Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-08
GEORGE Ell KrLr1HR. Late q. av.

-, GEORGE L KILr1ER. Late q. 8 ".
IN April s, fifty years ago. was
fought the battle OF Sabine
Crossroads. La. called Mans
~ deld by the Confederates- Sa-
40. crossroads has been ranked as
-. a, the decisive BATTLES Of the war.
:, mt an end TO the Federal attempts
- ronouer the vast territory held by
-, Coufederates west OF the Missis-
.1n,i Early in April General " Z.
p,nkS was marching a land force
.r,ipst Shreveport. La. acting in con
=, with n naval squadron moving mp
Ped river for the same destination
The land column WIS strung out on
.bs last stretch % march before clos
g An on the goal Close column was
,npossibIe owing TO the state OF the
-oaas and the necessity for haste. Con
sade-stes outuumbering the Federals
-s,a concentrating to give battle out
a. ~ Shreveport General E Kirby
stir. commander Of the department
,,s At Shreveport. and General Rich
ard TAYLOR. leader Of the troops afield,
v,s smear Sabine Crossroads
BANKS order OF march for April S
rrs that the head OF column move
slowly and allow time for the troops
"a the rear to get TO the field OF proba-
be battle. for the enemy was already
Allowing . lighting temper and Skin
uishing with the Federal cavalry.
which was in the lead
General T. G. E. Ransom led the
FEDERAL infantry advance and hurried
tts pace all the morning in order to
support the troopers who had struck
the enemy on the edge OF a large pine
clearing three miles from Mansfield.
The clearing was 100 yards long by
600 yards wide and divided in the cen
Ter by q ravine. The only road in the
region crossed the clearing. Ransom
reached the front in person about .
= D. N. and was soon Joined by Banks.
Couriers were sent back to hurry for
ward supporting columns
A Sudden Attack.
Across the clearing and through the
openings Of the forest the Federals
could see the enemy moving to posi-
ion. particularly two columns, which
proved TO be led by General Alfred
Mouton. aiming for the Federal right
flank The opposing lines looked at
each other for couple of hours, and
then MOuton rushed his men on
charge over the prairie, along the road
Ransom, whose leading division was to
bear the brunt of this onslaught, had
fewer than $500 men in line. and all
told there were about 5000 troops M
the call Of Banks. while his foe num-
bered at least 10000.
In point of fact. General Smith had or
dered Taylor TO avoid pitched battle.
he expected Taylor 10 make a recon
noissance, then retreat and draw the
Federals farther toward Shreveport
Taylor claimed TO bave ordered the at
tack by MoutOn. but MOuton's officers
insisted that he made the move without
orders This headlong thrust of MOu-
ton on the Federal flank was equal in
results 10 the famous stroke Of STONE
wall Jackson on the Eleventh Federal
corps az Charlottesville the year be-
fore. II really settled the fate OF the
oay and Of Banks Red river campaign.
Aouton was himself shot down in the
- "a NhaA " AiAlF Attthl44- AAo
louisiana soldiers. the "PeIicans."
"zouaves" and Tigers urging them
On with a battlehag which he waved
With his sword arm. BY prompt and
snliful parrying Ransom checked the
Inst charge. driving Mouton's first line
back upon the second. But the Lou
slsnians rallied and returned TO the
charge
General Ransom Wounded.
Ransom had posted the guns OF
Core's Chicago Mercantile battery and
Alsuss' Twelfth Indiana battery on a
hage in the center TO meet the rush OF
Aouton's men. But the Federal flank
vas broken and the whole line driven
paek In confusion Ransom could only
ave his command by Withdrawing 81
ID me near edge Of the clearing. under
eoVer Of the woods Orders 10 this ef-
iet were given to an aid. who was
not down before he csIld delive.
loesn. Regiments which fought on in
ne clearing were captured. Ransom
sas wounded while trying 10 rally !
nose who fell back. and two OF his !
Ongsde commanders were wounded |
md captured
Meanwhile General W. y. Franklin. |
"nmander OF the Federal land troops. |
Nr0 H@d 81. No~.I ~ Pan