| Battle of Fort Bisland | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theAmerican Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |  CSA (Confederacy) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Nathaniel P. Banks | Richard Taylor | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Department of the Gulf XIX Corps | Army of Western Louisiana | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 234[1] | 450[1] | ||||||
TheBattle of Fort Bisland was fought in theAmerican Civil War betweenUnionMajor GeneralNathaniel P. Banks againstConfederateMajor GeneralRichard Taylor during Banks' operations against theBayou Teche region in southernLouisiana.
When Banks was made commander of theXIX Army Corps,Department of the Gulf, on December 16, 1862, he was ordered to coordinate an attack against theConfederate bastion ofPort Hudson while GeneralUlysses S. Grant moved againstVicksburg. Banks made preparations for this campaign, but he knew the difficulties he would face on the march there. First, the area fromNew Orleans, was marshy, full of swamps, and disease would be rampant. There was also another obstacle in Bank's path — GeneralRichard Taylor's smallArmy of Western Louisiana.
Banks formulated a plan that would take the XIX Corps toAlexandria, 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 inSt. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
When Banks departed New Orleans, he planned to capture Taylor's army in its entirety. On April 9, twodivisions from the XIX Corps crossed Berwick Bay from Brashear City (present dayMorgan City, Louisiana) 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 hiscavalry 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, underBrig. Gen.Cuvier Grover, up theAtchafalaya 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 to impede the advance of Grover's division. Late in the day, Union troops of Brig. Gen.William H. Emory'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 theBayou Teche. The brigades were deployed withGodfrey Weitzel on the left,Halbert E. Paine 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. North of Bayou Teche was the Union brigade ofOliver 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 gunboatDiana, 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.
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 theBattle of Irish Bend.
Army of the Gulf[2][3][4] – Major GeneralNathaniel P. Banks
19th Corps – Major GeneralNathaniel P. Banks
District of West Louisiana - Major GeneralRichard Taylor
29°42′36″N91°21′04″W / 29.7101°N 91.351°W /29.7101; -91.351
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