Sunday, April 6, 2014

April 8, 1864---The Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana

APRIL 8, 1864


The Battle of Mansfield (The Battle of Sabine Crossroads). The Red River Campaign grinds ignominiously to a halt for the Union when General Nathaniel P. Banks decides to move inland from the line of the low-running Red River and away from his naval forces. On a narrow road and strung out in a line miles long, Banks’ army is crippled in forming a viable defensive line. Without the fear of fire from the U.S. Navy, a large Confederate force of 14,000 is able to swoop down on Banks’ 12,000 men and chop up Banks’ line piecemeal in a five hour long battle.

The Union forces suffered 113 killed, 581 wounded, and 1,541 captured as well as the loss of 20 cannon, 156 wagons, and a thousand horses and mules killed or captured. Confederate losses were 1,200 killed and wounded. Several hundred men were buried in unmarked graves not discovered until 2008. 

After the defeat, Banks retreated away from Shreveport without ever entering Texas to support the isolated Union forces there. The Texas Unionists were either defeated, captured and hanged, or went underground in order to survive.

Banks was soon after relieved of military command in Louisiana. The Trans-Mississippi remained in Confederate hands until the end of the war.




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