On April 9, 1864, across 4 square miles in and around the village of Pleasant Hill, approximately 15,000 Confederates under Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor attacked approximately 25,000 Union troops under Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks. It was the 3rd day of fighting that stopped the Union attempt to capture Shreveport, the Confederate capital of Louisiana and headquarters of the Trans-Miss. Dept., and to launch an invasion of Texas.