The column was up and moving early this morning. There was a battle today at Pleasant Hill. The Confederate cavalry and soldiers numbered around 6,000. About 80 union troops were killed and wounded in the battle. The Union troops were able to push them back and set up camp in the town. The wounded were brought into town and the broken limbs were amputated.
This was the first real battle of the Red River Campaign and it was just a small taste of things to come tomorrow.
After a 300-mile march from Brashear City, the men of the 130th Illinois arrived at Pleasant Hill. Along with other regiments in the 13th Army Corps, they were frustrated at the perceived preferential treatment 19th Army Corps received from General Banks. From the time they left Berwick Bay until this afternoon, the 19th Army Corps was at the front of the column which gave them first choice of forage, camp sites, etc. But as soon as the sound of battle was heard, the 19th Army Corps was halted and the 13th Army Corps was sent to the front.
