ty-five of his three hundred and fifty men unarmed. These were a
part of Green's command, and the first reenforcements received.

The enemy's advance reached Natchitoches, by the river road, on the
31st, and McNeill and Herbert were directed to fall back slowly toward
Pleasant Hill, thirty-six miles. I remained in the town until the enemy
entered, then rode four miles to Grand Ecore, where, in the main channel
of Red River, a steamer was awaiting me. Embarking, I went up river to
Blair's Landing, forty miles by the windings of the stream, whence was a
road, sixteen miles, to Pleasant Hill. Four miles from Blair's was Bayou
Pierre, a large arm of the river, crossed by a ferry. At Pleasant Hill,
on the 1st of April, Walker and Mouton, with their infantry divisions,
artillery, and trains joined me, as did Green with his staff. From the
latter I learned that De Bray's regiment of cavalry, with two batteries
and trains, was in march from Fort Jesup. As the enemy was moving from
Natchitoches, and could strike the Jesup road across country, De Bray
was ordered to push forward his artillery and wagons, and look well to
his right. He reached Pleasant Hill after dark. The enemy attempted to
impede the march, but was driven off, with a loss of five wounded to De
Bray. During the day our horse, toward Natchitoches, had some
skirmishing.

It appeared that General Major, with the remainder of Green's horse,
could not get up before the 6th, and he was directed to cross the Sabine
at Logansport and march to Mansfield, twenty miles in my rear. This
insured his march against disturbance; and, to give him time, I halted
two days at Pleasant Hill, prepared for action. But the enemy showed no
disposition to advance seriously, and on the 4th and 5th the infantry
moved to Mansfield, where on the following day Major, with his horse and
Buchell's regiment of cavalry, joined. General Major was sent to
Pleasant Hill to take charge of the advance.

De Bray's and Buchell's regiments have been spoken of as _cavalry_ to
distinguish them from mounted infantry, herein called _horse_. They had
never before left their State (Texas), were drilled and disciplined, and
armed with sabers. Buchell's regiment was organized in the German
settlement of New Braunfels. The men had a distinct idea that they were
fighting for their adopted country, and their conduct in battle was in
marked contrast to that of the Germans whom I had encountered in the
Federal army