Battle of Monett's Ferry

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Battle of Monett's Ferry Part of the American Civil War Date April 23, 1864 Location Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Result Union victory Belligerents United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy) Commanders Nathaniel P. Banks Hamilton P. Bee Casualties and losses 200 400

v • d • e Red River Campaign Fort De Russy – Mansfield – Pleasant Hill – Blair's Landing – Monett's Ferry – Mansura – Yellow Bayou

The Battle of Monett's Ferry was fought on April 23, 1864, between Union and Confederate forces. The Union army was led by Nathaniel P. Banks. They crossed a river to attack Confederate forces, and were victorious, forcing the rebels to retreat.

Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 References

[edit] Background

Near the end of the Red River Expedition, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks’s army evacuated Grand Ecore and retreated to Alexandria, pursued by Confederate forces.

[edit] Battle

Banks’s advance party, commanded by Brig. Gen. William H. Emory, encountered Brig. Gen. Hamilton P. Bee’s cavalry division near Monett’s Ferry (Cane River Crossing) on the morning of April 23. Bee had been ordered to dispute Emory’s crossing, and he placed his men so that natural features covered both his flanks. Reluctant to assault the Rebels in their strong position, Emory demonstrated in front of the Confederate lines, while two brigades went in search of another crossing. One brigade found a ford, crossed, and attacked the Rebels in their flank. Bee had to retreat. Banks’s men laid pontoon bridges and, by the next day, had all crossed the river.

[edit] Aftermath

The Confederates at Monett’s Ferry missed an opportunity to destroy or capture Banks’s army.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from a National Park Service website([1]) that is a public domain work of the United States Government.