The Battle of Milliken's Bend was fought on June 7, 1863, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign during the American Civil War. Major General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army had placed the strategic Mississippi River city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, under siege in mid-1863. Confederate leadership erroneously believed that Grant's supply line still ran through Milliken's Bend in Louisiana, and Major General Richard Taylor was tasked with disrupting it to aid the defense of Vicksburg. Taylor sent Brigadier General Henry E. McCulloch with a brigade of Texans to attack Milliken's Bend, which was held by a brigade of newly-recruited African American soldiers. McCulloch's attack struck early on the morning of June 7, and was initially successful in close-quarters fighting. Fire from the Union gunboat USS Choctaw halted the Confederate attack, and McCulloch later withdrew after the arrival of a second gunboat. The attempt to relieve Vicksburg was unsuccessful. One of the first actions in which African American soldiers fought, Milliken's Bend demonstrated the value of African American soldiers as part of the Union Army.
Major-General John George Walker was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served as a brigadier general under Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet, before commanding the Texas Division unit in the Trans-Mississippi Department, known as Walker's Greyhounds for their speed and agility. He was ordered to disrupt U.S. Grant's supply-line opposite Vicksburg, Mississippi, but Grant had managed to cross to the East Bank, and Walker was reduced to minor operations, one of them against some of the first African-American troops to serve in battle. He was able to make a bigger contribution to the Red River Campaign in support of General Richard Taylor.
Walker's Greyhounds was the popular name for a division of the Confederate States Army under Major-General John George Walker, composed exclusively of units from Texas. It fought in the Western Theater and the Trans-Mississippi Department, gaining its nickname because the men were able to move long distances rapidly on foot.
The 9th Louisiana Infantry , later reorganized as 1st Mississippi Colored Heavy Artillery and then renamed 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, was an African-American regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It famously fought in the Battle of Milliken's Bend; one of the earliest Civil War battles with African-American troops involved.
The 83rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 83rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was nicknamed "The Greyhound Regiment".
Horace Randal was a Confederate States Army colonel during the American Civil War. Randal was mortally wounded while commanding a brigade at the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas on April 30, 1864, dying two days later. Confederate President Jefferson Davis did not act upon a request made by General E. Kirby Smith on November 8, 1863 to promote Randal to brigadier general. After Randal's performance at the Battle of Mansfield, General Smith, as the Confederate commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, assigned Randal to duty as a brigadier general on April 13, 1864. Randal was not officially promoted. Jefferson Davis subsequently revoked Smith's appointment of Randal as a brigadier general.
The 16th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers from Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was recruited in early 1862 and mustered into Confederate service in April 1862. The unit fought as cavalry at the Battle of Cotton Plant but it was dismounted in the summer of 1862. The 16th Cavalry served as infantry in Walker's Texas Division for the remainder of the war. The regiment fought at Milliken's Bend, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry. The unit marched to Texas in early 1865 and disbanded in May 1865.
The 13th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was enrolled in Confederate service in February 1862 and served exclusively west of the Mississippi River. The unit was later dismounted and became part of the Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. The regiment fought at Milliken's Bend in 1863 and Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry in 1864. The regiment disbanded in May 1865, but its official surrender date was 2 June 1865.
The 18th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was enrolled in Confederate service in May 1862 and always campaigned west of the Mississippi River in the region known as the Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit was assigned to the Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. The regiment fought at Milliken's Bend, Richmond (La.), and Bayou Bourbeux in 1863 and Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry in 1864. The regiment disbanded in mid-May 1865, but its formal surrender date was 26 May 1865.
The 11th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment organized in the winter of 1861–1862 and always served west of the Mississippi River in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit was assigned to the 2nd Brigade of the Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. The regiment fought at Milliken's Bend and Bayou Bourbeux in 1863 and Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry in 1864. The regiment disbanded in mid-May 1865, but its formal surrender date was 26 May 1865.
1st Texas Field Battery or Edgar's Company was an artillery battery from Texas that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The artillery company formed in November 1860, but was not formally taken into Confederate service until April 1861. The unit participated in the disarming and surrender of United States soldiers and property in Texas in early 1861. The battery marched to Arkansas where in 1862 it joined the infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. The battery fought at Milliken's Bend and Richmond (La.), and took part in the Bayou Teche campaign in 1863. The 1st Texas Battery was captured at Henderson's Hill in March 1864. The soldiers were later exchanged, and the unit disbanded in 1865 at the end of the conflict.
