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Date Posted: 03/21/04 4:23:07pm
Author: Cody Farrell
Subject: Diary of W. Randolph Howell

Gents,

The following is taken from the diary of W. Randolph Howell, Co. C 5th Texas Cav.:

Friday, April 1st: March 18 miles camp until 3 P.M. near P hill where we are ordered on picket back the road we camp. March 4 miles and are ordered back to P. Hill and sent on picket on old Natchitoches road. March 34 miles today and on picket tonight. All quiet. Yanks at Double bridges 16 miles above town.

Saturday April 2nd: Yanks advances as far as Crumps plantation today and a heavy skirmish ensues. Our reg't, the 7th and Debray's engaged. One of our reg't. killed, J Henry.

Sunday April 3rd: Relieved from Picket and rejoined regiment at P. Hill, where we camped for the day. Yanks quite.

Monday, April 4th: Remain in camp until near sunset, when we mount (and) march 8 miles in direction of Mansfield and camp uat Carroll's Mill. Cavalry continues to arrive from Texas.

Tuesday, April 5th: Remain in camp. Reinforcements arriving rapidly. Will whip Banks in a day or two. Write to Telegraph.

Wednesday, April 6th: Remain in camp until 11pm when we are aroused and sent to the front. Sleep no more this night.

Thrusday, April 7th: Gen. Green arrives with remainder of cavalry corps. Yanks advance in force. Gen. Major meets them at P. Hill and a heavy skirmish ensues, which is kept up during the entire day. Late in the evening Gen. Green assumes command, after our forces have fallen back to Carroll's Mill and swears the "yanks" shall not pass here tonight. They try every mode of getting us away, but are foiled in every attempt. Fighting desperate. Our Co. cut off whil on picket, but all of us escape. Whole cavalry Corps sleep in line of battle tonight. Contending pickets within 300 yards of each other.

Friday, April 8th: Skirmishing commences early this moring and very heavy. We fall back slowly in direction of Mansfield, arriving at line of batttle about 12 M. Our brigade assigned to the extreme left of our position and when we were congratulating ourselves upon the thought of being only "eye witnesses and not participants" in the bloddy drama about to be enacted, and before we had actually gotten into position, the yankee cav. charged out left, but we repulsed them quickly, driving them back to the timber on the opposite side of the field from which cover they kept us a heavy skirmishing fire until engagement became general along our whole line, rendered so by our whole force being ordered forward. We were dismounted and completely turned the enemy's right. The desperate charges of that bloody day will never be gorgotten by the historian. Capt. C. B. shephard of Green's staff killed near me. Enemy driven back 7 miles, - 200 wagons, 30 ambulances, and 28 pieces of artillery, besides his killed and wounded and 3000 prisoners. Road strewn with dead and wounded men and horses, knapsack, canteens, arms, and wagon trains.

Saturday, April 9: Yanks gone in direction of Pleasant Hill. Gen. Green moves forward rapidly capturing several hundred prisoners and many valuable articles and when nearing P. Hill the enemy's rear is overtaken and soon heavy skirmishing commences. The yanks are soon found in strong position and heavy ofrce on mile north of town and we are halted to await the coming up of our infantry. In the meanwhile keeping up a brisk fire with the impudent "blue coats" in our front. Thus affairs continue until 4pm. when the infantry arrive without any seeming hindrance move forward in splendid line on the Yankee's position, many of them never to return. Gen. Green with Cavalry moved against the left, while Walker and Chruchill took the center and the right. The battle desperate for a few minutes. Our right driven back in confusion. Our center and left succeed in driving enemy's center and right from the field. Loss on both sides very heavy. The retreating again tonight leaving killed and wounded in our hands and destroying many of their wagons and c. Our Brigade returns to Carroll's Mill to night, arriving at 12pm.

I've got some more coming soon, Gents!
Cody

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