Every Man for His Own Pork & Beans: The 29th Wisconsin at Mansfield

In this spicy letter which first saw publication in the May 12, 1864, edition of the Saturday Evening Press from Menasha, Wisconsin, a soldier correspondent of the 29th Wisconsin with the nom-de-plume Scribus denounced the folly of how Generals Nathaniel Banks and William Franklin conducted the Red River campaign by sharing the experience of his regiment at the Battle of Mansfield.

As part of General Robert Cameron’s Third Division of the 13th Army Corps, a five-company detachment of the 29th Wisconsin along with the 46th Indiana (all that was present of the First Brigade) were brought into line to salvage the collapsing Federal position at Mansfield. It wasn’t long before Scribus and his comrades in the 29th found themselves in great peril.

          “We who could see what was transpiring were well aware of the danger, yet we remained until the enemy was so near that we were completely hemmed in upon the right. Then an overwhelming charge drove the Second Brigade back, leaving our left quite as much exposed. When the enemy’s cavalry was within 20 rods upon our left, galloping down across the road and their balls falling like hail, their infantry upon our right commenced a galling fire at short range. We saw it was “every man for his own pork and beans” as the boys sometimes play ball, and the way the 29th Wisconsin got out of the tall grass and over the ground was a caution to Flora Temple!”

Our correspondent concluded by giving “a cheer for Grant, McClernand, and General A.J. Smith, and three groans for Banks and Franklin, “the Rebel commissaries!”

Finding themselves flanked on both the left and right, the soldiers of the 29th Wisconsin put their brogans to good use high-tailing it away from their position at Mansfield. It was a discouraging defeat only salvaged (in our correspondent's opinion) by the hard fighting of A.J. Smith's troops the following day. 


Camp of 29th Wisconsin Volunteers, Grand Ecore, Louisiana

April 15, 1864

          As we have had a little smell of powder lately, I wish to vent my ill nature upon the public at large, there being prudential motives which prevent its exhibition toward those who have aroused my temper.

          We left Natchitoches on the 6th and arrived at Pleasant Hills the afternoon of the 7th where we found the cavalry in an excitement as the Rebels had made a stand in the pine woods just beyond the place and gobbled up a 100-200 of our men. We went into camp as usual and all was quiet during the night.

          Next morning at an early hour, the Fourth Division moved on and ours followed while the First Division of the 19th Army Corps brought up the rear. Five companies of the 29th Wisconsin (A, C, F, I, and K) were detailed as rear guards for the wagon train leaving only the 46th Indiana and five companies of our regiment in the First Brigade. The train belonging to the cavalry division was near the head of the column while batteries and infantry were scattered promiscuously along in order to have them protected, I suppose.

           As both Generals [Nathaniel] Banks and old [William] Franklin were along with us, we imagined, there was no great danger of a fight and yet a feeling of uneasiness was over us because our force was so much scattered. Our route was through a dense forest of young pines where it was almost impossible to keep skirmishers deployed as the road was very narrow and frequently crossed by small ravines. Only one team could, by any possibility, cross at once and infantry could scarcely pass if by chance a trace unhitched and a team was obliged to stop.

          We passed the place where the cavalry was surprised the day before and saw the marks of sharp firing upon the trees around while a dead Reb and the clothing of others who had been removed indicated that a smart skirmish had taken place. Shortly after this, we heard firing ahead which was afterwards ascertained to be at a sawmill upon a small stream some 8-10 miles towards Mansfield from Pleasant Hills. It was between the 23rd and other regiments of the Fourth Division and a body of Rebels made of a show of resisting our attempts to advance. The enemy was driven back and we proceeded a few miles to some fields where we found Franklin’s headquarters flag and saw indications of going into camp.

General William B. Franklin

          We soon turned into a field, stacked arms, and commenced preparations for remaining over night. I learned that the Fourth Division was 3-4 miles ahead and the cavalry with Nim’s battery was still further on. Very soon we heard the roar of artillery and in a short time the order was given to “fall in” and go to the support of the Fourth Division. We moved off, not at the double quick, but so near it that we made four miles in less than an hour and the last mile was through the brush as the trains had blocked up the road. The firing grew heavier as we advanced and soon the volleys of musketry intermingled with the roar of artillery and we knew there was work ahead.

          To explain a little, it appears that when the cavalry and advance of the infantry commenced preparations for encamping, the Rebs opened upon them and, massing their forces for the attack, succeeded in gobbling up Nim’s battery and driving back the cavalry. The Fourth Division went in and caused the enemy to fall back for a time; but being in great force, the Rebels repeated their attempts and finally caused the Fourth to fall back just as we came up. Our brigade deployed to the right of the road and the Second Brigade formed in line upon the left.

