The Washington herald., 1914-04-08

as tne Union army advanced.
On april T. when the bulk of Tayior,s
command was concentrated near Mans
neld. thirty miles south OF Shrevenort
information was received that the Fed
erat cavalry advance was moving for
ward from Pleasant Hill Taylor now
mad been re-enforced by cavalry from
Iexas ana infantry from Arkansas. He
eetermined TO strike sharp blow at the
neao OF tne Federal column Riding to
the front he saw that the Union cavalry
men would be beyond Bayou ST Patrice
by nightfall. whereupon he decided 10
offer battle the next day.
On his way back to Mansfeld Cen
Taylor selected a position in which he
next day met the Federals. This was ON
the edge Of an open field near Sabine
Crossroads. three miles southeast Of
Manseld. He ordered his army to move
to that point
Long before noon the Confederates had
formed on the ground which Gen. Taylor
mad chosen On the right of the road was
Gen. ]. @. Walkers infantry division or
three brigades. with two batteries; on the
ieit Gen Alfred Mouton's division of two
origades and two batteries. McMahon's
battery was held in reserve with a small
force OF cavalry. The balance OF the
mounted men were well out In front
contesting the advance of the Federals.
had on the field" wrote Gen. Taylor,
500 infantry, 1000 horse and SEQ artillery
men-ln all $500 men. a very full estI-
mate There Is little doubt that Gen.
Taylor underrated the strength of his
command He probably had nearly 500
infantrymen in line. which would bring
his total force approximately to r.OOo
men In addition. an infantry force OF
i,4oo, under Gen. Thomas j. Churchill
which, having come from Arkansas, had
encamped at Keatchie. fifteen miles in
the rear Of Mansfield. would be I'D by the
following morning.
At noon Gen. Taylor rode along his bat
tie line, correcting its formation and ex-
horting the men to fight determinedly
Hating in front of the Louisiana brigade
OF Mouton's division. he remarked that
as they were fighting in defense of their
own soil. he wished them to draw first
blood This was to prove an unfortunate
speech. 1t cost the life Of a brave and
able general, Mouton.
A Furious Attack.
From about p. m. until 4 there was
heavy skirmishing all along the line. but
no movement of troops on either SIDE
Gen. Banks was waiting for his infantry
to come up and Gen. Taylor apparently
preferring to fight on the defensive. was
impatient for the FedersIs to begin bat
tle
At O'Clock. Taylor, tired of waiting.
ordered forward movement of his whole
line. No sooner had he spoken than
the Louisianans. headed by Gen Mouton,
son of former governor of the State,
dashed forward and flung themselves
against the Federals Mouton, flag in
hand, was shot dead in his tracks and
many of his men fell dead around him
Still the Confederates pushed on. They
had been waiting for weeks for this
chance to strikeq the enemy, and were
determined to drive them back or to die
to man in the attempt Walkers men
had been scarcely less prompt than those
under Mouton in getting into action. and
the fighting ragged furiousIy.
The Federals were outnumbered. In
vain they tried to protect their tanks
and rear. but the long Confederate line
swung around on both ends and hedged
them in. The first Union line fell back.
leaving the guns of Minis battery in
the hands of the enemy.
The inner line crumbled like the first
and soon the entire Federal force on
the field was in retreat
At this critical moment Gen. Franklin
arrived at the front with Camero1's
division of the Thirteenth Corps. 200
strong But these troops were of no
avail Every position taken up by the
Federals was outfianked by the victor
ious Confederates and soon the Union
retreat developed into rout.
The cavalry wagon train. wiieh-had
blocked the road in the morning. could
not be turned to the rear. Drivers aban-
doned their wagons. cut the horses loose
and made their way TO safety.
When the artillerists attempted to with
draw their guns they found this stalled
train across their path. and were obliged
to leave their pieces on the field
The utmost confusion prevailed. The
woods were full of blue-clad men, cav
airy, infantry and artillery. making their
way to the rear. Gems. Banks. Franklin
and Ransom were carried back in the
rush Every attempt to halt the fleeing
army was in vain.
Army's Losses Heavy
For fully three miles the flight con-
tinucd until the panic-stricken troops
found new courage in the sight of Gen.
William H. Emery's division of the Nine
teenth Corps drawn up in a strong posi-
ton on the ridge that crossed the road.
A gap in the line was open for the pas
sage of the men who had met defeat at
Sabine Crossroads; here they found shell
ter and reorganized their ranks
When the Confederates came in sight
Of this new Federal line they We're too
fatigued and disordered to successfully
assail it.
Accounts OF TIE struggle at this point.
which continued until dark, differ. The
Fedsrals claim to have held their own
and to have repulsed the Confederates
with heavy loss. Gen. Taylor. in his ac-
counts, is insistent that he forced back
the Federal line a sufficient distance to
gain possession Of a small stream which
crossed the battlefield. All this country
was a dry one. and il was of great i'm
portance to thu Confederates TO possess
the water.
At all events. both armies camped for
the night IN the immediate vicinity OF
this second battle-ground. The Confed-
crates called the days contests the bat
tie of Mansfield-the Federals regarded
the action as two distinct engagements.
the first Sabine Crossroads Trt the sec
ond, three miles in the rear. Pleasant
Grove.
The following day the Federals con-
tinued their movement to the rear. Gen.
Emery's division covered the retreat, and
at nightfan took possession with the rest
Of the enemy at Pleasant HILL seven
teen miles southeast of Sabine CROSSROADS
The Federal losses at Sabine Cross
roads and in an engagement the next
day were approximately 21s killed, lbs
wounded, and 2,794 captured or missing.
a total of 42io. IN addition. they lost
twenty pieces Of artillery, several stands
Of colors thousands of small arms, and
nearly all of the cavalry wagon train.
The Confederate losses are not given
in detail. Indications point them to have
been about 800 killed and wounded. The
loss of officers was especially heavy on