Second Battle of Donaldsonville

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Second Battle of Donaldsonville Part of the American Civil War Date June 28, 1863 Location Ascension Parish, Louisiana Result Union victory Belligerents United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy) Commanders Joseph D. Bullen Tom Green Casualties and losses 23 301

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 Second Battle of Donaldsonville was an American Civil War battle took place on June 28, 1863 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.

[edit] Background

On June 28, 1863, Confederate Brig. Gen. Jean Alfred Mouton ordered Brig. Gen. Tom Green’s and Col. James Patrick Major’s brigades to take Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The Union had built Fort Butler, which the Rebels had to take before occupying the town.

[edit] Forces engaged

The Union forces were the Fort Butler Garrison: two companies of the 28th Maine Volunteer Infantry and some convalescents from various regiments. The Confederate forces were Tom Green’s Texas Brigade and Colonel James Patrick Major’s Texas Brigade.

[edit] Battle

On the night of June 27, Green, within a mile and a half of the fort, began moving troops ahead to attack. The attack started soon after midnight, and the Confederates quickly surrounded the fort and began passing through the various obstructions. Unfortunately, those troops attacking along the levee came to a ditch, unknown to them, too wide to cross, that saved the day for the Union garrison. A Union gunboat, USS Princess Royal, came to the garrison’s aid also and began shelling the attackers. Futile Confederate assaults continued for some time but they eventually ceased their operations and retired.

[edit] Result

This point on the Mississippi River remained in Union hands and many other Mississippi River towns were occupied by the Yankees: the Confederates could harass but not eliminate these Union enclaves.

[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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