April 9, 1864. |
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While the left was overpowered and pushed back, and the Confederates succeeded in getting temporary possession of four guns on that flank, Emory's right stood firm, until, enveloped on three sides by superior force, it was crowded back a little, and allowed the assailants to pass on toward General Smith's position in reserve, A few volleys were exchanged, when the tide of battle was quickly turned by a heavy counter-charge of some of Smith's veterans, under General Mower, and Emory's troops, which had been skillfully formed on the right of these.
The right of the Confederates was driven more than a mile by this charge.
The whole of the reserves were ordered up, and the foe was completely routed, and pursued until dark.
So ended,
in complete victory for the Nationals, the battle of Pleasant Hill.
It “was desperate and sanguinary,” said General Banks in his report.
“The defeat of the enemy was complete, and his loss in officers and men more than double that sustained by our force.1 We fought the battle at Pleasant Hill with about fifteen thousand against twenty-two thousand men.”
Banks gave orders for a forward movement toward Shreveport the next morning, and communicated the fact to General Smith that evening.
He sent word for his trains to re-form and advance at daybreak, and active preparations were commenced for following up the victory, when representations concerning the condition and circumstances of his command by Franklin and the general officers of the Nineteenth Corps, caused a suspension of the order.
A conference of general officers was held that evening, when, upon the urgent recommendation of them all, and with the acquiescence of General Smith, it was determined to retire upon Grand Ecore the following day, “to the great disappointment of the troops,” Banks said, “who, flushed with success, were eager for another fight.”
In the mean time the command of T. Kilby Smith and the transports had reached Springfield Landing, at Loggy Bayou, where the river was. obstructed by a sunken steamboat.
Farther advance was not required, for word soon came of the disaster at Sabine Cross Roads, followed by an order from Pleasant Hill for the troops and flotilla to fall back to Grand Ecore as quickly as possible.
Obedience was a difficult task, for the troops so sorely smitten by Banks were turning their attention to the capture or destruction
1 General Banks reported his losses in “the severe battles of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of April,” at 3,969, of whom 289 were killed, 1,541 wounded, and 2,150 missing. Most of the latter were prisoners. In addition to these, the Nationals had lost in the campaign, thus far, 20 pieces of artillery, 160 wagons, and 1,200 horses and mules, including many that died of disease. The gains were the capture of Fort De Russy, Alexandria, Grand Ecore, and Natchitoches, the opening of the Red River. and the capture of 2.300 prisoners, 25 pieces of artillery (chiefly by the fleet), and 3,000 bales of cotton. The Confederate losses in the engagements just mentioned were never reported.
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