History of Alexandria, (Rapides Parish) Louisiana United States of America

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Alexandria, La., April 26, to May 13, 1864. Portions of the 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 19th Army Corps; Banks' Red River Expedition. Alexandria, on the Red river, had a population of about 600. The forces of Gen. Banks reached that point and camped there in line of battle on April 26. They remained there until May 13, getting gunboats of Admiral Porter's Mississippi River squadron from above the falls, where they had been caught by low water, to the navigable channel below. The last gunboat passed the falls on May 12, and the next Day the town was evacuated and burned. No authoritative statement as to the origin of the fire has ever been made. During this period there was almost constant skirmishing in the vicinity of Alexandria, between Banks' Army and the Confederate forces Under Gen. Dick Taylor. On May 1, a Federal force attacked Gen. Liddell above Pineville, but was repulsed with severe loss in killed and prisoners. The force in Alexandria had been increased by a brigade from Matagorda Under Gen. McClernand, and members of it were among prisoners taken by Liddell. Gen. Steele (Confederate) attacked the Federals on the Rapides road and forced their pickets back to within 3 Miles of Alexandria. On the evening of the 3d, on the Bayou Robert Road, Federals were attacked and driven back beyond the Gov. Moore Plantation. That Night Near David's Ferry, the transport Covington, bringing the 120th Ohio up the river, was captured by Gen. Major. More than 270 prisoners were taken, among them all the regimental field officers, and many were killed and wounded. The boat was sunk across the channel of the river. A Federal gunboat and another transport were damaged in this encounter. At this time the Federals still had nine gunboats above the falls as a part of a dam to deepen the channel. During the night of the 4th and 5th, the Federal gunboats Signal and Covington, Each mounting 8 guns, and a transport were attacked Near Fort Russy by Major's division, consisting of Hardeman's and Lane's cavalry brigades and West's Battery. One gunboat and the transport were captured and the other gunboat was blown up to prevent its capture. Major sunk the captured vessels across the channel. The Confederates raised the guns of one boat and planned to get close to the other. At daybreak on the 5th an attack was made on the Confederate advance on the Rapides road 4 Miles from Alexandria by 3,000 to 4,000 infantry and two batteries. Steele, with Carter's and Parson's Cavalry and Moseley's battery, contested every inch of the ground, but by 5:30 had retreated 5 Miles, when the attack was abandoned and Steele retired Toward Alexandria. Federal losses not reported. Confederate loss about 50 killed and wounded. On the Same Day at Chambers, on the Bayou Robert Road, 11 Miles from Alexandria, fighting began at dawn and was continued hotly for several hours, when the Federals retreated Toward Alexandria. The Confederate force engaged was Bee's division, consisting of Bagby's, Debray's and Vincent's Cavalry brigades, with Nettles' and Benton's batteries. Next morning Confederates attacked the Federals near Lamaurie bridge and drove their rear-guard to Gov. Moore's Lower Plantation. On the 6th and 7th there was brisk skirmishing on the Rapides road and hard fighting on the Robert and Boeuf Roads. On the Boeuf the Lamaurie separated the two forces. After heavy cannonading for some hours, the Federals advanced on General Polignac's Confederate line, throwing both flanks into confusion. Then, before a charge by Bagby's men they retreated back across the river. Members of the 17th-corps fell into the hands of the enemy. For sixteen successive days the Federals had kept the Confederates busy around Alexandria, While the Union fleet was being gotten over the falls.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

History of Alexandria, (Rapides Parish) Louisiana

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