Battle of Mansura

Battle of Mansura Smith’s Place, Marksville Began: May 16, 1864 Ended: Same day Location: Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Red River Campaign Outcome: Union victory Combatants Red River Expeditionary Force District of West Louisiana Commanders Nathaniel P. Banks Major General, USA Richard Taylor Major General, CSA Strength Casualties

As Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks’s Red River Expeditionary Force retreated down Red River, Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor attempted to slow the Union troops’ movements and, if possible, deplete their numbers or, better yet, destroy them. The Union forces passed Fort DeRussy, reached Marksville, and then continued east. At Mansura, Taylor massed his forces in an open prairie that controlled access to the three roads traversing the area, where he hoped his artillery could cause many casualties. Early on the morning of May 16, the Union forces approached, and skirmishing quickly ensued. After a four-hour fight (principally an artillery duel), a large Union force massed for a flank attack, inducing the Rebels to fall back. The Union troops marched to Simmsport. Taylor’s force could harass the enemy's retrograde but was unable to halt it. (NPS summary)