Sabine cross-roads, battle of.
The Confederates made a stand at
Sabine Cross-roads, La., during the
Red River expedition under
General Banks, in 1864.
Franklin's troops moved forward, with
General Lee's cavalry in the van, followed by two thin divisions under
General Ransom.
General Emory followed
Ransom.
Among his troops was a brigade of colored soldiers.
Lee was ordered to attack the
Confederates wherever he should find them, but not to bring on a general engagement.
Franklin advanced to
Pleasant Hill (q. v.), where
Banks joined him. Near Sabine Cross-roads,
Lee found the trans-Mississippi army, fully 20,000 strong, under several Confederate leaders.
Waiting for the main army to come up,
Lee and
Ransom were attacked (April 8), by the
Confederates.
At a little past noon,
General Banks arrived at the front, and found the skirmishers hotly engaged.
Orders were sent to
Franklin to hurry forward, but he did not arrive in time to give needed assistance, for at 4 P. M. 8,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry had fallen upon the Nationals along their whole line, and drove them back.
Franklin, with a division under
General Cameron, arrived at five o'clock, but the overwhelming number of the
Confederates turned the
National flank and struck their centre
[
2]
heavily.
This assault, like the first, was stubbornly resisted, but, finding the
Confederates gaining their rear, the Nationals fell back, and were received by
General Emory, who was advancing.
Ransom lost ten guns and 1,000 men captured, and
Lee 156 wagons filled with supplies.
