Battle of Fort DeRussy Facts

March 14, 1864

Fort DeRussy Battle facts, including dates, location, casualties, leaders, who won, and more interesting facts you might not know. This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the battle and is for kids doing research and students preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam.

Portrait of Nathaniel P. Banks

The Battle of Fort DeRussy was the first engagement of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks’ Red River Campaign. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date

  • March 14, 1864

Location

  • The battle occurred along the Red River in Avoyelles Parish, in central Louisiana

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

  • Brigadier General Alexander Jackson (A. J.) Smith
  • Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower

Principal Confederate Commanders

  • Lieutenant Colonel William Byrd

Union Forces Engaged

  • 16th Army Corps
  • 17th Army Corps
  • 18th Army Corps
  • 19th Army Corps

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Fort DeRussy garrison

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 10,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 350

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 50 (48 killed and wounded, 2 missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

  • 324, (2 killed, 5 wounded, 317 captured)

Result

  • Union victory

Significance

  • The Battle of Fort DeRussy was the first engagement of the Red River Campaign.

Timeline of the Red River Campaign

These are the main battles and events of the Red River Campaign in order.