Mansfield State Historic Site

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Mansfield State Historic Site
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Location in Louisiana
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Mansfield State Historic Site (the United States)
Nearest city Mansfield, Louisiana
Coordinates 32°01′N93°40′W / 32.01°N 93.66°W / 32.01; -93.66
Created1954
Website Mansfield State Historic Site
Mansfield Battle Park
Nearest city Mansfield, Louisiana
NRHP reference No. 73002131
Added to NRHPApril 13, 1973

Mansfield State Historic Site is a Louisiana state historic site located near Mansfield, Louisiana, that commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Mansfield. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Mansfield Battle Park in 1973. Founded in 1924 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the site was transferred to the state of Louisiana in 1954.

Contents

Site history

Battle

In early 1864, during the American Civil War, Union leadership planned a joint Army-Navy drive up the Red River of the South in Confederate-held Louisiana. The planned campaign had both political, economic, and strategic goals. It was hoped that Union military presence in the area would prevent collaboration between the Confederacy and the French, who had begun intervening in Mexico; expand Union political control in the region; and provide cotton, at that time a valuable commodity, to business interests in New England. The planned expedition, which became known as the Red River campaign, began in March 1864. The army elements were commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, while the naval elements were led by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter. To the north, in Arkansas, the Camden expedition was intended to cooperate with the Red River campaign. Outnumbered, Confederate forces commanded by Major General Richard Taylor withdrew upriver towards the Confederate administrative capital of Shreveport, Louisiana. [1]

Taylor halted his men near the community of Mansfield, Louisiana, in early April. He felt that Mansfield was a good place to make a stand, as Banks's men would be forced to approach the area on a single road, while multiple roads would be available between Mansfield and Shreveport, including one that could be protected by the Union naval fleet. [2] On April 8, Taylor arrayed his forces along a clearing near the road leading to Mansfield from the southeast. Leading elements of Banks's army made contact with the Confederates and deployed into an angled line, setting the stage for the Battle of Mansfield. Taylor ordered an assault at around 4:00 pm, and the Confederate forces attacked over the clearing, suffering heavy casualties in the process. The first Union line was driven back, as was a second one about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) further back. A Union wagon train was captured, and the Confederates drove on to a third Union line, which was 3 miles (4.8 km) from the first Union line. This line was driven back slightly, but held to nightfall. Banks's men withdrew from the field at night. [3]

April 9 saw Taylor attack Banks again, in the Battle of Pleasant Hill. The Confederate attacks at Pleasant Hill were blunted, and while modern historians usually consider Pleasant Hill a Union victory, Banks continued to retreat. [4] The Union forces continued to withdraw, pursued by some of Taylor's men, but Banks's army and Porter's fleet were able to escape. The Red River campaign was a Union failure and prevented the Union from sending troops to other regions, and postponed a planned assault on Mobile, Alabama, which in turned freed up other Confederate troops. [5] The Camden expedition likewise ended in failure. [6]

Park history

One of the monuments, erected in honor of a Confederate colonel killed in the battle Monument at Mansfield SHS 2022.jpg
One of the monuments, erected in honor of a Confederate colonel killed in the battle

In 1924, 4 acres (1.6 ha) of the battlefield were donated to the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) for a memorial park. The next year, a monument to the Prince de Polignac, a Confederate officer, was erected at the site. [7] This was the first monument at the site. [8] That same year, state congressman W. H. Farmer introduced legislation to provide $5,000 of state funds for the site. [9] Governor of Louisiana Henry L. Fuqua signed Farmer's bill into law in July. [10] In 1928, work on a $1,000 archway at the park was begun. [11] By 1929, the site had become a place for local youth to go and engage in petting. [12]

The Works Progress Administration performed work at the site in 1936 and 1937. [13] In 1939, ceremonies, including a luncheon and a tree-planting, were held at the park for the 75th anniversary of the battle. [14] 1954 saw maintenance of the site transfers from the UDC to the Louisiana state government. By that time, the UDC had expanded the park to 44 acres (18 ha), and three additional monuments (to Taylor and two Confederate officers killed in the battle) had been placed. Funding issues had resulted in the UDC being unable to provide their desired level of maintenance, and attempts to make the site a national park had failed. [7] The state allocated additional funds for a museum, and surveying for the museum site began the next year. [15] The museum was dedicated in 1957. In 1964, festivities, to involve people from both Louisiana and Texas, were planned for the 100th anniversary of the battle. [16] That same year, another marker, this one honoring Texas troops who fought in the battle, was erected at the site. [17]

In 1972, a scale model of a monument at Gettysburg National Military Park commemorating Louisiana Confederate soldiers was erected at the Mansfield park. [18] On April 13, 1973, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Mansfield Battle Park. [19] By 1982, there were seven Confederate monuments at the park. [20] For a period during 1986 and 1987, the site was closed due to state budgetary issues. [21]

