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for the rebels, and the horses, caissons, and limbers were removed.
The Nineteenth commenced falling back, and on came the rebels.
Upon reaching the woods, the Nineteenth halted and formed a junction with
Smith's troops and the cavalry on each wing, and the new line thus made formed two sides of a square, with battery L in the angle, and was invisible to the enemy.
The bait took, and the enemy, seeing the apparently unprotected battery, rushed forward
en masse to capture it, which they were permitted to do, when the
Federal forces opened upon them, subjecting them to a terrible crossfire which mowed them down in immense numbers, literally covering the ground with the slain, and threw them into the utmost confusion.
The lines now closed in and drove them flying across the open field and through the woods beyond, killing and capturing a large number, and also retaking most of the artillery captured from us on the previous day. It was a most brilliant victory, and could it have been followed up, would doubtless have resulted in the dispersion of the enemy and capture of
Shreveport, but the check we had received necessitated a retrograde movement to this place as a base of supplies, it being evident that we could not effect a junction with our fleet at or near that place before they gave out. The movement was accordingly made, and we returned in good order, arriving at noon yesterday. The fleet is expected to join us here, and in the mean time, we are receiving reinforcements and making preparations for another onward movement.
The snake which was spoken of in my last has shown a considerable decree of vitality, and doubtless, like the tail of the reptile to which this portion of the Southern Confederacy may be likened, will continue to do so until the sun of secession has set in clouds; but I still adhere to the opinion that it would have died of itself, provided the vital point of the rebellion east of the
Mississippi was effectually crushed, and it would have been much better to have let it had its own way, than to endeavor to kill it in such a bungling manner.
But since the attempt has been made, it is now better to carry it out, and all are anxious and willing to see it done.
The loss of confidence in the military capacity of some of the generals, is counteracted by that felt in the abilities of
General A. J. Smith, both as a counsellor and practical military man. He proved himself the man for the occasion, and his success on the ninth is the general theme of conversation.
May our next attempt be more fortunate!
G. W. C.
Another account.
A correspondent of the
Lacon Illinois Gazette, belonging to the Seventy-seventh Illinois regiment, furnished the facts relative to the following battles on
Red River, in which his regiment was reduced from four hundred to one hundred and fifty-three men:
We marched from
Natchitoches on the sixth instant.
On the evening of the seventh, we reached a small village called
Pleasant Hill, the road winding through heavy pine timber.
While at
Pleasant Hill,
General Lee, who commands the cavalry of the expedition, sent word back that he had had quite a skirmish with the enemy, losing thirty-five in killed and wounded, and that he had driven them eight miles, where they made a stand, from which he was unable to dislodge them with his cavalry, and asking for infantry.
General Ransom objected, saying: “Remain in camp here until
General Smith comes up, and then move on them in force.”
It was evident to him that the enemy would make a successful stand, but
Generals Banks and
Franklin thought differently, and ordered
Colonel Landrum, who commanded the Fourth division of the Thirteenth army corps, to take the First brigade of his division and start at three in the morning, and assist
General Lee in dislodging the enemy.
At three o'clock,
General Lee started, meeting the enemy some eight miles from
Pleasant Hill, routing him and following him in line of battle for about eight miles further, skirmishing with him the entire distance.
Here we lost the gallant and brave
Lieutenant-Colonel Webb, of the Seventy-seventh Illinois, who was shot dead while leading his men on the enemy's rear-guard. Eight miles from
Pleasant Hill, and four from
Mansfield, we came to a large plantation which was undulating and surrounded by heavy timber, but on the further side the belt was narrow and opened into another plantation of smaller size.
Before we entered the first plantation, the Second brigade came up to the assistance of the First, and the Nineteenth regiment was thrown forward as skirmishers, and
Nim's Massachusetts battery posted on an eminence, from which they shelled the opposite woods something like a mile distant.
The enemy soon left his position, although it was a very good one.
We advanced the Fourth division to the timber on the opposite side of the field, and sent back for the Third division,
General Cameron commanding, and for the
Chicago Mercantile battery and First Indiana battery, both under charge of
Captain White,
Chief of Artillery detachment Thirteenth army corps.
After gaining the opposite side of the field, we halted, and the fatigued men of the Fourth division lay down to take some rest, as they had marched sixteen miles, one half the time in line of battle and through the woods.
Nim's battery was then put in position on the
Shreveport road.
Near the left of the road all was quiet, skirmishing having ceased, excepting once in a while a shot either from rebel or Federal.
Here
Generals Franklin and
Banks came on the field.
General Stone, of Ball's Bluff notoriety, (who, by the way, is on
General Banks's staff,) had been in the front all the morning.
General Lee was also present with his cavalry.
General Ransom came up and was ordered to advance his line.
Before doing so, he told
General Banks it would bring on an engagement, which he thought it prudent to avoid at that time, but advised
