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Special Corrodptudenooof St. Louid Republican-The Red River Expedition.Grand Ecorb, April 13.The graud expedition up Red river, which promised such beneficial results, has met with an unexpected and disastrous check.On the 6th of April, the Union army, under command of Major General Franklin, moved from Nachitoches (pronounced Nack-itosh), toward Shreveport. Nachitoches is four miles from Red river, the nearest point on the river being Grand Ecore, the place from which this letter is dated. The road from Nachitoches is through a dense forest of pine woods, the surface of the country being broken and hilly. There are but few plantations opened and nothing upon which to subsist an army. On Thursday night, the 7th, the army encamped at Pleasant Hill, a small town in the pine woods, about 30 miles North east of Nachitoches, on the road to Shreveport. The wagon road leaves the river to the right some 15 or 20 miles, rendering the co operation of the gunboats impossible Before encamping at Pleasant Hill, there was a sharp cavalry skirmish, about two miles beyond that place, resulting in no important advantages to either side. The cavalry encamped about 7 miles in advance of the main army. Next morning (Friday the 8th) the army started toward Mansfield, a distance of 17 miles from Pleasant Hill. About noon, while the enemy was in line of march, arrived at the front, at a small bayou, where a bridge was being built. Gen. Banks at once assumed command of the army in the field. There was almost constant skirmishing all the way from Pleasant Hill to the place where the battle afterward occurred. When General Banks arrived at the Bayou, the 19th Armv corps were several miles in the rear, the 13th Array corps were crossing the newly constructed bridge, and General Leo's cavalry about 5,000 men some three iniles in advance, together with Nimee celebrated battery, the Chicago Mercantile battery, First Indiana, and battery G, of the regular army. The 4th division, 13th Army corps, under command of Gen. Ransom, were hurried forward as a support to the cavalry. About three o’clock in the afternoon, when within two miles of Mansfield, the advance army consisting of the cavalry, artillery and fourth division, 13th Army corps, above mentioued, while marching through a dense pine forest, there being thick undergrowth of pines on either side of the road, were attacked by the rebels in great force, on both flanks and in front. The engagement soon became general, the rebels suddenly opening with artillery, and musketry, charging our (surprised and panic stricken columns with ter rific yells, evincing a daring and determination worthy of a better cause. Gen. Banks and Gen. Franklin hurried to the front, and were in the thickest of the fight. The ar tillery was speedly put in position at the extreme front, and for a while did excellent service Finding the front rather too dangerous for major generals, Banks and Franklin returned to the rear of the wagon train, just in time to save themselves from capture, as the rebels pressed upon both sides of our army with crushing effect A ball passed through Gen. Banks’ hat. Everything was soon in the wildest contusion ; the wagon train, being in the rear, and in a narrow road, attempted to turn round to tall back, and completely blocked up the way, cutting off the advaoce both from a way of letreat and re-inforcements. The rebels had formed in the shape of an isosceles triangle, leaving the base open, and at the apex planting their artillery. Our advance marched directly into the triangle, having the two wings of the rebel forces on either aide of them. These wings were speedily connected, com* pelling our force3 to retreat or surrender. The batteries above mentioned, consisting of twenty pieces in all, were now captured, together with nearly all the officers and men. The Chicago Mercantile Battery was cap; tured eutire, and I am informed that all her officers and men fell into'the hands of the enemy. The 4th Division, 13th Army corps 2,800 raeD, under Gen. Ransom, and Gen. Lee’s cavalry, about 3,000 strong, and the batteries above mentioned, were the forces in advance of the wagon trian These forces fought desperately for a while, but gave way, under superior numbers of the rebels, and retreated in great precipitatiou. The scene of this retreat beggar9 all dia-cription. General Franklin said of it, that ‘ Bull Run was not a circumstance in comparison.” Gen. Ransom was wounded in the knee, but rode off the field before he was compelled, by loss of blood, to dismount. Capt. Dicky, of Gen Ransom's staff, was shot through the head and killed instantly. His body was left on the field. The position of the w$gon train in the narrow road, was the great blunder of the whole affair. The rear was completely blocked up, reuder-iDg the retreat very difficult, and