When it was discovered that the
Confederates were following the Nationals in strong force after the
battle at Pleasant Grove,
Banks formed a battle-line at
Pleasant Hill, 15 miles east of the latter place, with
Emory's division in the front, the right occupied by
Dwight's brigade, another, under
General Millan, in the centre, and a third, under
Colonel Benedict, on the left.
A New York battery was planted on a commanding hill.
The army trains, guarded by
Lee's cavalry, a brigade of colored troops, and
Ransom's shattered columns, were sent some distance on the road towards
Grand Ecore.
Towards noon (April 9), the
Confederate advance appeared, and between 5 and 6 P. M. a furious battle began.
The assailants fell heavily on
Emory's left, held by
Benedict's brigade, with crushing force, and pushed it back.
At the first onset, and while trying to rally his men to charge,
Benedict was slain by a bullet which passed through his head.
While the left was giving way, and the
Confederates had captured four guns,
Emory's right stood firm until enveloped on three sides by a superior force, when it fell back a little.
Then the tide was changed by a heavy countercharge by
Smith's veterans, under
General Mower.
The right of the
Confederates was driven more than a mile by this charge.
Then the whole of
Smith's reserves were ordered up, when the
Confederates were routed and pursued until dark.
General Banks reported his losses in the battles of April 7, 8, and 9, at 3,969, of whom 289 were killed and 2,150 missing, most of the latter taken prisoners.
The
Nationals had also lost, thus far, twenty pieces of artillery, 160 wagons, and 1,200 horses and mules.
They had captured 2,300 prisoners, twenty-five cannon (chiefly by the fleet), and 3,000 bales of cotton.
The Confederate losses were never reported.
