Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

federate infantry and artillery at Bayou du Paul. Col. Robinson finding the enemy in an increased force, halted for the night and to await reënforcements. Early the next morning, the infantry brigade of the 4th division of the 13th corps, under Col. Landrum, joined him, and the advance was resumed and continued until 2 o'clock P. M., driving the enemy before them for seven miles. The main force of the enemy now appeared, occupying a strong position in the vicinity of Sabine Cross roads east of Mansfield. They were partly concealed in a dense wood with an open field in front and the Shreveport road passing through their lines. Major-Gen. Taylor was in command. Major-Gen. Green commanded the left wing, Brig.-Gen. Mouton the right, with Gen. Walker's division still further to the right, and two cavalry regiments on the extreme right. Meantime Gen. Ransom arrived on the field with the remaining brigade of the 4th division of

the 13th corps. The entire division numbered 2,600 men. The 19th corps, under Gen. Franklin, were in camp nine miles in the rear, and Gen. A. J. Smith, with about one-half of the 16th and 17th corps, was nearly twenty miles in the rear. The Federal artillery consisted of the Chicago Mercantile battery, the 1st Indiana battery, Nim's Massachusetts battery, and battery G, 5th regular artillery. Col. Landrum's brigade took a position on the right and centre with all the batteries except one, and Gen. Ransom's brigade on the left with Nim's battery supported by Col. Dudley's cavalry brigade, while Col. Robinson's cavalry protected the wagon train, and Col. Lucas acted on the right. Gen. Banks had, in the meanwhile, arrived on the field, and at once sent couriers for Gen. Franklin to hasten forward with all possible despatch. Heavy skirmishing commenced at 5 o'clock, and in a short time the skirmishers were driven in by the enemy advancing in force, when the engagement became general on the right and centre. To sustain this portion of the line, which was heavily pressed, the left was necessarily much weakened. This was observed by the enemy, who massed upon their right and dashed upon the left of Gen. Banks, which was soon driven back, and four guns of Nim's battery captured. Not horses enough were alive to drag it from the field. Meantime the right continued fiercely engaged and the centre was pressed back, when the right also gave way. The loss of the Chicago battery and the 1st Indiana soon followed. Gen. Cameron came up with a brigade of Indiana troops belonging to the third division of the 13th corps, and advanced to the front, but was unable to resist the force of the enemy. Gen. Franklin with staff, also arrived on the field in advance of his division. The line continued to fall back slowly until the baggage trains blocked up the roads in the rear so that the troops could not easily pass, when a panic ensued. The enemy now pursued for three and a half miles, when their advance was checked and driven back by Gen. Emory's division. Here the conflict ended for the day. Six guns of the Chicago battery, two of battery G, four of the 1st Indiana, and six of Nim's battery were left on the field, with two howitzers of the 6th Missouri. The loss of Gen. Banks was estimated at two thousand killed, wounded, and missing. His force on the field was about eight thousand. The force of the enemy was much larger. Gen. Mouton was among the badly wounded of the enemy.

As it was now known that Gen. Smith with his force had marched to Pleasant Hill and halted, Gen. Banks determined to withdraw to that place for the sake of concentrating his forces, and of the advantageous position which he could there occupy. The movement commenced at ten o'clock at night, and before daylight the rear of the army was well on the road. The enemy during the night had pressed his pickets down on Gen. Banks' front, but failed

[graphic]

to discover the retreat of the troops as it was conducted with the greatest silence and expedition. Becoming aware of it in the morning, he followed after with his main force, his cavalry being in advance, but the cavalry failed to come up with the rear under Gen. Emory, before it had arrived at Pleasant Hill about seven o'clock in the morning. Col. Gooding, of the cavalry division, was then sent out on the Shreveport road to find the enemy. About a mile up the road the advance was seen approaching in strong force.

The battle-ground was an open field on the outside of the town of Pleasant Hill on the Shreveport road. It was open and rolling, and ascended both from the side of the town and from the side on which the enemy were approaching. A belt of timber extended almost entirely around it. The division of Gen. Emory was drawn up in line of battle on the sloping side, with the right resting across the Shreveport road. Gen. McMillen's brigade formed the extreme right of the line, with his right resting near the woods, which extended along the whole base of the slope and through which the enemy would advance. Gen. Dwight's brigade was formed next with his left resting on the road, Col. Benedict's brigade formed next, with his right resting on the road and a little in the rear of Gen. Dwight's left. Two pieces of Taylor's battery were placed in the rear of Gen. Dwight's left on the road, and four pieces were in position on an eminence on the left of the road and in rear of Col. Benedict. Hibbard's Vermont battery was in the rear of the division. Gen. Smith's division, under command of Gen. Mower, was massed in two lines of battle fifty yards apart with artillery in rear of Gen. Emory's division. The right of the first line rested on the road, and was composed of two brigades: the first brigade on the right commanded by Colonel Linch; the second brigade on the left commanded by Colonel Shaw. The 3d Indiana battery (Crawford's) was posted in the first line of battle, and on the right of the 89th Indiana. The 9th Indiana battery (Brown's) was in position on the right of the first brigade. The Missouri battery occupied ground on the right of the 89th Indiana.

