gen. Grover. was at Alexandria.
The First Division. under Gen. Emory.
was composed of three brigades: First
under Gen. Dwight. 29th Me-, Hath
N. Y, 10th n. Y. 1881 n. Y, 161st
n. " Second, under Gen. Mcmillan,
18th Me-. 18th Me-, 160th n. Y, 47th
Pa; Third, under Col. Benedict, Goth
Me, 1921 n. Y, 165th n. Y, 173d
n. Y. AS L kept a diary during my
entire service. don't have to trust to
memory. 1t says that we arrived at
Pleasant Hill on the evening OF the
eth, wet and tired out from walking
in muddy roads; no rations until next
day. Eighth, firing is heard in the
distance. Progress was slow; at 3 p.
M the division was ordered to camp at
Bayou st. Patrice. About p. m. the
division was ordered to move at double
quick, which they did for some FIVE
descriptions belonging to the advance.
the men had difficult task to keep in
order. The head of orr division soon
came into action in thick wood: the
First Brigade to the right of the road.
supported by Second Brigade. Third
Brigade to the left of the road. The
Third being the last brigade went into
action by right into line. the men sling
ing their knapsacks off in piles as they
ments did not get into line before a
deadly yoliey was poured into them
from the enemy in ambush. The col
ors were planted and the men rallied.
Thus was stayed the advance of the
enemy. At s p. m. line of skir-
mishers was thrown out from each reg
iment; at 10 p. m. we were ordered
to fall back to Pleasant Hill; marched
all night very slowly, arriving at 1880
a. m. on the 9Th. The whole skirmish
line was left behind and captured as
far as knew, because the 81 men from
Co. C of my regiment We're among
the prisoners. The Third Brigade was
placed on the left center of first line
of battle at 8 a. m; skirmishers were
thrown out from each regiment, and
the men rested, having been constant
ly on the move for "a hours, and short
of rations. were worn out and it re-
Qulfeu constant from IHtiT
officersi to keep the men awake.
The Brigade line was in heavy woods
with plenty of underbrush. About /
p. m. we saw a heavy line of the
enemy pass across the Sabine River
Road, going to the left. We knew that
the enemy had followed us down from
Sabine Crossroads and were getting
into position. This made us constantly
on the alert. About S p. m. they came
I
men stood up well. The sound of the
mighty wind. The new men of the bri-
gade held their position too long be.
fore orders were given to fall back
The delay was. no doubt. caused by
the commander of the brigade, Col
Benedict, being killed. Many men
were taken prisoners. The enemy were
out of the woods on the left before
the right of the brigade was. We
| fell back to a ditch about 100 yards
from the woods. The roar of artillery
and musketry was incessant. We were
| finally driven out of the ditch, up the
hill, in such a hurry that battery
of artillery had not time to get theil
pieces away. When our line got UP the
hill we saw a heavy line of our troops
in another ditch. This was the Six.
teenth Corps. who had arrived a
Pleasant Hill that morning. under com
mand of Gen. A. J. Smith. They tOlC
us to pass to the rear. When the
enemy reached the position our force:
poured out such volley of artillery
and musketry that the enemy broke
and were in full retreat, being pur
sueds,thru the woods. They made 6
i stand, broke again, and became to-
i tall demoraliZed. Thus our defea
of the Sth, became our victory on the
! 9th. There were no parallel road:
on which to move an army. only one
road so that the army was strung ou
for Is miles. supply trains at the rear
1t was often SO to 4S hours before ra.
lions were delivered. The country was
very poor: very few farms, no forag.
ing for the men to supply themselves
! It is that part OF Louisiana where the