First Battle of Donaldsonville

First Battle of Donaldsonville Began: August 9, 1862 Ended: Same day Location: Ascension Parish, Louisiana Theater: Lower Seaboard Theater Campaign: Operations against Baton Rouge Outcome: Union victory (inconclusive) Combatants Three U.S. Navy ships Minor artillery force Commanders David G. Farragut Rear Admiral, USN Phillippe Landry Captain, CSA Strength Casualties Unknown Unknown

A number of incidents of artillery firing on Union steamers passing up and down the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville influenced the U.S. Navy to undertake a retaliatory attack. Rear Adm. David G. Farragut sent the town notice of his intentions and suggested that the citizens send the women and children away. He then anchored in front of the town and fired upon it with guns and mortars. Farragut also sent a detachment ashore that set fire to the hotels, wharf buildings, and the dwelling houses and other buildings of Capt. Phillippe Landry. Landry, thought to be the captain of the partisan unit, purportedly fired on the landing party during the raid. Some citizens protested the raid, but, generally, firing on Union ships ceased thereafter.