Nathaniel Banks’ Union offense on the Red River in Louisiana showed signs of failing in early April 1864. A stubborn defense orchestrated by General Richard Taylor slowed Banks’ advance, and low water in the Red River further inhibited his progress. On April 3 Union and Confederate forces skirmished at Grand Ecore, Louisiana, and on April 5 Banks’ main force was challenged in a skirmish near Natchitoches, Louisiana. Steele’s Union flanking force, moving southwest from Little Rock, Arkansas, also was consistently harassed by Confederate forces, fighting skirmishes at Arkadelphia, Arkansas on April 1 and at Marks’ Mill and Whiteley’s Mills, Arkansas on April 5. Taylor had yet to confront Banks in a decisive battle; until such a time and place could be determined the Confederates nonetheless still effectively checked Banks’ progress.
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.