In 2001, the Civil War Preservation Trust listed Mansfield, where the state acreage had grown to 177 acres (72 ha) as one of the 10 most endangered Civil War battlefield sites. [22] By 2006 the battlefield had been dropped from the endangered list. [23] The park's first new monument in decades was added in 2010. It honored Louisiana Confederate troops and was paid for by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the UDC. [24] Renovations at the park occurred in 2012. [25] As of 2023, the site contains 0.75 miles (1.21 km) of trails, [26] in addition to the museum. [27] Living history events, such as musket demonstrations and soldier's gear talks, as well as other activities are sometimes held at the park. [26]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Jackson, Mississippi</span> 1863 battle of the American Civil War

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The Battle of Fort Davidson, also known as the Battle of Pilot Knob, was a battle of Price's Missouri Expedition fought on September 27, 1864, near Pilot Knob, Missouri. Confederate troops under the command of Major-General Sterling Price had entered Missouri in September 1864 with hopes of challenging Union control of the state. On September 24, Price learned that Union troops held Pilot Knob. Two days later, he sent part of his command north to disrupt and then moved towards Pilot Knob with the rest of his army. The Confederate divisions of Major-General James Fagan and Brigadier-General John Marmaduke drove Union troops under Brigadier-General Thomas Ewing and Major James Wilson from the lower Arcadia Valley into Fort Davidson on September 26 and on the morning of September 27.

The Battle of Roan's Tan Yard, also known as the Battle of Silver Creek, was a minor battle fought during the American Civil War on January 8, 1862, in Randolph County, Missouri. After back-and-forth operations throughout 1861, the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard under the command of Sterling Price had been confined to southwestern Missouri. In December 1861, Price authorized recruiting and raiding activities in the central portion of the state, with the North Missouri Railroad being a major target. In January 1862, Major W. M. G. Torrence of the Union Army located a Missouri State Guard base in Randolph County and attacked it on January 8 with elements of four cavalry regiments. The camp, which was commanded by Colonel John A. Poindexter, put up little resistance and was soon overrun. Large quantities of supplies were captured in the abandoned camp, which was destroyed. The action at Roan's Tan Yard, along with a Missouri State Guard defeat at the Battle of Mount Zion Church the preceding December, led to a decrease in pro-Confederate activity in central Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Milliken's Bend</span> Battle of the American Civil War

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Raymond</span> 1863 battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, near Raymond, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. Initial Union attempts to capture the strategically important Mississippi River city of Vicksburg failed. Beginning in late April 1863, Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant led another try. After crossing the river into Mississippi and winning the Battle of Port Gibson, Grant began moving east, intending to turn back west and attack Vicksburg. A portion of Grant's army consisting of Major General James B. McPherson's 10,000 to 12,000-man XVII Corps moved northeast towards Raymond. The Confederate commander of Vicksburg, Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, ordered Brigadier General John Gregg and his 3,000 to 4,000-strong brigade from Jackson to Raymond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Grand Gulf</span> Battle of the American Civil War 1863

The Battle of Grand Gulf was fought on April 29, 1863, during the American Civil War. Union Army forces commanded by Major General Ulysses S. Grant had failed several times to bypass or capture the Confederate-held city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg campaign. Grant decided to move his army south of Vicksburg, cross the Mississippi River, and then advance on the city. A Confederate division under Brigadier General John S. Bowen prepared defenses—Forts Wade and Cobun—at Grand Gulf, Mississippi, south of Vicksburg. To clear the way for a Union crossing, seven Union Navy ironclad warships from the Mississippi Squadron commanded by Admiral David Dixon Porter bombarded the Confederate defenses at Grand Gulf on April 29. Union fire silenced Fort Wade and killed its commander, but the overall Confederate position held. Grant decided to cross the river elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Pleasant Hill</span> 1864 battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Pleasant Hill occurred on April 9, 1864 and formed part of the Red River Campaign during the American Civil War when Union forces aimed to occupy the Louisiana state capital, Shreveport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower seaboard theater of the American Civil War</span> Military operations near the coastal areas of the Southeastern United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confederate order of battle at the Battle of Raymond</span> Order of battle

The following Confederate Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Raymond; the Union order of battle is listed separately.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lake Providence</span> Battle of the American Civil War

The Battle of Lake Providence was fought on June 9, 1863, during the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate troops from the Trans-Mississippi Department were trying to relieve Union pressure during the Siege of Vicksburg. Major General Richard Taylor, primarily utilizing Walker's Greyhounds, prepared a three-pronged attack against Union positions at Milliken's Bend, Young's Point, and Lake Providence. The strike against Lake Providence was conducted by 900 men led by Colonel Frank Bartlett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Newtonia Historic District</span> Historic district in Missouri

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The 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment was formed on April 28, 1862, and served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The infantry regiment did not see action at the Battle of Farmington on May 9, and the Battle of Iuka on September 19 despite being part of the Confederate force present at those battles. As part of Brigadier General Martin E. Green's brigade, the regiment participated in three charges against Union lines on October 3, 1862, during the Second Battle of Corinth. The following day, the regiment, along with the rest of Green's brigade, attacked the new Union lines. Despite initial success, the attack was repulsed by a Union counterattack. The regiment ceased to exist as a separate unit when it was combined with the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment on November 7, 1862, to form the 1st and 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Consolidated).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate)</span> Infantry regiment in the Confederate States Army

