Retreat On The River

As Union Major General Nathaniel P Banks made his retreat at the end of the Red River Campaign, the Battle of Yellow Bayou was fought on May 18^th 1864.

Following the Battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, Union Major General Nathaniel P Banks’ retreat reached the Atchafalaya River on May 17^th 1864.  If he could get across the river his force would be protected from Confederate harassment, but he had to wait for the engineers to build a bridge.

On May 18^th 1864 Confederate Major General Richard Taylor neared Yellow Bayou.  Banks order Union Brigadier General AJ Smith to meet and stop them, he ordered Brigadier General Joseph A Mower to make the movement.  The fight commenced with first one side then the other pushing forward or giving up ground for several hours.  Finally the ground over which they were fighting caught fire and both sides were forced to retire.

This battle ended Banks’ Red River Expedition.  The Union troops sustained 360 casualties, while the Confederates lost 500.

The Other Richmond

A part of the Siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Richmond was fought June 15^th 1863 in Richmond, Louisiana.

Richmond, Louisiana was an important part of the Confederate supply line for Vicksburg, Mississippi.  After Union troops won battles at Milliken’s Bend and Young’s Point they were able to move against Richmond.  Union Major General William Tecumseh Sherman ordered Brigadier General Joseph Mower’s brigade from the trenches around Vicksburg, and told him to coordinate an attack against Confederate forces in Richmond with Union Marine Brigadier General Alfred W Ellet.

The Union troops advanced on Richmond on June 15^th 1863 with Ellet’s men in the lead.    Confederate Major General John G Walker’s scouts learned of Ellet’s men movements.  Walker had line of skirmishers made up of the 18^th Texas Infantry; they stopped the initial Union forward movement.  The Confederate held their line until Mower came up with his infantry, formed in line of battle and opened with their artillery.  The battle continued until Mower’s men made it through a bayou and got on Walker’s flank.

Walker had gotten his supply wagons to safety, and finding himself outnumbered, he withdrew his men.  As they pulled out of the area, the Confederate destroyed the bridges.  The Union win at Richmond on June 15^th 1863 took away another supply route from the garrison at Vicksburg.

Slowing Them Up

Joseph Mower

A delaying battle in the Chicot County, Arkansas area fought June 6th 1864 the Battle of Old River Lake was a stalemate.


Early in June 1864 Union Brigadier General Joseph Mower was given orders to move toward Lake Village by Major General Andrew Jackson Smith. In the early morning hours of June 6th 1864 Mower marched his troops on Lake Village. The Union troops were confronted by Confederates who would shoot at them then pull back into cover. The Confederates continued this movement until they reached Red Leaf where Confederate Colonel Colton Green was encampment. With Green’s soldiers and artillery the Confederates continued to delay the Union advance. Finally the Confederate’s cut off fighting and withdrew to Parker’s Landing.

The Union force then advanced to Lake Village. They bivouacked there over night before meeting back up with Union ships at Columbia on the Mississippi. Union troops saw about 180 casualties while the Confederates took about 100.

A web site for more information about this battle is Engagement at Old River Lake

Opening Up The Red River

The Battle of Fort DeRussy took place March 14th 1864 in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.


As part of the Red River Campaign, Union Brigadier Generals AJ Smith and Joseph Mower sailed with their troops toward Shreveport, Louisiana. Coming in through Berwick Bay and Bayou Teche they found their passage blocked by obstructions in the river and the Confederate Fort DeRussy. Fort DeRussy was under the command of Confederate Lieutenant Colonel William Byrd. It was an earthen fort with a gun battery and iron armor to defend from Union ironclads and was garrisoned by 350 Confederate soldiers.

Smith left from Vicksburg, arriving at Simmesport on March 12th 1864, about 30 miles from Fort DeRussy. He sent out some troops on March 13th 1864 to feel out the enemy in his front. This small force drove in some Confederate troops. Early on the morning of March 14th 1864 Smith found there was a Confederate division in his front. He split his force leaving some to intercept the Confederates if they attacked. Smith’s arrival at the fort saw the garrison open fire on the Union soldiers. Smith ordered a charge of Mower’s men on the fort at about 6:30 pm. It took about twenty minute before the Confederates surrendered the fort opening up the Red River to the Union advance.