In May 1864, retreating Union forces turned and fought Confederate cavalry on the open Avoyelles Prairie in one of the few genuine open-field engagements of the Red River Campaign. One Union soldier wrote that it looked 'like a European battle' — because it was flat enough to see the entire engagement at once. A historical marker stands at the site of the action.
Quick facts
- ·The Battle of Mansura was fought May 16, 1864 during the Union's failed Red River Campaign.
- ·It was one of the few open-field engagements in Louisiana's Civil War history.
- ·A Union soldier likened the scene on Avoyelles Prairie to 'a European battle'.
- ·Retreating federal troops held off Confederate cavalry before continuing south to Simmesport.
- ·Visitor tip: the roadside marker is north of Mansura on LA-1; pair it with Fort DeRussy 20 minutes away.
Memories
Be the first to leave a memory at Battle of Mansura Site.
Sign in to see memories your family has left at this place.
Editorial content compiled with AI assistance. Place details verified against public records.