General Taylor’s Stunning Victory Over Banks at Mansfield
In spring 1864, Union General Banks led 30,000 troops up the Red River toward Shreveport, the Confederate capital of Louisiana. His massive force seemed sure to win, yet Confederate General Taylor had other plans.
With just 8,800 men, Taylor crushed Banks at Mansfield on April 8, killing or capturing over 2,000 Union soldiers. Banks soon fled south to Alexandria, where things got worse.
Low water trapped the Union fleet until an officer built dams to free them. As troops left on May 13, they burned nine-tenths of Alexandria in a single hour.
The Cane River National Heritage Area now tells this story of the last major Confederate win of the war.
Banks Takes a Gamble on the Red River
Union General Nathaniel Banks started a big attack up the Red River toward Shreveport on March 10, 1864. He brought 30,000 troops and worked with Admiral David Porter’s fleet of 20 gunboats and 80 transports.
They wanted to capture Confederate Louisiana’s capital and split enemy forces west of the Mississippi. Banks showed up at Alexandria a week late on March 25, making his officers angry.
Meanwhile, A. J. Smith’s men took Fort DeRussy on March 14, clearing the path upriver.
Taylor Sets a Trap at Mansfield
Confederate General Richard Taylor moved upriver with just 7,000 troops while waiting for help from Texas. He picked the Mansfield area near Sabine Crossroads as his defense spot on Honeycutt Hill.
Banks made a big mistake by picking an inland road away from Porter’s naval support. Union cavalry under General Albert Lee ran into Confederate positions three miles south of Mansfield.
Taylor got the help he needed, bringing his force to 8,800 men by April 8, 1864.
The Battle Starts in Late Afternoon
Banks’ 12,000 men arrived stretched out along a single road through thick pine forests on April 8. Taylor attacked at 4:00 PM even though he had fewer men, hitting the Union sides hard at Sabine Crossroads.
Louisiana and Texas troops quickly beat the first Union division, taking supply wagons and cannons. Prince de Polignac led a strong attack after General Alfred Mouton died within the first 20 minutes.
Union forces fell back as Confederates took 20 cannons and 200 supply wagons.
Union Lines Break at Chapman’s Bayou
The second Union line fell apart as Banks failed to stop his troops from running away. A third defense happened at Chapman’s Bayou around 6:00 PM when General William Emory arrived with fresh troops.
Tired Confederates attacked for over an hour before darkness stopped the fighting. Union losses reached 700 killed or wounded and 1,500 captured, while Confederates lost about 1,000 men total.
Banks pulled back during the night to Pleasant Hill, giving up his plan to take Shreveport.
Pleasant Hill Ends the Union’s Hopes
Taylor chased Banks to Pleasant Hill on April 9, attacking with his tired forces. A.J. Smith’s veteran XVI Corps made a strong stand, pushing back the Confederate attack after heavy fighting.
Even though the Union won this battle, Banks ordered a full retreat toward Alexandria, giving up the campaign. Taylor kept chasing but didn’t have enough men to destroy the retreating Union army.
The Confederate win at Mansfield turned out to be the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War.
Porter’s Gunboats Get Stuck in Shallow Water
Admiral Porter’s gunboat fleet had trouble with the falling Red River levels during the campaign. The fleet reached Alexandria by April 27 but found only 3 feet 4 inches of water over the rapids.
Porter’s ironclads needed at least 7 feet of water to safely cross the Alexandria falls and rapids. Confederate guns and snipers kept shooting at the trapped fleet from across the river.
Porter thought he might have to destroy his $2 million fleet to keep it from enemy hands.
A Wisconsin Engineer Creates a Bold Plan
Wisconsin engineer Joseph Bailey suggested building wing dams to raise the Red River water level. Bailey had built dams on Wisconsin River logging operations before the war.
Thousands of Union soldiers, including the 97th and 99th Colored Troops, started building on April 30. People from both armies watched doubtfully as soldiers cut down trees and sank rock-filled cribs.
Bailey designed a main dam 758 feet wide with wing dams upstream to channel water through the narrow passage.
The Dam Works Despite a Near Disaster
The dam raised the water level 5 feet 4 inches by May 8, letting smaller gunboats try to cross. Two coal barges broke loose at 5:30 AM on May 9, creating a dangerous surge of water downstream.
Only four vessels including USS Lexington made it through the breach before the dam needed repairs. Bailey built two more wing dams upstream while fixing the main dam.
The work continued under Confederate fire with soldiers using materials from torn-down buildings.
Alexandria Burns as the Fleet Escapes
The fixed dam allowed the remaining gunboats to pass safely on May 13 between 8-9 AM. Military bands played “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as thousands cheered the successful crossing.
At the same time, Union troops burned nine-tenths of Alexandria during their exit. The courthouse with all parish records, Episcopal and Methodist churches, and 22 city blocks burned down.
Only the Catholic church remained as Union forces finished their destructive retreat from the area.
Historic Creole Communities Pay a Heavy Price
The Union retreat continued with destruction of plantations and historic Creole settlements along their path. Confederates tried to block the retreat at Monette’s Ferry on Cane River on April 23.
Union forces found an unguarded ford, going around the Confederates and continuing their destructive march southward. Battles at Mansura on May 16 and Yellow Bayou on May 18 marked the final Confederate resistance.
The historic Creole communities along Cane River suffered lasting damage from the campaign that would take generations to recover from.
The Campaign Ends as a Complete Union Disaster
Union losses topped 8,700 men while achieving none of their original campaign goals. Banks’ military career crashed and burned, with a Congressional investigation following the disaster.
Bailey received Thanks of Congress, a promotion to Brigadier General, and a $700 sword from Porter for saving the fleet. Confederate control of the Trans-Mississippi region stayed intact until the war’s end in 1865.
The campaign’s failure diverted Union resources from more strategic targets like Mobile, Alabama, extending the war and its suffering.
Visiting Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana
The Cane River National Heritage Area at 106 Tauzin Island Road in Natchitoches preserves the history of General Banks’ failed 1864 Red River Campaign.
You can visit the grounds and visitor center for free Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 3:30pm. Walk through actual Civil War entrenchments and battlefield remains from the devastating campaign.
Inside, nine exhibits cover the Red River’s history and Civil War battles that changed this Creole community forever.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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