The Battle of Fort Bisland was fought in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

between

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Nathaniel P. Banks Nathaniel Prentice (or Prentiss) Banks (January 30, 1816 – September 1, 1894) was an American politician from Massachusetts and a Union general during the Civil War. A millworker by background, Banks was prominent in local debating societies, ...

against

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

Richard Taylor during Banks' operations against the Bayou Teche region in southern

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

Prelude

When Banks was made commander of the

XIX Army Corps The XIX Army Corps ( German: ''XIX. Armeekorps'') was an armored corps of the German Wehrmacht between 1 July 1939 and 16 November 1940, when the unit was renamed Panzer Group 2 (German: ''Panzergruppe 2'') and later 2nd Panzer Army (German: ''2. P ...

Department of the Gulf The Department of the Gulf was a command of the United States Army in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. History United States Army (Civil War) Creation The department was cons ...

, on December 16, 1862, he was ordered to coordinate an attack against the

bastion of Port Hudson while General

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...

moved against

Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...

. Banks made preparations for this campaign, but he knew the difficulties he would face on the march there. First, the area from

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

, was marshy, full of swamps, and disease would be rampant. There was also another obstacle in Bank's path — General Richard Taylor's small

Army of Western Louisiana The Army of Western Louisiana was a part of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought in all the major engagements during Union Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks' campaign to capture Port Hudson, Louisiana. For much of its ex ...

. Banks formulated a plan that would take the XIX Corps to

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...

, securing the Bayou Teche region that was laden with natural forage and unused supplies. He would establish supply depots along the way and then would move from Alexandria against Port Hudson. However, the quick movement he hoped for was slowed by Taylor's small army in a series of attacks, beginning with Fort Bisland, located in

St. Mary Parish, Louisiana St. Mary Parish (french: Paroisse de Sainte-Marie) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,650. The parish seat is Franklin. The parish was created in 1811. St. Mary Parish comprises th ...

Battle

When Banks departed New Orleans, he planned to capture Taylor's army in its entirety. On April 9, two divisions from the XIX Corps crossed Berwick Bay from Brashear City (present day

Morgan City, Louisiana Morgan City is a small city in St. Mary and lower St. Martin parishes in the U.S. State of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census. Known for being “right in the middle of everywhere”, Morgan City is located 68 miles (109&nb ...

) to the west side at Berwick. On April 11, Banks began his advance in earnest. Taylor was well aware of Banks' advance because of successful scouting by his

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

under Brig. Gen. Thomas Green. Green shadowed Banks' army and reported back to Taylor every detail of the maneuvers of the Union army. On April 12, Banks sent a third division, under

Brig. Gen. Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...

Cuvier Grover, up the Atchafalaya River to land in the rear of Franklin, intending to intercept a Confederate retreat from Fort Bisland or turn the enemy's position. General Taylor sent some of Green's cavalry to the front to ascertain the enemy's strength and slow his advance. He also sent troops under Brig. Gen.

Alfred Mouton Jean-Jacques-Alfred-Alexandre "Alfred" Mouton (February 18, 1829 – April 8, 1864) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. Although trained at West Point, he soon resigned his commission to become a civil engineer and then a ...

to impede the advance of Grover's division. Late in the day, Union troops of Brig. Gen.

William H. Emory William Hemsley Emory (September 7, 1811 – December 1, 1887) was a prominent American surveyor and civil engineer in the 19th century. As an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers he specialized in mapping the United States ...

's division arrived and formed a battle line outside the Fort Bisland's defenses. An artillery barrage ensued from both sides until dark when the Federal troops fell back to camp for the night. About 9:00 a.m. on April 13, Union forces again advanced on Fort Bisland. Banks had three brigades under in position south of the Bayou Teche. The brigades were deployed with

Godfrey Weitzel Godfrey (Gottfried) Weitzel (November 1, 1835 – March 19, 1884) was a German-American major general in the Union army during the American Civil War. He was the acting Mayor of New Orleans during the Union occupation of the city and also captured ...

on the left,

Halbert E. Paine Halbert Eleazer Paine (February 4, 1826April 14, 1905) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served as a Union Army general during the American Civil War, and after the war was elected to three terms in the United States House of ...

on the right (anchored on Bayou Teche) with Timothy Ingraham in support. Opposing the Union forces south of the Teche was the Texas cavalry brigade commanded by Brig. Gen.

Henry Hopkins Sibley Henry Hopkins Sibley (May 25, 1816 – August 23, 1886) was a career officer in the United States Army, who commanded a Confederate cavalry brigade in the Civil War. In 1862, he attempted to forge a supply route from California, in defiance ...

. North of Bayou Teche was the Union brigade of Oliver P. Gooding who faced off against Mouton's Confederate brigade. Combat did not begin until after 11:00 a.m. and continued until dusk. In addition to Confederate forces in the earthworks, the gunboat ''Diana'', which had been captured and was now in Confederate hands, shelled the Union troops. U.S. gunboats joined the fray in late afternoon. By early evening, fire had halted. Later that night, Taylor learned that the Union division that went up the Atchafalaya and landed in his rear was now in a position to cut off a Confederate retreat. Taylor began evacuating supplies, men, and weapons, leaving a small force to slow any enemy movement. The next morning, Banks and his men found the fort abandoned.

