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140 Years Later, Importance of Battle of Mansfield, LA, Is Still Debated {Last Confederate Victory}
Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 04-04-04 | Not given

Posted on 04/04/2004 6:06:40 AM PDT by Theodore R.

Edited on 05/07/2004 7:00:47 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

An honor guard from the Sons of Confederate Veterans marches during a memorial service for Gen. Alfred Mouton before the Battle of Mansfield re-enactment. Mouton was the highest ranking confederate soldier killed at the Battle of Mansfield, which was fought on April 8, 1864.The Battle of Mansfield in April 1864 was the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War, one of the largest battles west of the Mississippi River and marked the sour end of a campaign personally planned by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Still, historians have mixed ideas over its place in the grand scheme of that conflict.


(Excerpt) Read more at shreveporttimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: alexandria; alfredmouton; artbergeron; baileysdam; billanderson; civilwar; confederates; daivdporter; edmundkirbysmith; garyjoiner; jeffersondavis; jessejames; la; lincoln; mansfield; militaryhistory; monettsferry; nathanielbanks; richardtaylor; scv; usgrant
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1 posted on 04/04/2004 6:06:42 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: Theodore R.
Thanks for posting Theodore! This happens to be one of the more interesting and least known campaigns of the entire war.
2 posted on 04/04/2004 6:14:38 AM PDT by FireTrack
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To: FireTrack
I visited the battle site with a cousin on a hot summer afternoon in 1973, and I cannot recall much about the physical terrain at all after so many years. I had even forgotten that this was the last Confederate victory of the war.
3 posted on 04/04/2004 6:17:02 AM PDT by Theodore R. (When will they ever learn?)
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To: Theodore R.
Oh for heavens sake!! Who cares?? The Civil War has long since been over and the Confederacy lost. One battle in an overall losing campaign is pretty insignificant. It's time to let it go and move on.
4 posted on 04/04/2004 6:17:22 AM PDT by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: DustyMoment
southerners never just "move on". Besides there is nothing much to do in Mansfield. You have to be there to know that.
5 posted on 04/04/2004 6:23:26 AM PDT by cajungirl (<i>swing low, sweet limousine, comin' fer to Kerry me hoooommmee</i>)
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To: Theodore R.
With the advantages the rebels had generally, they could hardly fail to consumate their rebellion. But they did flub it, politically, economically, diplomatically and strategically.

There's this, "you fought all the way, Johnnie Reb" myth, but the rebel armies did laregly melt away after the 1864 campaign. Even in 1862, the insurgents had to resort to a bitterly resented conscription to fill their armies.

Southern "Heritage" purveyors use Orwellian doublespeak to push their agenda.

Walt

6 posted on 04/04/2004 6:41:30 AM PDT by WhiskeyPapa (Virtue is the uncontested prize.)
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To: Theodore R.
The terrain consists of rolling hills of piney woods and during the time of the battle, it had been dry and the meager streams provided little fresh water for the Union Army which became a factor during the several days of fighting.

The actual battle field was about 30 miles west of the Red River which the Union Ironclads were using in support of the ground forces. They were blocked south of Shreveport by a steamer the Confederate Navy had turned cross-ways in the River and sank. The Confederates put a sign on the steamer inviting the Union Navy to a dance in Shreveport.

Richard Taylor put his wife and two sons on one of the steamer evacuating Alexandria just ahead of the Union flotilla. Both sons died of the fever before arriving in Shreveport.

Richard, as mention in the article was the son of Zachary Taylor. Zachary Taylor was Washington's equal on the battle field. Lincoln a private, served under Zachary Taylor in the Blackfoot Indian wars in Illinois. Jefferson Davis a lieutenant, was Zac's his Son-in-law. Zachary Taylor also fought Indians in Florida, brought law and order to the no man's land of western Louisiana and captured Mexico City. He established Fort Jesup close to where much of the fighting in the article above took. During his presidency some in the South were even then talking of receding from the Union. He threatened to hang the ringleaders and that ended that until after his death.
7 posted on 04/04/2004 6:57:46 AM PDT by FireTrack
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To: cajungirl
I lived in Bossier and New Orleans - that's as close as I want to get.
8 posted on 04/04/2004 7:26:50 AM PDT by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: cajungirl
Besides there is nothing much to do in Mansfield.

Well..There is/was SMU & Texas A&M Basketball

hehe....I used to live in Tx. :)

9 posted on 04/04/2004 8:03:09 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: cajungirl
It's not where you're at, it's who you're with!

;-)
10 posted on 04/04/2004 8:30:04 AM PDT by FireTrack
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To: DustyMoment
Just a little thing we CW buffs like to call.."history".
11 posted on 04/04/2004 8:47:03 AM PDT by AndrewB
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To: Theodore R.
My question is, "What did Bush know, and when did he know it?" </ sarcasm>
12 posted on 04/04/2004 9:01:05 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack ("We deal in hard calibers and hot lead." - Roland Deschaines)
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To: Theodore R.; stainlessbanner; stand watie; snippy_about_it; carton253; SCDogPapa
WBTS Bump and ping
13 posted on 04/04/2004 9:13:04 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Please God! Not ANOTHER learning experience!)
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To: SAMWolf
!!!!!!!!
14 posted on 04/04/2004 10:13:23 AM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: Theodore R.
I thought the last battle of the Civil War was fought in Texas and the Confederates won. Is this a myth?
15 posted on 04/04/2004 10:17:44 AM PDT by Vision (Always Faithful)
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To: skinkinthegrass
You may be thinking of the wrong Mansfield.
16 posted on 04/04/2004 11:08:35 AM PDT by sharktrager (Kerry is like that or so a crack sausage)
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To: Vision
Perhaps the last battle in TX (or NM) that you mentioned occurred after April 9, 1865, and was technically after the war had officially ended.
17 posted on 04/04/2004 12:11:14 PM PDT by Theodore R. (When will they ever learn?)
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To: WhiskeyPapa
Before I scrolled down to see who posted this "typical anti-Southern" rant, I knew it had to be you.

You shouldn't be so predictable.

18 posted on 04/05/2004 5:09:15 AM PDT by carton253 (I don't do nuance)
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To: cajungirl
Besides there is nothing much to do in Mansfield. You have to be there to know that.

As someone who lives a few minutes north of Mansfield and has visited it several times, I can vouch for that.

Mansfield's real claim to fame is that it is the home town of the best cornerback in NFL history, the incomparable Albert Lewis.

19 posted on 04/05/2004 5:19:09 AM PDT by Skooz (My Biography: Psalm 40:1-3)
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To: Theodore R.
An honor guard from the Sons of Confederate Veterans marches during a memorial service for General Alfred Mouton before the Battle of Mansfield reenactment Saturday, April 3, 2004 in Mansfield, La. Mouton was the highest ranking confederate soldier killed at the Battle of Mansfield which was fought on April 8, 1864.
Robert Ruiz/The Times. 04/03/04.

View Gallery at shreveporttimes.com on Monday, April 5.
20 posted on 04/05/2004 5:21:02 AM PDT by Theodore R. (When will they ever learn?)
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