Two special events held in the region
[Editor’s Note: Look for more information in the March 19 issue regarding the 150 anniversary commemoration.]
Spring was in the air on April 8 in Mansfield 150 years ago. And so was war.
General Nathaniel Banks had marched 30,000 Union soldiers up through the piney woods of western Louisiana in an effort to capture the remaining great prize of Confederate Louisiana, Shreveport. As the capital of the Confederate state, Shreveport had great appeal to the Union. It was a stepping stone to the riches and provisions of Texas that made their way to Rebel supply lines. It was also a point on the way northward to Arkansas, a state that the Union needed as it attempted to reunite the states.
The easy capture of New Orleans in 1862, and the great victory at Vicksburg in 1863 had helped to cement the Union’s position on the Mississippi. Now they needed to aggressively move to capture Shreveport and Texas. But the men defending the homeland in Northwest Louisiana and Texas were more than Banks bargained for. The political general once again proved his naiveté and ineptitude and his promise – the promise that included the possibility of a nomination to run against Abraham Lincoln for president – died April 8, 1864, in Mansfield. Late in the day on April 8, Gen. Richard Taylor stopped the Union advances on Shreveport, Texas and Confederate holdings beyond those points. The last decisive battle victory of the U.S. Civil War occurred just south of the town of Mansfield as a greatly out-numbered army under the command of Gen. Richard Taylor, outmaneuvered the pretty-boy general from Massachusetts.
Insight into this battle as well as the accompanying Red River campaign will be detailed in “Defending the Homeland: Union Troops Focus on Shreveport, Texas and Beyond.” This symposium, March 14-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites in Bossier City, is presented by the Louisiana Sesquicentennial Task Force of the Civil War Task Force. Presenting sponsors funding the event are the Friends of the Mansfield Battlefield, North Louisiana Civil War Round Table, Red River Regional Studies Center at LSU in Shreveport and American Coin & Collectibles.
Registration is $100 with a $35 student registration available for full-time students (with valid I.D.). Advance registration is required. Registration forms are available at friendsofmansfieldbattlefield.org and online registration at eventbrite.com.
The symposium will feature presentations from Civil War historians and experts plus a visit from a Southern belle who had refugeed at Keatchie at the time of the campaign. This wealth of speakers is impressive, said Dr. Gary Joiner, chairman of the event. Joiner and the even co-chairman, Dr. Tom Pressly, have organized a program, exhibits and vendors that make this an exciting event for those interested in Civil War and Louisiana history.
The event begins Friday evening, March 14, with a meet-and-greet reception with speakers, exhibitors and vendors and concludes with a special tour of the Mansfield State Historic Site following the Sunday morning program.
“This is a phenomenal line-up of speakers,” Joiner said. “We are so fortunate to have people with this wealth of knowledge in one location.” Joiner, considered one of America’s experts on the Red River Campaign, will begin the program on Saturday morning with an overview of the campaign. Saturday speakers include Dr. Jeff Prushankin, “Kirby Smith and Richard Taylor”; Dr. Richard McCaslin, “A Gallant and Desperate Charge: The 19th Texas Infantry in Louisiana: “ Scott Dearman,
“Tactical View of the Battle of Pleasant Hill”; Mark Christ, “Camden Campaign” and Dr. Henry Robertson, “The Union Hold at Pleasant Grove.” Saturday will also feature a “Visit from Miss Sidney Hardin,” a southern belle refugee during the campaign. On Sunday morning, Dr. Thomas Cutrer will present “Brothers in Gray,” and the group will then journey to the Mansfield State Historic site for their custom tour.