The second line was composed of two brigades. The 13th corps were in reserve. Skirmishing continued through the day, and at 4 P. M. the enemy's line of battle was formed. Gen. Green's division was posted on the extreme left; Gen. Mouton's division, under command of Brig.-Gen. Polignac, on Gen. Green's right; Gen. Walker on Polignac's right, and Gen. Churchill's division of Arkansians and Missourians on the extreme right. About 5 P. M. the enemy appeared on the field at the edge of the woods, and the battle began by the Federal batteries opening upon him with case shell as he advanced at double-quick. The left under Col. Benedict came into action first, and soon after the right and centre were engaged.

The contest now became fierce on both sides, when Gen. Emory's division, pressed by overwhelming numbers, fell back up the hill to the 16th corps, which was just behind the crest. The enemy rushed forward and were met by Gen. Smith with a discharge from all his guns, which was followed by an immediate charge of the infantry, by which the enemy were driven rapidly back to the woods, where they broke in confusion. Night put an end to the pursuit. The Taylor battery lost on the advance of the enemy was recovered, and also two guns of Nim's battery. Five hundred prisoners were also taken. Early on the next morning, leaving the dead unburied and the muskets thrown on the field, the army commenced its march back to Grand Ecore, thirtyfive miles from Pleasant Hill, to obtain rest and rations.

The entire losses of the campaign thus far were stated to be twenty pieces of artillery, three thousand men, one hundred and thirty wagons, twelve hundred 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 Red River, the capture of three thousand bales of cotton, twenty-three hundred prisoners, twenty-five pieces of artillery, chiefly captured by the fleet, and small arms and considerable stores. A large number of citizens enlisted in the service in Alexandria, and the material for two colored regiments was gathered, and five thousand negroes, male and female, abandoned their homes and followed the army.

Meanwhile Rear-Admiral Porter ascended the falls with twelve gunboats and thirty transports, and reached Grand Ecore when the army was at Natchitoches preparing for an immediate march. As the river was rising slowly the advance was continued with six smaller gunboats and twenty transports, having army stores and a part of Gen. Smith's division on board. Starting on the 7th of April, Springfield Landing was reached on the third day. Here a large steamer sunk in the river obstructed further progress; and information was received that the army had met with a reverse. Orders also came to Gen. Smith's troops to return to Grand Ecore with the transports. The fleet, therefore, turned back, but was constantly annoyed by the enemy on the bank of the river. Two of the fleet at Grand Ecore were found above the bar, and not likely to get away until there was a rise of water in the river.

The continued low water in the Red River, and the difficulty of keeping up a line of supplies, caused the army to fall back to Alexandria. The march commenced in the afternoon of April 21st, by starting the baggage train with a suitable guard. At 2 o'clock the next morning the army began silently to evacuate its position, Gen. Smith's force forming the rear guard. Soon after daylight the enemy observing the movement began his pursuit, but with so small a force that only slight skirmishing

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

took place. After moving thirty miles, the army bivouacked for the night. On the next morning the march was resumed, six miles to the crossing of Cane River. Here the enemy appeared in a strong position to dispute the crossing of the river. A flank movement through an almost impassable wood was made upon the enemy's position, from which he was driven, and the crossing secured. The pursuit was continued by the enemy until Alexandria was reached on the 27th.

Although Gen. Banks had declared in the commencement of the campaign that his occupation of the country would be permanent, such was now the state of affairs as to require his withdrawal, the season having passed for operating with any chance of success. Preparations for this object were soon commenced. The position of the fleet was most serious, and its extrication is thus related by Rear-Admiral Porter:

MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP BLACK HAWK, MOUTH RED RIVER, May 16th, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the vessels lately caught by low water above the falls at Alexandria, have been released from their unpleasant position. The water had fallen so low that I had no hope or expectation of getting the vessels out this season, and, as the army had made arrangements to evacuate the country, I saw nothing before me but the destruction of the best part of the Mississippi squadron.

complished, notwithstanding there was a current running of nine miles an hour, which threatened to sweep every thing before it.

