Battle of Kock's Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Kock's Plantation |
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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 | |||||||
| Godfrey Weitzel Cuvier Grover |
Tom Green | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| XIX Corps | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2 Divisions | 2 Brigades | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 430 | 33 | ||||||
The Battle of Kock’s Plantation was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on July 12 and 13, 1863, in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. This battle is also sometimes called Cox’s Plantation or Saint Emma Plantation. It was part of a larger plan by the Confederates called "Taylor's Operations in West Louisiana." The battle ended with a victory for the Confederate side. This win helped them control a large part of the Acadiana region.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
After Port Hudson's Surrender
The battle took place right after the Siege of Port Hudson ended. Port Hudson was an important fort that the Union Army had been trying to capture. When it finally surrendered, the Union Army decided to send some of its troops deeper into Louisiana. Their goal was to take control of the inland areas.
Union Troops Move In
Two large groups of Union soldiers, called divisions, were sent to Donaldsonville. They traveled by boat. From Donaldsonville, they planned to march inland. They moved along a waterway called Bayou Lafourche, with one division on each side of the bayou.
Confederate Defenses
The Confederate forces were led by Brig. Gen. Tom Green. He knew the Union troops were coming. So, he placed his soldiers strategically. He put one brigade (a smaller group of soldiers) on the east side of the bayou. His second brigade was placed on the west side. This way, he could defend both banks of the waterway.
The Battle Unfolds
Early Skirmishes
As the Union soldiers moved forward, small fights broke out. These small clashes, called skirmishes, happened on July 11 and 12. They were like warm-up fights before the main battle.
The Main Attack
On the morning of July 13, Union soldiers went out to find food and supplies. They were on both sides of Bayou Lafourche. When they reached Kock’s Plantation, also known as Saint Emma Plantation, they ran into Confederate skirmishers. The Confederates pushed them back.
Then, General Green's main Confederate forces attacked the Union troops with full power. The Union soldiers had to retreat, even though they tried to stop and fight at different spots.
Union Retreat
The Union troops kept falling back. They finally reached the safety of Fort Butler. This fort was in Donaldsonville, about six miles away from Kock’s Plantation. The fort had cannons that could protect them.
Even though the Confederate force was much smaller, they had managed to defeat the Union soldiers. This meant the Union's plan to take control of the inland areas failed. The Confederates remained in charge of that region.
Battle Outcome
Casualties
The Battle of Kock's Plantation resulted in different numbers of casualties for each side.
- Union Army: About 430 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.
- Confederate Army: About 33 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.
This shows that the Confederates won with much fewer losses.
The Plantation Today
The plantation house at Kock's Plantation was built in 1847. It was owned by a very successful sugar planter. Today, this historic house has been restored. It is now a private museum. Inside, you can see furniture and items from that time period. The plantation is located on Highway 1 South, close to Donaldsonville.
