Battle of Stirling's Plantation

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Battle of Stirling's Plantation Part of the American Civil War Date September 29, 1863 Location Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana Result Confederate victory Belligerents United States (Union) 2nd Division, XIII Corps, Army of the Tennessee CSA (Confederacy) (local forces) Commanders Napoleon J.T. Dana Thomas Green Casualties and losses 454 ca. 125

v • d • e Lower Seaboard Theater Fort Sumter - Santa Rosa Island - Fort Pulaski - Forts Jackson and St. Philip – New Orleans – Secessionville – Simmon's Bluff – Tampa – Baton Rouge – 1st Donaldsonville - St. John's Bluff - Georgia Landing - 1st Fort McAllister - Fort Bisland – Irish Bend – Vermillion Bayou - 1st Charleston Harbor – 1st Fort Wagner – Grimball's Landing – 2nd Fort Wagner – 2nd Charleston Harbor – 2nd Fort Sumter - Plains Store – Port Hudson - LaFourche Crossing – 2nd Donaldsonville – Kock's Plantation – Stirling's Plantation - Fort Brooke - Gainesville - Olustee - Natural Bridge   Taylor's Operations in West Louisiana LaFourche Crossing – Donaldsonville II – Kock's Plantation – Stirling's Plantation

The Battle of Stirling's Plantation was an American Civil War battle took place on September 29, 1863 in Pointe Coupeé Parish, Louisiana.

[edit] Background

Following the Union defeat at the Second Battle of Sabine Pass earlier in the month, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks intended to occupy important locations in Texas. He decided to send troops up the Bayou Teche, disembark them on the plains and march overland to Texas. Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant sent him a division, commanded by Maj. Gen. Napoleon J.T. Dana to garrison Morganza and prevent Rebel troops from operating on the Atchafalaya River. A 1,000-man detachment, under the command of Lt. Col. J.B. Leake, was at Stirling’s Plantation to guard the road to the Atchafalaya River and deter any enemy troops from passing by. Brig. Gen. Alfred Mouton, commander of the Sub-District of Southwestern Louisiana, decided that he had a favorable opportunity to defeat the Union forces around Fordoche Bridge.

[edit] Battle

On September 19, Mouton instructed Brig. Gen. Tom Green to prepare for such an attack. Mouton provided Green with reinforcements and gave the order to attack on the 25th. Green’s force began crossing the Atchafalaya River on the 28th, and all were over after midnight of the 29th. At dawn on the 29th, Green’s men marched out. Confederate cavalry began skirmishing with Union pickets at Fordoche Bridge before noon and continued for about a half hour. Green’s other troops then hit the Union force, drove them and captured many, although most of the Federal cavalry found an escape route. Although Dana sent reinforcements, mud and rain slowed their progress and allowed Green to get away.

[edit] Aftermath

Green had defeated this Union force handily, but it did not deter Banks from his intended movement.

[edit] References

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

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