150 100 | Date 21 May 1863 | |
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Similar Battle of Stirling's Plantation, American Civil War, Battle of Georgia Landing, Battle of Simmon's Bluff, Battle of Fort Bisland | ||
Battle of plains store
The Battle of Plains Store or the Battle of Springfield Road was fought May 21, 1863, in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, during the campaign to capture Port Hudson in the American Civil War. The Union victory closed the last Confederate escape route from Port Hudson.
Contents
Background
The 1st Division, XIX Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur, left Baton Rouge and was moving north towards Port Hudson to secure a landing for the rest of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's forces.
Battle
Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, leading the advance of Augur's division, began skirmishing with Confederate forces under Col. Frank W. Powers. Union infantry approached and the fighting escalated. Col. William R. Miles left Port Hudson at noon, but when he reached the field, Powers's forces had already retreated and the fighting subsided. Miles nevertheless attacked, and at first succeeded in pushing back the Union infantry. Augur rallied his troops and counterattacked, driving the Confederates from Plains Store and back to the Port Hudson defenses, ending the battle.
Aftermath
The battle closed off the last escape route for the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson. The next day Nathaniel Banks invested the fortress and began the siege of Port Hudson.