          We were ordered to advance to the edge of the woods nearly half a mile and having done so, we found an extensive field with a crooked rail fence running along the borders of the timber. Inside of the fence was a scattering of dead trees, destitute of bark, and looking very “butternutty.” There was also a line of Rebs less than 20 rods distance from us, but as they were dressed in dark clothing, we at first supposed it was a portion of our own men and for a moment held our fire. But a second look assured us that they were lawful game and two or three volleys were given them before they got across the field and out of range.

          We soon retired a few rods and stood in line waiting demonstrations. But a short time elapsed before we could plainly see a heavy column of the enemy advancing obliquely across the field for the purpose of flanking us upon the right. Yet we were assured constantly that “the 19th Corps was upon our right” and there was no danger when the fact was we had no support; the 19th Corps was at least six miles back towards Pleasant Hills but coming as fast as circumstances would permit. But this didn’t help our cause at all, for with 10,000-15,000 men to oppose our 2,000, they had only to gallop their mounted infantry around and place themselves in our rear as well as our front.

General Nathaniel P. Banks 

          We who could see what was transpiring were well aware of the danger, yet we remained until the enemy was so near that we were completely hemmed in upon the right. Then an overwhelming charge drove the Second Brigade back, leaving our left quite as much exposed. When the enemy’s cavalry was within 20 rods upon our left, galloping down across the road and their balls falling like hail, their infantry upon our right commenced a galling fire at short range.

For the first time, discovering their close proximity to us and convincing the brigade command that we were yet unsupported, then he remarked (it is said) “the men better surrender but he should not be taken alive.” [Lieutenant Colonel Aaron M. Flory commanded the First Brigade] Shortly after he was shot and supposedly killed. We heard nothing of this, but saw the 46th Indiana making a movement towards the rear and not in the very best order. We saw it was “every man for his own pork and beans” as the boys sometimes play ball, and the way the 29th Wisconsin got out of the tall grass and over the ground was a caution to Flora Temple!

There is no telling who ran fastest but it is a fact that everyone who could run gave the Rebs a sight at his coattails, a thing we had never done before. We found the teams in a perfect jam, completely blocking up the road and rendering it impossible for the batteries, which were in advance of them, to get by or through them. Several guns were lost in this way and the whole train of the cavalry division was left to the Rebels.

Some two or three miles from the field we met our reinforcements and much of the prejudice against the “Nutmegs” has been removed by the way they went into the work. The gave the enemy several volleys, effectually checking them and allowing the rest of the retreat to be made in good order, also allowing all of the teams back of them time to move back to Pleasant Hills. It was about 5 p.m. when we opened upon the enemy and nearly dark when the enemy was checked by the 19th Corps.

By 8 o’clock the morning of April 9th, our force was all up to Pleasant Hill where we found Colonel Greene with a squad of recruits, they having come up from Grand Ecore with General [A.J.] Smith and a detachment of the 16th Army Corps of about 10,000-12,000 men. The brigade of colored troops commenced skirmishing with the enemy shortly afterwards and about noon we were moving off towards Grand Ecore with the train while General Smith remained there to see whether he could handle the enemy better with artillery and men than Banks and Franklin had by charging with a wagon train! He dressed the rascals out handsomely before night and then fell back, following us. He captured 600-700 prisoners that I know of (having seen them) and I have heard the enemy’s loss estimated as high as 6,000.

Two men of Co. G, Sergeant A.D. Woodman and Private Fritz Danner and two others of the 46th Indiana came into camp day before yesterday, having eluded the Rebels by striking back into the woods and toward the river. They had been reported missing but much to our surprise and satisfaction, they came safely through though rather thin in flesh having had no food except dry corn and green peppergrass since the fight.

The total loss in killed, wounded, and missing is 65 men, a liberal loss for only five companies. I would send you a list of casualties if I had time but the mail leaves at 2 o’clock and I fear I cannot complete it. With a cheer for Grant, McClernand, and General A.J. Smith, and three groans for Banks and Franklin, “the Rebel commissaries!”

To learn more about the Battle of Mansfield/Sabine Crossroads, please check out this post:

Worse Than Madness for Us: the 56th Ohio at Sabine Crossroads

Source:

Letter from Scribus, 29th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Saturday Evening Press (Menasha, Wisconsin), May 12, 1864, pg. 2


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