The following day after Nathaniel Banks’ Union forces were defeated at Mansfield, Richard Taylor’s Confederates attacked Banks at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. The initial Confederate assault forced the Federal troops to call up their reserves and counterattack, winning a tactical victory. Union forces suffered 1369 killed, wounded, or missing, while the Confederates endured approximately 1200 killed or wounded with 426 missing. Although tactically a Union victory, Banks lost his nerve after Pleasant Hill, and the following day he retreated toward the Red River and Grand Ecore, Louisiana. In southwest Arkansas General Frederick Steele’s supporting Union column also began retreating toward Little Rock. With water in the Red River falling, Banks could not sustain his drive toward Texas. The Red River campaign was abandoned; once again Banks had failed to invade East Texas.
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.