The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-04-07

have been moving toward Mobile, and this
without accomplishing any good result"
Major General David Hunter to Grant:
"Why this expedition was ordered can
not imagine. The result is certainly
very sad one.''
Col. J. S. Clarke, aide camp to Gen.
Banks, states that Banks army in this
campaign was $4,000 strong, $4,000 under
Gen. w. B. Franklin and 10000 under
Gen. A. J.. Smith, loaned to Banks by
Sherman g for thirty days. the latter ac-
companied with nineteen gunbots.
Taylor had on the field to oppose Banks
army $500 infantry, 5000 cavalry, and
500 artillerymen-in all, $500 men.
The fruits of the victory in the Battle of
Mansfield were $500 prisoners, twenty
pieces of artillery, several stands of colors,
many thousands of small arms, and $50
wagons.
Our loss in killed was severe. The gal
liant Gen. A. Mouton, son of Ex-Governor
Alexander Mouton was killed, as were
Colonies Armand, j. H. Beard (of Shreve-
port) and Walker, commanding the Cres-
cent, Eighteenth and Twenty eight Lou
isiana Regiments of Henry Gray's Brigade.
Maj. Mercer Garfield of the Crescent also
fell, and Lieutenant Colonel Clack of the
same regiment was MORALLY wounded.
"When the brigade flag bearer was shot
down." says Capt. T. W. Abney, COM
handing Company B, Twenty eighth Lou
isiana Regiment, civilian Gladney seized
the banner-the flag that had been pre-
sented to Company B by the ladies Of Bos-
sier-and bore it to the front amid cheers
that sent CONSERVATION to the hearts of the
opposing Federals.'
Gen. Camille j. Polignac's Brigade, on
the left of Gray's, also suffered havily.
Col. Noble, Seventeenth Texas, with many
others, was killed.
Night put an end to the Battle of Mans
field and the Confederates went into camp
to wait for morning and the arrival of
Churchill's Division, the enemy falling
back to Pleasant Hill. On their advance
the Confederates found many stragglers,
scattered arms and burning wagons, show
ing the haste of the Federal retreat. Tay-
lor, with l., 900 men attacked Banks, with
900 men, at Pleasant Hill and g ccm-
plete victory seemed assured" says Tay-
lor, "when Churchill's troops suddenly
gave away, and for time arrested the
advance of Walker and Major" The
battle again closed as the last light of day
was fading, with creditabe results to the
Confederates, yet of much less impor-
lance than those that would have been ac-
complished but for my blunder at Pleasant
HILL" says Gen. Taylor. $ Instead of in
trusting the important attack by my right
to subordinate, should have conducted
it myself and taken Polignac's Division to
sustain it. Herein lies the vast differ
ence between genius and commonplace:
one anticipates errors, the other dicovers
them too late.''
The enemy retreated during the night,
leaving 400 wounded, and his many dead
unburied. On the morning OF the 10th
Bee pursued for twenty miles before he
overlook his rear gnard, finding stragglers
and burning wagons and stores, evidences
of haste.
In the two actions of Mansfield and
Pleasant Hill the Confederate loss in killed
and wounded was 1900. At Pleasant Hill
the Confederates lost three guns and 1926
prisoners. The Federal loss exceeded ours,
their Wanted campain for conquest was
defeated by much smaller force, and it
was doubtful if his army and fleet could
escape destruction.
After the Battle of Pleasant Hill Gen.
E. Kirby Smith, commanding the Trans
Department, disapproved of further pur-
suit OF Banks, except by part of the cav
airy, and ordered the infantry back to
Mansfield, all of which was started on the
18th on wild goose chase after Steele,
more than hundred miles away-except
Polinac's Division, reduced to about 1900
men, which was sent towards Grand Ecore.
From Grand Ecore to Monette's Ferry, a
distance of forty miles, the Federal van
dals burned nearly every house ON the
road. In pursuit the Confederates passed
| the smoking ruins of homesteads, by
which stood weeping women and children"
The maraudes who would no face the
pursuing Confederate troops wreaked their
vengeance on helpless women and children.
On the 18th of May Taylor attacked the