Battle of Mansfield
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Red River Campaign |
|---|
| Fort De Russy – Mansfield – Pleasant Hill – Blair's Landing – Monett's Ferry – Mansura – Yellow Bayou |
The Battle of Mansfield, also known as the Battle of Sabine Cross-Roads or Pleasant Grove, on April 8, 1864, in De Soto Parish, Louisiana, was the first major clash of the Union Army's Red River Campaign during the American Civil War.
Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's Union contingent of over 12,000 men ascended the Red River to within 25 miles of the Texas border, but lost contact with the accompanying gunboat fleet, due to low water conditions and the necessity for the army to follow an established road that turned inland away from the river. Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor, in command of the Confederate forces, along with his subordinates Brig. Gen. Thomas Green and Maj. Gen. Camille de Polignac, determined to make a stand near Mansfield against the direct orders of his more cautious superior, Maj. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, the commander of all Confederate forces west of the Mississippi River.
Green's cavalry harassed the Union vanguard as they advanced. Confederate forces attacked the disorganized Federals and decisively routed them. Both pursuit and reinforcement were hampered by the Union wagon train's blockage of the narrow road, which fell into Confederate hands. Banks, despite displaying great personal bravery in attempting to rally his troops, was revealed once again to be a military incompetent.
When darkness and stiffening Union resistance ended pursuit, the Union had suffered over 2,300 casualties, the loss of supplies, and was demoralized. The Confederates took about 1,500 casualties and were consumed with hope that the entire Union expedition could be destroyed. A large number of Union prisoners of war were sent by the Confederates to Camp Ford, a prison stockade in Texas.