in fact almost impossible. Cavalry horses were dashing at full speed through the roads, endan gering infantry and other pedestrians more than rebel musketry, the retreat having become so precipitate thatall attempts to make a stand for a while seemed impossibleThe immense baggage and supply train of Gen. Lee’s cavalry, consisting of 269 wagons, nearly all fell into the hands of the enemy, together with the mules attached thereto.The 3d Division, 13th Army Corps, mustering about 18,000 men, under command of Gen. Cameron, were sent forward, and endeavored to tnake a stand. But the effort was futile. The rebels pressed so hard upon Gen. Cameron that he could not resist them. After suffcriug terribly, he fell in with the retreating column. The 13th Army Corps, numbering in all 4,600 men, when the fight began, sustained a loss in proportion to the nnmber engaged which is perhaps without a parallel in the history of this terrible war. The 130th Illinois, commanded by Major Reed, attached to the Fourth Division, could only find fifty-eight men after the battle. So precipitate was the retreat of the Fourth Division of this corps, that the men only brought off six hundred and fortv stand of small arms, hundreds of them throwing away their guns to facilitate their movements. At least one-half of the Thirteenth Corps were killed, wounded or cap tured. Gen. Lee's cavalry lost heavily, but some time must elapse before correct estimates can be obtained.The retreating column fell buck some four or five iniles, when the 19th Army Corps, under Gen Ewing, came up and succeeded in making a stand. The rebels charged upon Gen. Ewing’s forces, but wore repulsed with considerable loss. Night came on, and thus ended the battle of Mansfield.The stand was made by the 19th Army Corps, which remained ou the field until midnight, when it fell back to Pleasant Hill, a distance of about twelve miles, arriving there about daylight Saturday morning.-General Lee’s cavalry aud the 13th Army Corps continued their precipitate retreat from the battle-field to Pleasant Hill.BATTLE OF PLEASANT HILL.Saturday morning Gen. Banks, ordered a retreat of the whole army to Grand Ecore. The wagon trains and the heavy artillery guarded by the negro regiments, took thetiadvance, leaving P oaaant Hill early tu *the morning. It requii d nearly all day to j^et the immense train in motion, the advao.ee being at least fifteen mrles distant before the rear got fairly started.About five o’clock P. M., just us the wagon train of General Banks' army had all got in motion, the rebels attacked our army in great force. Our forces were posted so as to effectually cover our retreat, the right rest* ing about half a mile northwest of the town of Pleasant Hill, the centre about a half mile to the we9t, and the left still further west, about a half mile in the woods. The 16th Army Corps, commanded by Gen. A J. Smith, occupied the right up to the center, and the 19th Army Corps, under Gen. Franklin, the left up to the center. The reserves were posted about a half mile in the rear. The forces supporting the 16th Army Corps were the 49th Illinois, commauded by Major Thomas W. Morgan; 178th New York, commanded by Col. Waler; 89th Indiana, commanded by Col. Murray, and the 58th Illinois. I have no list of the regiments supporting the 19th Army Corps. The rebels under Kirby Smith attacked our whole front in great force, and after a half hour of terrible fighting, with musketry and field artillery, our forces fell back on the reserve line, a distance of about half a mile The enemy pursued with great rapidity, fighting all the way, and doing considerable damage.— For a time all seemed lost, but the presence of the Western troops inspired confidence in the whole army. When the rebels approached the line of the reserve forces, our army was brought into excellent position, and the fighting again became terrific. The Western boys threw their hats in the air, and raised a yell which wa9 heard above the roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry. That tremeudous yell was more terrible to the rebels than the thundering peals of cannon. One of the prisoners afterward remarked, that when they heard that shout, the word passed round: “There are the Western boys we will catch h—1 now.” In a short time their column began to waver — Gen. A. J. Smith ordered a charge along the whole line. The order was quickly obeyed. Another shout was raised from our boys. Gen. Mower advanced to the front, and led the charge in person, riding through the thickest of the fight, cheering his men on. The rebels could stand no longer.