Grand Ecore Louisiana
April 14 ’64
Dear Friends
This afternoon seems a little more quiet than it has for several days past. I wrote a few lines to you on the 2nd and told you something about our affairs of the past week. but did not have time to write very much. I thought I would try and tell you more about it this afternoon.
As I stated before we left i Natchitoches the 6th our Cavelry force in advance numbering about 10 thousand.. the 13th Corps or a detachment of the 13th Corps, two Divisions the 3rd & 4th numbering about six thousand followed up the Cavelry. a detachment of the 19th Corps numbering about 10 thousand followed in our rear.. about 10 oclock on the 7th our Cavelry had a pretty tight skirmish with the Rebs at pleasant Hills 35 miles from Natchitoches but routed them. about 2 i we marched up and camped where the Cavelry had been fighting. the Cavelry went on and camped about 4 miles in advance.. about 5 oclock the 19th Corps came up and camped near us the 13th Corps were ordered and started at 4 o clock on the morning of the 8th.. the 96 was ordered to go behind the train as Guards.. after
we had got out 8 miles the 19th Corps started.. The Cavelry went in advance of us skermishing with the Rebs. but they kept falling back untill about noon when the came to hoult formed a line and made a charge on our Cavelry. they being Superior in force and much the best position they drove our Cavelry back about half a mile. the 13th Crops being clost behind formed in line. orders were sent back to us and we went up on double quick we being about 4 miles back. our wagon train was about 8 miles long and we were about the middle of the train.. when we got up to where our line was formed the 96th was placed behind a rail fence and soon after we got our position the Rebs made another charge.. our lines were about 4 hundred yards apart with a cornfield between us both lines the Rebs & ours were formed right in the edge of the woods on either side of the cornfield.. they tried to charge acrost the cornfield and there was not a man that came out in front of us that got more than two thirds acrost the field we cut them down like grass.. what few were not killed or wounded skedaddled back to the woods.. had their line been no longer than ours we could have whipped them all to peices but their line being so much longer they came in on our flank and were about to surround us and we were ordered to fall back. we fell back about half a mile and formed another line and fought them untill the 19th Corps came up and reenforced us and we caused them to fall back to their old line and it was then dark and they did not try it again that night.. the fight commenced about 2 oclock and it was 6 oclock before the 19th Corps came up to help us.. they stoped about 8 miles in our rear and went in to camp.. if they had been up with us as they aught to have been we could have flaxed out the Rebs.. the Country after we left Natchitoches was most all Pine woods hardly any cleared. the way is a brack cut through the woods. and at the time of the fight our wagon train was (the advance wagons) clear up to where we commenced to fight and there was no chance for them to turn round and go to the rear so the Rebs took a good many of our wagons.. that night after the fight we went back to pleasent Hills leaving our dead & wounded on the field.. at pleasent Hills we were reenforced by the 16th Corps or a detachment of it numbering 10 thousand commanded by Gen. A. J. Smith our old Division Commander the 13th Corps was comdg by Gen Ransom, the 19th Corps was comdy by Gen Emery and both Corps were comdy by Gen Franklin the Cavelry forces was comdy by Gen Sell and the hole thing was comdy by Gen Banks in Person.. Gen A.J. Smith’s expedition was got up at Vicksburg and he was on Red River at the time of our fight and heard how the thing was going and came to help us and had it not been for him we would have been captured (I mean Banks hole Army) because the night after the fight on the 8th the Rebs were reenforced 8 thousand and cackulated to give us a big fight the next day.. but we met Smith at Pleasent Hill and he put his force in position for an atack and Gen Banks tried to tell him how to form his lines and Smith told him that he would do as he was a mind to do or he would withdraw his force.. and Banks had to let him do as he was a mind to.. he got things fixed up to suit him and about 3 oclock the Rebs cam in on him and he faught them untill most night when he got the Rebs started to retreat and chased them
about 8 miles. Smith lost very few men compared with the Rebs loss.
Smith had his artilery placed so as to have a cross fire on the Rebs and when they would charge up he would lay them in winrows.. the rebs had but very little artilery.. the Red were doped with whiskey & Gunpowder and they were like raveing mad men they would charge up on the artilery and it would mow them down and they would not seem to mind it.
After the fight at Pleasent Hills we moved back to or near Grand Ecore Red River Landing 4 miles from Natchitoches.. the 13th & 19th Corps have been fortifying here and we now have a pretty strong line of breastworks the River at this place takes a pretty large bend and our line runs from the River above the landing to the River below the Gunboats on the River at each end of the line So we have a pretty good works here A.J. Smith with his force has gone acrost and up the other Side of the River.. Gen Banks rendered his thanks to Gen Smith for Saveing his army.. Smith told him he did not want any thanks all he wanted was to see the 13th Corps have fare flag. if we had Gen Smith to Comdg the expedition we would have been in Shreveport by this time.. they are all down on Banks. the Rebs say his is as good a Quarter master as they want.. before the fight Col (Vance, our Col) was comdg the 2nd Brigd. he was wounded and fell in the Enemy’s hands and tis thought that
he died soon after he was wounded as he was hit in the Breast and could hardly speak when we left him.. Capt. Coulter was wounded in the Knee and fell in the Enemies hands.. Gen Ransome was wounded in the Knee but was got off the field and is now doing very well. Henry Littick of our Co is supposed to be killed at least he was wounded and fell in the Enemies hands. Jacob Freshwater was also wounded and the Rebs got him. Henry Bardwell & Crosby Lowry are missing.. Wm McDonald & Philander Kelsey were both wounded in the neck slightly. they are doing well. I am situated very poorly to write. perhaps you will see an account of the affair and learn more than I can tell.. I will not try to tell the loss on either side for I cannot get a true account of it.. I know very well that I was where I dont wish to be again very soon. although I came out all right but how it hapened is more than I can tell.