Battle of Fort DeRussy

Battle of Fort DeRussy
Part of the American Civil War
Date March 14, 1864 (1864-03-14) Location Fort DeRussy, Louisiana 31°11′02″N 92°03′16″W / 31.18380°N 92.05436°W / 31.18380; -92.05436 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
A.J. Smith Joseph Mower	William Byrd[1]
Strength
10,000 men	350 men
Casualties and losses
48 killed and wounded 2 missing	2 killed 5 wounded 317 captured,
Fort DeRussy class=notpageimage| Location in Louisiana

The Battle of Fort DeRussy was the first engagement in the Red River Campaign of March–May 1864 in the American Civil War.

The Union Army of the Gulf under General Banks aimed to capture Shreveport, state capital and headquarters of the Confederate command, west of the Mississippi. The operation was spearheaded by General A.J. Smith and Brigadier General Joseph Mower, who surprised and captured Fort DeRussy on March 14, taking over 300 prisoners and the enemy's only heavy guns. The Confederates, under General Richard Taylor, were forced to retreat, leaving south and central Louisiana to the Union forces.