Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-03-27

jury to the proper discipline of the
army. Written complaints of officers
as to injustice done them in regard to
promotion he would sometimes turn
over to an ~aid-de-camp with the
phrase. ''Suage him, colonel, suage
him. meaning that a kind letter
should be written in reply. But he
disliked exceedingly that the disap-
pointed men should be allowed to
reach his tent and make complaints in
person.
On one occasion an officer came with
a grievance and would not be satisfied
without an interview with the COM
handing general. He went to the
generals tent and remained some
time. Immediately upon his depar-
ture Lee strobe to the adjutant's tent
with flushed face and said. why did
you permit that nan to come to my
tent and make me show my temper?"
Slow Progress Up Red River.
The Red river expedition, which was
to tie up a large contingent of Federal
troops in the southwest for weeks, had
originally beer planned to accomplish
its work the last days in March and
early in April. The troops in detach-
ments were to be at Alexandria the
18th of March aud proceed to Shreve-
port in the northwestern part of Loui-
siana.
One column captured Alexandria the
18th, but the leader of the movement.
General N. p. Banks, did not arrive
with the main body of land troops
until near the end Of the month. A
fleet, under Admiral d. ID. Porter,
which was to ascend Red river, found
difficulty in passing the rapids above
Alexandria and no progress could be
made. The column which captured
eral A. J. Smith. His Confederate OPP
ponent, General Richard Taylor, re-
treated up the river by slow stages.
guarding every pass to Shreveport.
On March 81 General ]. A. Mowers
command marched against Taylor's
cavalry at Henderson's Mills, twenty
three miles up, and captured it en-
tire by a brilliant stroke, thus de-
priving Taylor of an Indispensable
body of scouts. He ~retreated toward
Shreveport.
Banks Foes Concentrate.
The slow progress of the Federals
up Red river gave. the enemy ample
time to concentrate for the defense of
the key point. The Confederate gen
eral In chief west of the Mississippi
was General e. Kirby Smith. At the
first embarkation of Federal troops
for the voyage early in March Smith
had ordered scattered detachments,
even from so far as southern Texas,
to rally to the defense of western
Louisiana. From Shreveport as a cen
ter he hoped to lure the separate col
umns of Federals to within striking
distance and cripple them before they
could unite. One-third of Banks force
was on the way from Little Rock,
Ark. Its commander, General Freder-
lex Steele, made all possible haste, but
General Sterling Price skillfully ma
neuvered on his front with 5000 Con-
federates and kept him at a distance
from any point of junction. Steele had
$4,000 men, Banks about 25,000, and
Smith about 25,000 with which to op-
pose both Banks and Steele.
Banks Difficult Task.
General Banks found himself at Al
cxandria. fur from his supply base and
with less than 10000 fighting lei He
had a hundred guns and a fleet which
might or might not be able to lend
prompt aid. General Steele had not
reached Red river at all, but was slow
ly fighting his way in that direction.
The task before Banks was a serious
one-to march hundreds of miles across