Aftermath

Fort Bisland was the only fortification that could have impeded this Union offensive, and it had fallen. Banks continued his march up Bayou Teche after this initial battle onward to his ultimate objective of Alexandria, Louisiana. Taylor would slow Banks again a few days later at the

Battle of Irish Bend The Battle of Irish Bend, also known as Nerson's Woods or Franklin, was a battle in the American Civil War. It was fought between Union Major General Nathaniel Prentice Banks against Confederate Major General Richard Taylor during Banks's oper ...

Opposing Forces

Union

Army of the GulfScott, p. 319 - Major General

19th Corps - Major General

*1st Division - **2nd Brigade - BG

***

12th Connecticut Infantry Regiment The 12th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 12th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was organized at Hartford, Connecticut, beginning November 19, 1861, and m ...

*** 75th New York Infantry Regiment (2nd Auburn Regiment) *** 114th New York Infantry Regiment (Albany County Regiment, Seymour Guard) *** 160th New York Infantry Regiment *** 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment ***''Attached to 2nd brigade'' : **** Battery A, 1st United States Artillery Regiment **** 6th Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery ****A, B, C, and E Squadrons,

1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment The 1st Louisiana Cavalry Regiment, also known as Scott's Cavalry Regiment, was a cavalry regiment from Louisiana that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Raised in 1861 it served all over the Western Theater of t ...

*3rd Division - BG William H Emory **1st Brigade - Col T Ingraham ***4th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment *** 16th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment (''garrisoned at Brashear city'') ***

110th New York Infantry Regiment The 110th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 110th New York Infantry was organized at Oswego, New York beginning May 23, 1862 and mustered in for three-years service o ...

***

162nd New York Infantry Regiment The 163rd New York Infantry Regiment ( "3rd Metropolitan Guard") was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 163rd New York Infantry was organized at New York City, New York, beginning August 22, 1862 an ...

**2nd Brigade - Col Halbert E Paine *** 8th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment *** 133rd New York Infantry Regiment (2nd Regiment, Metropolitan Guard) *** 173rd New York Infantry Regiment (4th National Guard) ***

4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, primarily in the Western Theater. It was later mounted and became the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment. History The 4th Wis ...

**3rd Brigade - Col O P Gooding *** 31st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment *** 38th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment *** 53rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment *** 156th New York Infantry Regiment (The Mountain Legion) *** 175th New York Infantry Regiment **Divisional Artillery *** 1st Maine Light Artillery Battery *** Battery F, 1st United States Artillery Regiment * 19th Corps Artillery - BG Richard Arnold **

1st Indiana Heavy Artillery Regiment 1st Regiment Indiana Heavy Artillery was a heavy artillery regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was nicknamed the "Jackass Regiment". Before being converted into an artillery unit in 1863, it served as the 21st ...

** 18th New York Independent Light Artillery Battery

Confederate

District of West Louisiana - Major General Richard Taylor *Mouton's Brigade - Brig. Gen. Jean Jacques Alfred Alexander Mouton ** 18th Louisiana Infantry Regiment - Colonel Armand **

28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment The 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment from Louisiana that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It was also known as Gray's Regiment to differentiate it from the 28th (Thomas') Louisiana Infan ...

- Colonel Henry Gray ** 24th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (Crescent Regiment) - Colonel Bosworth ** 10th Louisiana Infantry Bataillon (Yellow Jacket Bataillon) - Lieutenant Colonel Fournet ** 12th Louisiana Infantry Bataillon (Clack's Bataillon / Confederate Guard Response Bataillon) ** Pelican Battery - Captain Faries ** Cornay's Battery - Lieutenant Gordy ** Semmes' Battery - Lieutenant Barnes *Sibley's Brigade - Brig. Gen.

** 4th Texas Cavalry Regiment - Colonel James Reily ** 5th Texas Cavalry Regiment - Colonel Thomas Green **

7th Texas Cavalry Regiment The 7th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers from Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. In the summer of 1861, the regiment was organized and mustered into Confederate service. In Novemb ...

- Colonel

Arthur Bagby Arthur is a common male given name of Brittonic languages, Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. An ...

** 13th Texas Cavalry Bataillon (Waller's Bataillon) ** Val Verde Texas Battery - Captain Sayer *Unattached **

2nd Louisiana Cavalry Regiment The 2nd Louisiana Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers recruited in Louisiana that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Breazeale's Cavalry Battalion was formed in July 1862 and was augmented by five add ...

- Colonel Vincent

References

Sources

* Ayres, Thomas, ''Dark and Bloody Ground : The Battle of Mansfield and the Forgotten Civil War in Louisiana'', Cooper Square Press, 2001. * Parrish, T. Michael, ''Richard Taylor, Soldier Prince of Dixie'', University of North Carolina Press, 1992. * Taylor, Richard, ''Destruction and Reconstruction : Personal experiences of the late war'', Time-Life Books, 1983. * * {{authority control

Fort Bisland The Battle of Fort Bisland was fought in the American Civil War between Union Major General Nathaniel P. Banks against Confederate Major General Richard Taylor during Banks' operations against the Bayou Teche region in southern Louisiana. Pre ...

St. Mary Parish, Louisiana 1863 in Louisiana April 1863 events