[Theodore R.]

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.

[FireTrack]

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.