Battle of Ebenezer Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Ebenezer Church |
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| Part of American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James H. Wilson | Nathan Bedford Forrest | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi | Forrest's Cavalry Corps Militia |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 9,000 | 1,500–5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 12 killed, 40 wounded | Unknown killed and wounded. 300 captured, 3 artillery pieces captured | ||||||
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The Battle of Ebenezer Church was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 1, 1865, in Stanton, Alabama. This battle was part of a larger plan called Wilson's Raid.
In this battle, Union Army cavalry troops fought against Confederate States Army cavalry. The Union forces were led by James H. Wilson. The Confederate forces were led by Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Union won this battle. It was one of the last major cavalry battles of the war.
Who Fought in the Battle?
The Union army had a strong force. General James H. Wilson led about 9,000 cavalry soldiers. These soldiers were well-trained. They also had special Spencer repeating carbines. These guns could fire seven shots without reloading. This gave them a big advantage.
On the Confederate side, General Nathan Bedford Forrest had fewer troops. He had between 1,500 and 5,000 soldiers. Many of these were not regular army troops. Some were Alabama State Troops. These soldiers were not as well-trained or equipped. Forrest had trouble gathering all his scattered forces. This meant he faced a much larger Union army.
What Happened During the Battle?
The battle started with a strong attack. The fighting was intense at first. However, the less experienced Alabama State Troops on the Confederate side could not hold their ground. Their battle line broke.
Once the Confederate line broke, Wilson's Union soldiers pushed them back. The Confederates had to retreat. They fell back towards the city of Selma, Alabama. Selma was an important city for the Confederacy. It had factories and a place where weapons were made.
After winning at Ebenezer Church, the Union troops kept moving. They burned down the railroad station in nearby Plantersville, Alabama. They also destroyed a cotton warehouse. This was part of their plan to weaken the Confederacy.
What Was the Outcome?
The Union army won the Battle of Ebenezer Church. They had fewer losses than the Confederates. The Union forces had 12 soldiers killed and 40 wounded.
The exact number of Confederate soldiers killed or wounded is not known. However, the Union army captured 300 Confederate soldiers. They also captured three artillery pieces. These were cannons used in the battle.
General Nathan Bedford Forrest himself was injured. He received a slight wound from a saber. A Union officer, Captain James D. Taylor, struck him. Forrest later said the wound would have been fatal if the officer had used the point of the saber. Forrest fought back and killed Captain Taylor with a pistol shot. This was the last of 33 men Forrest was said to have killed during the war.
The Battle of Ebenezer Church was an important step for the Union. It cleared the way for them to attack Selma. The Union forces attacked and destroyed Selma the very next day.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de la Iglesia Ebenezer para niños