The 12th Texas Infantry Regiment, sometimes known as the 8th Texas Infantry, was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. In spring 1862, the regiment was enrolled in Confederate service at Waco, Texas, and always remained west of the Mississippi River in the area known as the Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit was assigned to the all-Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. In 1863, the regiment played a minor role at Milliken's Bend. In April 1864, the regiment fought in three major battles at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry. The Trans-Mississippi's formal surrender occurred on 26 May 1865, but most of the soldiers dispersed to their homes before that date.
The 22nd Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. In August 1862, the regiment was enrolled in Confederate service, and for its entire career served west of the Mississippi River in the region known as the Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit was assigned to the 1st Brigade of the Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. In 1863, the regiment played a secondary role at Milliken's Bend. Within the month of April 1864, the regiment fought in three major battles at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry. Though the formal surrender occurred on 26 May 1865, the soldiers disbanded to their homes before that date.
The 15th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment organized in early 1862 and throughout the war served west of the Mississippi River in the Trans-Mississippi Department. In October 1863, the unit was assigned to a brigade led by the French aristocrat Prince Camille de Polignac. The 15th Texas Infantry fought at Stirling's Plantation and Bayou Bourbeux in 1863 and Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Yellow Bayou in 1864. The regiment disbanded in May 1865, though the formal surrender date was 26 May 1865.
The 28th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers recruited in east Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. In May 1862, the regiment entered Confederate service and served the entire war west of the Mississippi River in the region known as the Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit was soon dismounted before being assigned to the 2nd Brigade of the all-Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds. In 1863, the regiment played a secondary role at Milliken's Bend. The regiment fought in three major battles during April 1864, at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry. The Trans-Mississippi Department surrendered on 26 May 1865, but the survivors dispersed to their homes before that date.
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 additional companies in September 1862 to form a regiment. It served for the entire war west of the Mississippi River in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The regiment fought at Georgia Landing, Fort Bisland, Irish Bend, and Brashear City in 1863 and Henderson's Hill and Mansfield in 1864. Afterward, the regiment fought in minor skirmishes before the Trans-Mississippi's final surrender on 26 May 1865.
The 19th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment began organizing in February 1862 and elected its officers in May 1862. It spent its entire existence west of the Mississippi River in the Trans-Mississippi Department. In fall 1862, the unit was assigned to the 3rd Brigade of the Texas infantry division known as Walker's Greyhounds and fought at Milliken's Bend in June 1863. The unit was in action at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry in 1864. The last units in the Trans-Mississippi surrendered in June 1865, but the 19th Regiment had already disbanded before that date.
The 17th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment organized in March 1862 with West Point graduate Robert T. P. Allen as it first colonel. It spent its entire existence west of the Mississippi River in the Trans-Mississippi Department. After marching to Arkansas in August 1862, the regiment spent the winter at Camp Nelson where a large number of men died from disease. In fall 1862, the unit was assigned to the 3rd Brigade of the Texas infantry division later known as Walker's Greyhounds. The regiment fought at Milliken's Bend in June 1863. George Washington Jones assumed command of the regiment in November 1863. The unit was in action at Fort De Russy, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry in 1864. The regiment marched to Texas and surrendered in June 1865.
The 16th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. George Flournoy, the former Attorney General of the state of Texas, organized the regiment at Camp Groce in March 1862. Its entire career was spent west of the Mississippi River in the Trans-Mississippi Department. It marched to Arkansas where it camped during the winter of 1862–1863. During that period, the unit was assigned to the 3rd Brigade of the Texas infantry division later known as Walker's Greyhounds. In June 1863, it fought at Milliken's Bend and in October 1863 it skirmished at Opelousas, Louisiana. The regiment was in action at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry in 1864. The regiment disbanded at the end of April 1865, but Flournoy and some soldiers crossed into Mexico and fought for Maximilian I of Mexico. Littleton W. Moore, who fought with the regiment, later became a United States congressman.
The 3rd Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Surgeon Philip N. Luckett organized the regiment in summer 1861. The soldiers were recruited in central Texas and included significant numbers of German immigrants and Tejanos. Texans regarded Germans with suspicion, since many opposed slavery, while Tejanos were considered lazy and untrustworthy. Morale in the regiment was poor and the number of desertions was high. The unit garrisoned San Antonio in 1861 and 1862, before moving to Brownsville, Texas, in January 1863. The regiment traveled to Galveston in May 1863. The unit transferred to Arkansas in March 1864 where it joined William R. Scurry's 3rd Brigade in Walker's Texas Division. It fought at Jenkins' Ferry at the end of April 1864. The regiment marched to Hempstead, Texas, where it disbanded before the official surrender date of 26 May 1865.
Confederate States of America 
Texas 
Confederate States Army 
