The Red River Campaign

In April 1864, the Red River Campaign brought the Civil War to Cane River as Union naval and land forces advanced up the Red River valley from occupied South Louisiana intending to capture Shreveport and disrupt the Confederate state, while retreating Confederates burned thousands of cotton bales ahead of them to prevent seizure. In Natchitoches, the Union occupation drew mixed reactions of excitement, resentment, and fear as the main Union army pushed toward Mansfield and naval forces struggled in the shallow Red River in a failed effort to reach Shreveport. After the Union defeat at Mansfield on April 8 and the bloody repulse of Confederate forces at Pleasant Hill on April 9, the retreating Union column began indiscriminately sacking and burning the countryside, destroying Campti, Coushatta, and Grand Ecore, while Natchitoches escaped burning only through the efforts of Bishop Auguste M. Martin and the timely arrival of Confederate forces. For the next three days, Union forces and stragglers ravaged the Cane River region amid burning cotton and structures. Near the southern end of Cane River at Monett’s Ferry, Confederates tried to trap the Union army but were outmaneuvered and beaten, allowing the Union forces to escape and ending the campaign along Cane River. The retreating Union column later burned Alexandria before withdrawing to occupied South Louisiana, and the campaign permanently altered the cultural landscape and memories of Cane River.

Natchitoches, Louisiana · United States