The largest engagements west of the Mississippi took place 145 yrs ago near Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, LA. The Union forces in three parts were to converge on and capture Shreveport. Union armies were to advance north from New Orleans and South from Little Rock while the Navy came up the Red River. The LR and Red River groups never made it, but Gen Banks' Union army approached the town of Mansfield as hurriedly gathered rebel forces from Texas, Mo, Ark and La assembled under Gen Taylor to meet him. The federals were spread out along the narrow wagon road much as Braddock's was in the 1750s in the wilderness of western PA. They ran into a hornets nest at Mansfield. My Gr-gr-granddad's 8th Mo Inf was heading south to join the other rebs but missed the first action. The union forces lost thousands and fell back to Pleasant Hill about 15 miles south. The 8th Mo Inf caught up and the next day the rebs attacked the union positions. More thousands fell. I believe the total casualties were over 6000. The south lost a couple of generals but won the action and the feds retreated back to New Orleans. Every home, church, schoolhouse for miles was full of wounded and dying. We reenact that series of battles each year--and did so last weekend. It was a fine day to die--sky blue and grass green and it was hard to imagine all the bloodshed over the meadows and woods here. I reenact with the 4th LA Artillery, although we had to be Yanks this time. We fired over 50 rounds from our Napolean . Normally we also have a Parrot but were short on crews this year due to injuries and illnesses. It is a great event if your in the neighborhood next April...
Topic: Sabine Crossroads, April, 1864 (Read 68 times)