Pleasant Hill was founded at this location just inside DeSoto Parish in 1846 and became a major road intersection, with roads radiating to Mansfield, Natchitoches, Grand Ecore, Fort Jessup, Many, Red River at Pleasant Hill Landing, and Sabine River. In the 1880's and 90's, the village migrated to Sodus R.R. Station in Sabine Parish and was incorporated there in 1896. On April 9, 1864, the largest battle of the Civil War west of the Mississippi was fought in and around the village, involving approximately 40,000 Union and Confederate troops in the Battle of Pleasant Hill.