It will take too much time to enter into the details of this truly wonderful work; suffice it to say that the dam had nearly reached completion in eight days' working time, and the water had risen sufficiently on the upper falls to allow the Fort Hindman, Osage, and Neosho, to get down and be ready to pass the dam. In another day it would have been high enough to enable all the other vessels to pass the upper falls. Unfortunately, on the morning of the 9th inst., the pressure of water became so great that in below the dam on one side. Seeing this unfortuit swept away two of the stone-barges which swung nate accident, I jumped on a horse and rode up to where the upper vessels were anchored, and ordered the Lexington to pass the upper falls if possible, and immediately attempt to go through the dam. I not knowing whether the persons employed on the thought I might be able to save the four vessels below, work would ever have the heart to renew the enterprise.

The Lexington succeeded in getting over the upper falls just in time, the water rapidly falling as she was passing over. She then steered directly for the opening in the dam, through which the water was rushing so furiously that it seemed as if nothing but destruction awaited her. Thousands of beating hearts looked on anxious for the result.

The silence was so great as the Lexington approached the dam that a pin might almost have been heard to fall. She entered the gap with a full head of steam on, pitched down the roaring torrent, made two or three spasmodic rolls, hung for a moment on the rocks below, was then swept into deep water by the currents, and rounded to safely into the bank.

There seems to have been an especial Providence looking out for us in providing a man equal to the Thirty thousand voices rose in one deafening cheer, emergency. Lieut.-Col. Bailey, Acting Engineer of and universal joy seemed to pervade the face of every the 19th Army Corps, proposed a plan of build- man present. The Neosho followed next-all her ing a series of dams across the rocks at the falls, hatches battened down, and every precaution taken and raising the water high enough to let the vessels against accident. She did not fare as well as the pass over. This proposition looked like madness, Lexington, her pilot having become frightened as he and the best engineers ridiculed it; but Col. Bailey approached the abyss, and stopped her engine when was so sanguine of success that I requested to have I particularly ordered a full head of steam to be carit done, and he entered heartily into the work. Pro- ried. The result was that for a moment her hull disvisions were short and forage was almost out, and appeared from sight, under the water. Every one the dam was promised to be finished in ten days or thought she was lost. She rose, however, swept the army would have to leave us. I was doubtful along over the rocks with the current, and fortunateabout the time, but I had no doubt about the ultimate ly escaped with only one hole in her bottom, which success, if time would only permit. Gen. Banks was stopped in the course of an hour. The Hindplaced at the disposal of Col. Bailey all the forces he man and Osage both came through beautifully withrequired, consisting of some three thousand men out touching a thing, and I thought if I was only and two or three hundred wagons. All the neighbor- fortunate enough to get my large vessels as well over ing steam-mills were torn down for material; two or the falls my fleet once more would do good service three regiments of Maine men were set at work fell- on the Mississippi. ing trees, and on the second day after my arrival in Alexandria, from Grand Ecore, the work had fairly begun.

Trees were falling with great rapidity, teams were moving in all directions, bringing in brick and stone; quarries were opened; flat-boats were built to bring stone down from above, and every man seemed to be working with a vigor I have seldom seen equalled, while perhaps not one in fifty believed in the undertaking. These falls are about a mile in length, filled with rugged rocks, over which at the present stage of water it seemed to be impossible to make a channel.

The work was commenced by running out from the left bank of the river a tree dam, made of the bodies of very large trees, brush, brick, and stone, crosstied with heavy timber, and strengthened in every way which ingenuity could devise. This was run out about three hundred feet into the river; four large coal barges were then filled with brick and sunk at the end of it. From the right bank of the river, cribs filled with stone were built out to meet the barges, all of which were successfully ac

The accident to the dam, instead of disheartening Col. Bailey, only induced him to renew his exertions, after he had seen the success of getting four vessels through. The noble-hearted soldiers, seeing their labor of the last eight days swept away in a moment, cheerfully went to work to repair damages, being confident now that all the gunboats would be finally brought over. The men had been working for eight days and nights, up to their necks in water, in the broiling sun, cutting trees and wheeling bricks, and nothing but good humor prevailed among them. On the whole, it was very fortunate the dam was carried away, as the two barges that were swept away from the centre swung around against some rocks on the left and made a fine cushion for the vessels, and prevented them, as it afterward appeared, from running on certain destruction.

The force of the water and the current being too great to construct a continuous dam of six hundred feet across the river in so short a time, Col. Bailey determined to leave a gap of fifty-five feet in the dam, and build a series of wing dams on the upper falls. This was accomplished in three days' time, and on

[graphic]

DAM ACROSS THE RED RIVER, CONSTRUCTED BY COL. BAILEY.

« AnteriorContinuar »