Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

The First brigade of the Fourth division of the Thirteenth corps was appointed for this duty. The remainder of the corps set forward very early in the morning of the 8th. Emory's division was to follow a few hours after. Franklin, who left in the cisterns at Pleasant Hill only the quantity of water necessary to last one night for Smith's soldiers, expected to halt his long column on the banks of Bayou St. Patrice: he would find abundance of water there. The halt, quite short, afforded the needed rest to his soldiers, worn out after two long marches. Finally, although he did not yet expect any serious resistance on the part of the enemy, he was anxious to reduce the advance he had over Smith in order to facilitate a concentration in case of a fight.

Taylor, on his part, had taken all his measures for the fight which the silence of his chief seemed to authorize him to engage in. His enemy was advancing in a single long column across a country where the lack of water would render, on the first repulse, a retreat necessary. He had no further reinforcement to expect: he therefore had to act promptly. The Federal army not having even made the attempt to divert his attention, and the road from which it did swerve being known, all that was to be done was to choose on the road a favorable point at which to wait for it and compel it to fight. Taylor's choice fell upon a spot called Sabine Cross-roads, situated within three miles of Mansfield. It is formed by the intersection at right angles of the main road and a road leading from the banks of Red River to those of the Sabine. Two cross-roads which follow, at a few miles on the right and the left, in the direction of the main road terminate at the other road. The Federals had not discovered these, but the Southerners knew them well, and it was very important to them to occupy their outlets. The cross-road was on the border of a wood, beyond which extended, on the side of Pleasant Hill, a valley twelve to thirteen hundred yards long and about nine hundred yards wide. In this valley a rather deep ravine cut the main road perpendicularly, and separated two hills whose uncovered slopes were likewise crowned with thin pine woods. On the side of Pleasant Hill the skirt of the wood was marked by a strong enclosure. On this same side