— They broke and ran in great confusion, throwing away their guns, and giving up the day. They were hotly pursued by our forces, who pressed them closely, and inflicted terrible blows upon them. The repulse of the rebels was crushing and attended with immense loss. Whole columns were mowed down, under the galling fire from the Western army. They were driven about two miles, into the woods, losing aboutone thousand inen, who were captured, besides a large number of killed and wounded.During the battle the 49th Illinois (Col. W. R. Morrison’s old regiment,) under command of Major Morgan, charged upon a rebel battery with determined bravery, and captured two pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners. Adjutant Deneen, of 117th Illinois, reported this fact to General Banks. The General replied, “Present my compliments to Major Morgan and his regiment, and tell him I will ever remember them for their ganllantry.The rebel prisoners claim to have had twenty-five thousand men engaged on Saturday, but I doubt whether half that num were present. The rebel Gens. Parson and Mouton are reported killed.Our army remained on the field until daylight Sunday morning, when the retreat to Grand Ecore was commenced.The rebel killed and wounded were left on the field. Our wounded were taken to houses in Pleasant Hill, and there were placed in ambulances and wagons and brought on to Grand Ecore, except about twenty five, who were badly wounded and left at Pleasant Hill, in care of two surgeons. Our dead were left ou the field, but it is reported that they were afterward buried by the cavalry.Our killed and wounded during the second day’s battle, will, perhaps, amount to fifteen hundred That of the rebels is at lea9t double that amount. The Sixteenth and Nineteenth army corps were the only forces engaged in this fight ou our side.In our retreat to Grand Ecore, a distance of thirty five miles from Pleasant Hill, we were not molested in the least. By Monday evening (the 11th) the whole arrny was at Grand Ecore, on Red river.Gen. A. J. Smith protested against the retreat from Pleasaut Hill. He wanted to pursue the rebels on Sunday on his own hook, instead of falling back, but Gen. Banks wa9 firm and ordered all the forces to return. Gen. Smith is very popular with the army, and every time he makes his appearance he is cheered with great enthusiasm, aod considered one of the ablest generals of the array.It is difficult to determine at this lime what will be the result of this expedition. It will take some time to re-organize before au advance can be resumed If the river continues to fall, navigation above Alexandria will be difficult, if not impossible. In that event, Alexandria will necessarily become the base of operations instead of Grand Ecore, or some point above. The transports and gunboats are all above Grand Ecore, but are expected down here to-morrow. Therebels are very troublesome on the river•*above Grand Ecore. They succeeded in planting a battery between the fleet aud this place. The gunboats shelled the woods all day yesterday, and perhaps dislodged them. The transports are almost constantly fired on from both sides of the river. Seventeen mile6 below here the rebels have appeared on the east side of the river. Yesterday the Ohio Belle, loaded with soldiers and quartermaster s stores, in charge of chief clerk, Mr. O’Neal, of St. Louie, was fired into at that point, and two soldiers were badly wounded. To-day the fine passenger steamer, Mittie Stephens, loaded with troops, was fired into at the same place, sixty shots taking effect. Six persons were wounded and one killed.To day Gen. Banks’ army began crossing over to the east side of Red river, opposite Grand Ecore. Whether the whole army 1 will cross over or not, 1 am unable to say.It is rumored that only Smith’s army (16th Army Corps) is crossing, and that he is going overland to Natchez or Vicksburgh. But this wauts confirmation, although it is generally understood that Gen. Grant has sent an order for Smith's return Vicksburgh.I do not see how Gen. Banks can spare the 16lh Army Corps at this time. All the for- , ces have been ordered here from Alexandria, i ( except one regiment, and a few companies of Horne Guards. Gen. Grover, command- ii ing the post at Alexandria, has been ordered ! here, and is now expected. Fears are enter- ‘ tained that the rebels may attack Alexau | dria, for the purpose of destroying the large amount of armv supplies at that place. jAdmiral Portt-r n.:- arrived here from f above with two or three of bis iron clads. j The fleet of transports above here are in 1 great danger at this time, aad the most serious apprehensions are entertained for its , safety. The transports had gone as high upas Springfield Lauding, expecting to meet the land forces at that place. The rebels are ewarming along the river, and will eink every boat if they can.
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Frankfort Tri Weekly Commonwealth
Frankfort, Kentucky, US
Fri, Apr 29, 1864
Page 2
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USA 28 Jun 2023
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