Battle of Blair's Landing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Blair's Landing
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
The Union gunboats engage the Confederates
Date April 12 – 13, 1864 Location Red River Parish, Louisiana Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Kilby Smith David Dixon Porter	Tom Green  †
Units involved
XVII Corps Mississippi River Squadron	Green's Cavalry Division
Strength
Corps	Cavalry Division
Casualties and losses
7	200

The Battle of Blair's Landing was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 12, 1864, in Red River Parish, Louisiana. This battle was part of a bigger plan called the Red River campaign. The Union forces won this battle.

What Happened at Blair's Landing?

Map showing the Blair's Landing Battlefield area.

After another battle called the Battle of Pleasant Hill on April 9, a Confederate general named Tom Green led his soldiers. They went to a place called Pleasant Hill Landing on the Red River. On April 12, around 4:00 p.m., they found Union boats. These boats were stuck or damaged. They carried supplies and weapons.

Union Boats Under Attack

Union soldiers from Thomas Kilby Smith's division and Navy gunboats were protecting these boats. General Green and his men quickly attacked the boats. But Smith's soldiers were very clever in defending themselves. They hid behind things like cotton bales and sacks of oats. These items acted like shields.

A Fierce Defense

The soldiers on the boats, along with the Navy gunboats, fought back hard. They stopped the Confederate attack. During this fight, General Green was killed. The Confederate soldiers suffered many losses. They had to retreat. Most of the Union boats then continued down the river.

The Journey Continues

On April 13, some other boats got stuck at a place called Campti. They came under fire from more Confederate troops. These troops kept bothering the Union convoy on April 12 and 13. Finally, the convoy met up with Major General Nathaniel Banks's army at Grand Ecore. They brought much-needed supplies to the army.