Wood County Reporter

Pip takes a tear at Things Generally.
New Orleans, La., April 17th, 1864,
Dear Jack :-There has been a great battle in the western part of this State, and we have been decidedly whipped. There is no use of disguising the fact, the affair was a serious reverse, and, what is worse, it was unnecessary.
You will do me the justice to admit that I have abstained from all criticisms on military affairs, but I am sick and nauseated of the utter inefficiency and large amount of blove which characterizes this Department. After this last catastrophe-after the sacrifice of two thousand men to the incapacity and vanity of the Commanding General, it is the duty of every one to raise his voice, however feeble. in remonstrance against this state of things.
When the 13th Army Corps came to this department, it was naturally expected that some great movement would be consummated.- But the summer wore away, the army remained in camp at Carrollton, and was only occasionally formed in line to witness a horse race between some Generals and their staffs,--or. in other words, go through that ornamental performance known as a review. At last. part of it was ordered to Brashear City and moved slowly up the Teche, a country rich in cotton and sugar, but about as important in a military point of view, as Point Bassé.- Leaving garrisons at Franklin and New Iberia, the army went forward with due dignity and deliberation to Opelousas. A part of the force even went eight miles farther west, and then-the whole force commenced retreating- ins,- before what? When it had marched one day it went into camp, and remained three or four days. One little brigade was left three or four miles in the advance, and the rebels came in, took it prisoners and went off unmolested.Yet our forces in that section outnumbered the rebels two to one, and we could at least have gone backward, baunted Opelousas where the citizens were refusing our wounded soldiers admission to their houses. Our army fell back as far as New Iberia, where it remained until the middle of December, when it evacuated that place. Now, observe the inevitable effect of this system. As soon as our troops occupied a place, the loyal citizens, expecting the permanent protection of the Federal arms, took the oath of allegiance and avowed their devotion to the Union cause, When our army retires, they are robbed and pressed by the guerrillas who follow in the wake of one retreating soldiery, and oftentimes suffer death as the premium on the in loyalty.
In the meantime, the 2d Division of the 13th corps had been put aboard transports and started for Texas. After wrecking two or three boats on the sand bars, the troops were landed at Point Isabel, and, parading through, occupied Brownsville on the Rio Grande, but with so much deliberation that the rebels had abundant time to destroy the barracks and escape. Impressed with the glory of this victory; () the Commanding General - was to have been conceived of the idea that he would take the whole of Texas: The 13th corps was accordingly moved across the Gulf and placed upon several successive ridges or lands. Here they were left for the remainder of the winter-doing nothing. for the reason that there was nothing to do, except to try to keep themselves on top of the sand. At one time they were for a number of days. without rations of any kind, and had to depend on what fresh fish they could catch. and what sutler's stores they could confiscate, for subsistence. This, too, during the most inclement part of our unusually inclement season, and with no fuel except what drift wood was blown ashore. And during this period Gen. Banks was in New Orleans giving splendid receptions and fancy dress balls.
At length the army began to come back from Texas, and subsequently, Indianola, the only village occupied by our troops, was evacuated. though Gen. Warren said he could hold it with a yellow dog. The 3d Division was sent to Madisonville, a little village on Lake Pontchartrain, and having got daily encamped there, was ordered back. Now, no body pretends to explain what all these movements were for, and hence, I suppose, it is our duty to believe that it was strategy!
I must defer pursuing this subject to another letter.
PIP.