command to the Department of the Gulf under command of Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts. General Banks had been a prominent politician, a member of Congress, Speaker of the House and Governor of the State, a Whig and later a Republican. He was an ambitious man and had many admirers who hoped some day to see him President. He was favorite with many influential politicians and when the war began was one of the many civilians who was promoted to high rank in the army while experienced soldiers, educated in military affairs, had to slowly win their way to commands by merit on the field of battle. This eminent politician was the man who organized and led the Red River Expedition to disastrous and disgraceful defeat.
With a fine army of experienced veteran soldiers led mostly by able, brave and accomplished officers, the commander came near sacrificing the entire army. The splendid fighting of the western soldiers under their trusted and heroic leaders, alone saved the expedition from a greater disaster than any that befell a Union army during the war. It has already been related how, on the 9th of April while the narrow roadway leading to the front, where the confederate army was lying, was obstructed by a long wagon train, our advance regiments were attacked and cut to pieces at Sabine Cross Roads. Reënforcements were sent, a division at a time and shared the same fate, until more than 2,000 men had been sacrificed, artillery and wagon trains captured and the whole army in wild retreat.
THE BATTLE OF PLEASANT HILL
Fifteen miles from the field of carnage the army halted; General A. J. Smith had come up with his fresh troops and General Banks decided to make a stand. A line was formed consisting of the First Brigade of the 19th Corps on the right; Second Brigade in the center, supported by Shaw’s Brigade in which was the Thirty-second Iowa;
