Battle of Ponchatoula facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Ponchatoula
Part of the American Civil War
Date March 24–26, 1863 Location Ponchatoula, Louisiana Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Nathaniel P. Banks Thomas W. Sherman Thomas S. Clark	John C. Pemberton Horace H. Miller
Units involved
6th Michigan Infantry 9th Connecticut 14th Maine 24th Maine 165th New York Infantry 177th New York	1st Choctaw Battalion 1st Mississippi Cavalry 14th Mississippi Cavalry 14th Mississippi Infantry 20th Mississippi Infantry
Strength
1,200 (estimated)	400 (estimated)
Casualties and losses
Union Report: 0 killed; 9 wounded Confederate Report: 18 killed; 36 wounded (estimated)	Union Report: 3 killed; 11 wounded Confederate Report: 0 killed; several wounded

The Battle of Ponchatoula was a fight during the American Civil War that took place from March 24 to March 26, 1863. It happened in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and near Ponchatoula Creek. This battle was part of the larger Vicksburg Campaign. Union soldiers tried to capture Ponchatoula and destroy its important railroad bridge. They fought against Confederate troops who were defending the town. The Confederates won this battle.

Why the Battle Happened

Earlier Attempts to Control the Area

Before this battle, Union forces had tried to take control of the Ponchatoula area. In September 1862, Union soldiers went on an Expedition to Pass Manchac and Ponchatoula. Their goal was to destroy a railroad and a bridge over the Ponchatoula River. They succeeded in destroying some parts of the railroad.

However, the Confederates fought back strongly. One Union soldier described how many of their men were lost. They had to leave their wounded behind. This earlier attempt was a difficult defeat for the Union.

New Plans for Ponchatoula

In early 1863, Union leaders in New Orleans were worried. They thought a famous Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson, might invade with a large army. They believed the swamps around Ponchatoula could be a way for the Confederates to attack.

So, the Union decided to send another group of soldiers to Ponchatoula. Their mission was to check the area and stop any possible invasion. Colonel Thomas S. Clark was put in charge of this new expedition.

The Journey Begins

On March 21, 1863, Colonel Clark's soldiers, mainly from the 6th Michigan, left their camp. They traveled along the New Orleans, Jackson, and Greater Northern Railroad. Their journey was about 30 miles long.

Other Union troops, the 165th New York, joined them by steamship. The plan was for the 6th Michigan to go around Ponchatoula, while the 165th New York attacked the town by railroad. But as they started moving, a big storm, almost like a hurricane, hit.

Stormy Weather and Confederate Warnings

The storm eventually calmed down, but it caused delays. One of the Union steamships got stuck. Meanwhile, the Confederates in Ponchatoula knew the Union was coming. Colonel Horace H. Miller, who was in charge of the Confederate troops there, asked for more soldiers.

Reinforcements for the Confederates were delayed because a bridge was destroyed, probably by the storm's floods. These extra troops were from different Confederate units, including the 1st Choctaw Battalion and Mississippi cavalry and infantry regiments.

Who Fought in the Battle

Union Forces

• Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks (in New Orleans)
• Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman (in New Orleans)
• Brig. Gen. Neal Dow (in New Orleans)
• Col. Ira W. Ainsworth (177th New York)
• Col. George M. Atwood (24th Maine)
• Col. Thomas S. Clark (6th Michigan)
• Lt. Col. Edward Bacon (6th Michigan)
• Lt. Col. Abel Smith, Jr. (165th New York Zouaves)
• Maj. Fredrick Frye (9th Connecticut)
• Capt. Orlando W. Trask (14th Maine)

Confederate Forces

• Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton (in Vicksburg, Mississippi)
• Lt. Col. Horace H. Miller (20th Mississippi Infantry, at Ponchatoula)
• Maj. Felix Dumonteil (14th Mississippi Cavalry)
• Maj. Robert J. Lawrence (14th Mississippi Infantry)
• Maj. John W. Pierce (1st Choctaw Battalion)
• Capt. Gadi Herren (Company H, 1st Mississippi Cavalry)
• Capt. William V. Lester (Company K, 1st Mississippi Cavalry)
• Capt. Thomas C. Rhodes (14th Mississippi Cavalry)

First Day of Battle (March 24)

Ponchatoula Creek where the bridge skirmishes took place. Image taken on March 26, 2016 by Robert Bruce Ferguson.

On March 24, 1863, the Union steamships finally got free. The 6th Michigan soldiers got off their ships and marched through the woods towards Ponchatoula.

They arrived in Ponchatoula just before the 165th New York Zouaves. Union soldiers searched the town. One officer wrote that soldiers were "running here and there" and "eagerly dividing the spoils," meaning they were taking supplies and goods they found.

Second Day of Battle (March 25)

Early on March 25, the Confederate commander, Miller, learned that his reinforcements would be delayed. A bridge was still down, so extra troops wouldn't arrive until the next day.

Local people, who could move between the two armies, reported that Confederate trains were bringing more soldiers to a nearby town.

Colonel Clark, the Union commander, moved most of his troops a few miles south of Ponchatoula. He left about 300 men in the town to guard it. A smaller group was left at Ponchatoula Creek.

Third Day of Battle (March 26)

At 3 p.m., the Confederate forces, led by Colonel Miller, began their attack to take back Ponchatoula. The main attack happened along the railroad. Soldiers from the 1st Choctaw Battalion and Mississippi cavalry led the charge. A fight continued for an hour at the burned railroad bridge over Ponchatoula Creek.

Around 4 p.m., Confederate troops managed to get around the Union soldiers. This might have been done by Native American scouts from the 1st Choctaw Battalion. The Union guards at Ponchatoula Creek had to retreat as the Confederates chased them.

By 4:30 p.m., the Confederates had taken back Ponchatoula.

At sunset, around 7 p.m., the Confederate attack ended. Ponchatoula was once again under Confederate control.

What Happened After the Battle

In the days that followed, the Union expedition led by Clark retreated. A Union officer noted that the Confederates had gathered a much larger force. They also had cannons and cavalry, plus a group of Native American soldiers who were good at fighting in the swamps.

On March 27, Colonel Miller praised his Confederate troops for their excellent conduct.

Newspapers in the South reported the Confederate victory. They claimed that about 1,500 Union soldiers had attacked Ponchatoula, which was only guarded by 150 Confederate cavalry. They said that 1,200 Native American troops arrived and chased the Union soldiers away.

On March 31, a Union officer met with Colonel Miller to discuss returning stolen items. The Confederates were very angry about what had happened.

The Union force included about 400 soldiers from the 6th Michigan, 40 from the 14th Maine, 20 from the 24th Maine, 306 from the 165th New York, 100 from the 177th New York, and 26 from the 9th Connecticut. The Confederates had about 120 from the 1st Choctaw Battalion, 40 from the 20th Mississippi, 60 from the 1st Mississippi Cavalry, 50 from the 14th Mississippi Cavalry, and 100 from the 14th Mississippi.

Many Native American soldiers from the 1st Choctaw Battalion left because they were not paid for their service.

Ponchatoula remained under Confederate control until Union forces recaptured it in May 1863. On May 12, 1863, Union soldiers led by Colonel Edmund J. Davis captured some prisoners, including members of the disbanded 1st Choctaw Battalion. This Union expedition was successful, and the Confederates did not have a major presence in the area for the rest of the war.