The 8th Missouri Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. From May 1861, the war began affecting events in the state of Missouri. In 1862, Confederate recruiting activities took place in Missouri, and a cavalry regiment was formed in Oregon County, the nucleus being former members of the Missouri State Guard. On September 2, the unit entered Confederate service, but it was reclassified as infantry ten days later. After many of the men transferred to other units, the regiment was reclassified as a battalion on October 19 and named the 7th Missouri Infantry Battalion, also known as Mitchell's Missouri Infantry. It participated in a Confederate offensive at the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7. During the battle, the unit made several charges against the Union lines but was repeatedly repulsed by artillery fire. The regiment spent most of early 1863 encamped near Little Rock and Pine Bluff in Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrett's Missouri Battery</span> Military unit

Barrett's Missouri Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. After entering Confederate service on April 1, 1862, the unit was armed with two 6-pounder smoothbore cannons and two 12-pounder howitzers and was commanded by Captain Overton W. Barrett. It was present during the Siege of Corinth, but saw no action. During the Battle of Perryville in October 1862, Barrett's battery provided artillery support for a Confederate brigade. After spending the next several months moving around Tennessee, the battery supported a Confederate attack during the Battle of Stones River in December. The 1863 Chickamauga campaign brought light action for the unit, which also fought in the Battle of Missionary Ridge. When the Confederates retreated after the Missionary Ridge fighting, Barrett's battery was part of the Confederate rear guard at the Battle of Ringgold Gap, earning the praise of Patrick R. Cleburne. Rearmed with four 12-pounder howitzers, the unit was action in the 1864 Atlanta campaign as part of the Confederate reserve artillery, although two of the cannons were lost to attrition. On April 16, 1865, the battery ceased to exist when its flag, cannons, and most of its members were captured during the Battle of Columbus, Georgia. As of January 2021, its battle flag is part of the collection of the Missouri State Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion</span> Military unit

The 9th Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion, also known as Pindall's Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion, was a unit that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The battalion was formed in late 1862, in compliance with an earlier authorization by the Confederate States Congress for each brigade to have an associated battalion of sharpshooters. When first formed, the men had no unique qualifications to serve as sharpshooters and were drawn from a defunct artillery battery, a partisan rangers unit, and infantrymen. The unit's first major battle was the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862.

References

  1. ↑ Johnson 1998, pp. 265–266.
  2. ↑ Lowe 2004, pp. 184–185.
  3. ↑ Bergeron 1998a, pp. 267–269.
  4. ↑ Bergeron 1998b, pp. 269–271.
  5. ↑ Kennedy 1998, pp. 171–172.
  6. ↑ Kennedy 1998, pp. 274–275.
  7. 1 2 "Dixie's Daughters to Deed Mansfield Battle Park to the State". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. August 9, 1954.
  8. ↑ McKellar, Mary Belle. "Two Members of Polignac Family to Visit Mansfield and Humbug". Shreveport, Louisiana: The Times.
  9. ↑ "Proposes State Purchase Mansfield Battle Park". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. Associated Press. June 3, 1926.
  10. ↑ "Luxury Tax Bill is Signed by Gov. Fuqua". The Monroe News-Star. Monroe, Louisiana. Associated Press. July 10, 1926.
  11. ↑ "Mansfield News". The Shreveport Journal. Shreveport, Louisiana. October 14, 1927.
  12. ↑ Harris, Thomas O. (February 4, 1929). "Around the State". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana.
  13. ↑ "WPA Reopens Work on Park Near Mansfield". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. July 10, 1937.
  14. ↑ "VFW Chapter Here Conducts War Services". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 9, 1939.
  15. ↑ "UDC Spark Drive - Mansfield Battle Park Survey Is Under Way". The Shreveport Journal. Shreveport, Louisiana. July 28, 1955.
  16. ↑ Stone, David H. (March 8, 1964). "Mansfield Has 'Battle' Plan". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana.
  17. ↑ Berry, Henry A. (April 5, 1964). "Texas Monument Dedicated at Mansfield Battle Park". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana.
  18. ↑ "Dedication Slated April 9 at Mansfield Battle Park". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 2, 1972.
  19. ↑ "National Register Database and Research". National Park Service. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  20. ↑ Wise, Marie (December 2, 1982). "Confederate Memorials". The Madison Journal. Tallulah, Louisiana.
  21. ↑ Westerfield, David M. (October 25, 1987). "Civil War Guns, Relics In Museum". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana.
  22. ↑ "Preserve Historic Site in DeSoto". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. March 5, 2001.
  23. ↑ "Battlefield Petition Hearing Cancelled". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. October 27, 2006.
  24. ↑ Prime, John Andrew (April 3, 2010). "Monument Dedication Set at Mansfield Battle Park". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana.
  25. ↑ Welborn, Vickie (May 3, 2012). "Mansfield State Historic Site Reopens". The times. Shreveport, Louisiana.
  26. 1 2 "Mansfield State Historic Site". Louisiana State Parks. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  27. ↑ "Mansfield State Historic Site". Louisiana Office of Tourism. Retrieved 28 February 2023.

Sources

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