The Second Battle of Donaldsonville was an American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 battle took place on June 28, 1863 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.

Background

On June 28, 1863, Confederate Brig. Gen. Jean Alfred Mouton

Alfred Mouton

Jean-Jacques-Alfred-Alexandre "Alfred" Mouton was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was born in Opelousas, Louisiana, and spent most of his life in Lafayette. Beloved by those under his command, Mouton was a strict drillmaster and disciplinarian who simultaneously freely...

 ordered Brig. Gen. Tom Green's and Col. James Patrick Major

James Patrick Major

James Patrick Major was a career U.S. Army officer and a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War.-US Cavalry service:...

's brigades to take Donaldsonville, Louisiana

Donaldsonville, Louisiana

Donaldsonville is a city in and the parish seat of Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States, along the west bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 7,605 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Acadians began to settle in the area in...

. The Union had built Fort Butler, which the Rebels had to take before occupying the town.

Forces engaged

The Union forces were the Fort Butler Garrison: two companies of the 28th Maine Volunteer Infantry and some convalescents from various regiments. The Confederate forces were Tom Green's Texas Brigade and Colonel James Patrick Major's Texas Brigade.

Battle

On the night of June 27, Green, within a mile and a half of the fort, began moving troops ahead to attack. The attack started soon after midnight, and the Confederates quickly surrounded the fort and began passing through the various obstructions. Unfortunately, those troops attacking along the levee came to a ditch, unknown to them, too wide to cross, that saved the day for the Union garrison. A Union gunboat, USS Princess Royal, came to the garrison's aid also and began shelling the attackers. Futile Confederate assaults continued for some time but they eventually ceased their operations and retired.

Result

This point on the Mississippi River

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 remained in Union hands and many other Mississippi River towns were occupied by the Yankees: the Confederates could harass but not eliminate these Union enclaves.

Union

• 28th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
  28th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
  The 28th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 28th Maine Infantry was organized in Augusta, Maine and mustered in October 18, 1862 for nine months' service under the command of Colonel Ephriam W....
  
  
  • Company C
  • Company F
  • Company G
• Misc. Convalescents and Freedmen - Cmdr Melancthon Brooks Woolsey
  Melancthon Brooks Woolsey
  Melancthon Brooks Woolsey was an officer in the United States Navy during and after the American Civil War. He was commodore of the South Atlantic Station in the 1870s.-Biography:...
  
  - Lt. Cmdr. A.W. Weaver

Confederate

• “Arizona Brigade”
• 3rd Texas Cavalry - Col Joseph Phillips
• 4th Texas Cavalry - Col W.P Hardeman
• 5th Texas Cavalry - Maj. Denman Shannon
• 7th Texas Cavalry - Col. Philemon Herbert
• 1st Texas Partisan Rangers - Col. Walter P. Lane
• 2nd Texas Partisan Rangers - Lt. Col R.P. Crump
• 1st La. Btty. - Lt. O. Semmes