Battle of Richmond, Louisiana

Battle of Richmond
Part of the Vicksburg campaign
Date June 15, 1863 Location near Richmond, Louisiana Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Joseph A. Mower Alfred W. Ellet	John G. Walker
Units involved
Mower's brigade Mississippi Marine Brigade	Walker's Greyhounds
Strength
2,500	1,500 or 3,000
Casualties and losses
1 killed 11 wounded	5 killed 25 captured

The Battle of Richmond was fought on June 15, 1863, near Richmond, Louisiana, during the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. Major General John George Walker's division of Confederate troops, known as Walker's Greyhounds had attacked Union forces in the Battle of Milliken's Bend and the Battle of Lake Providence earlier that month in hopes of relieving some of the pressure on the Confederate troops besieged in Vicksburg, Mississippi. While both of Walker's strikes were failures and the Confederates withdrew to Richmond, Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant still viewed the presence of Walker's men at Richmond to be a threat. On June 14, the Mississippi Marine Brigade and the infantry brigade of Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower were sent to attack the Confederates at Richmond.

The next morning, the two Union brigades joined forces. Confederate scouts greatly overestimated the Union strength, informing Walker that the Union had 7,000 or 8,000 men. Having at most 3,000 men, Walker deployed the 18th Texas Infantry Regiment and Edgar's Texas Battery in a forward position, with the rest of his force behind Roundaway Bayou and its single bridge. The Union advance was led by the Mississippi Marine Brigade and the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. An attack by the 18th Texas Infantry drove in the Union skirmishers, but the Confederates were eventually forced to withdraw behind Roundaway Bayou. An hour-long artillery duel followed. After Walker learned that his supply wagons and ambulances were safely out of the area, he ordered his men to burn the bridge and withdraw. Union troops burned the town of Richmond, but did not pursue Walker's men, who withdrew to Delhi. Walker's men continued to operate in the area until July. Vicksburg surrendered on July 4.