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10C n Friday, September 20, 2013 n theadvocate.

com n The Advocate

A LOOK AT OUR PAST, PLACES, AND PEOPLE

F o r t s r andolph
Forts Randolph and Buhlow, on the banks of the Red River in downtown Pineville, are earthwork forts that were built after the Unions failed attempt to seize control of the Red River during the last year of the Civil War (1861-1865). The forts were intended to thwart any future attempts by the Union to capture control of the vital waterway. The Red River begins in the Texas Panhandle and eventually flows into Louisiana, where it

Created by the Educational Services Department of The Advocate

S t a t e

Construction was completed in March 1865 under the command of Capt. Chrisjoins the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, topher Randolph and supervised by Lt. Alphonse which flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Buhlow, for whom the forts were named. In March 1864, the Union launched a campaign Because there was never another Union attack, to capture Shreveport and then occupy East the forts never saw combat. Texas. The effort, known as the Red River CamFor further information, paign, was a complete failure. visit www.crt.state.la.us/ Though the Union force was defeated, the parks/iftsrandbuhlow.aspx. Confederates constructed Forts Randolph and Contact us at louisiana@ Buhlow to better repel any future Union incurtheadvocate.com. sion into Northwest Louisiana.

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Buhlow

The entrance road runs parallel, and adjacent to, the Red River in Pineville.

The visitors center and museum pro- The city of Alexandria is across the Red River from the forts. vides background information.

A kiosk with educational plaques overlooks the area of Baileys Dam.

Raised boardwalks with strategically placed educational panels take visitors throughout the earthworks.

Near the visitors center is a large, This bousillage oven is part of the shaded, and nicely maintained picnic outdoor classroom used for programs about history and about nature. area on the banks of the Red River.

The produce from an on-site, wellcared-for community garden helps feed the areas needy.

The Red RiveR Campaign: a Failed venTuRe


In March 1864, Union Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks was ordered to move his forces out of New Orleans and head north to capture Shreveport. In Alexandria, Banks 20,000 troops were reinforced by an additional 15,000 troops and the Navy fleet of Adm. David Porter. Banks continued north along the Red River, under the protection of Porters gunboats. Just north of Natchitoches, Banks moved away from the Red River and the protection of the naval guns. Halfway to Shreveport, at Mansfield, Banks troops were attacked by the Confederates under Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor. The Battle of Mansfield, April 8, 1864, resulted in a decisive Confederate victory. The Confederates pursued the fleeing Union troops, but nightfall ended the chase. During the night, Banks withdrew to the town of Pleasant Hill, where he was again attacked by Taylor the next day. The Battle of Pleasant Hill ended with the Confederates being driven back, but Banks, short of supplies and uncertain of his forces, ordered a rapid retreat downriver. This prompted the Union fleet to reverse course. But earlier, the Confederates had diverted the waters of the Red River into a distributary causing the already low river to fall even lower, thereby trapping the Unions heavy ironclads. Union engineer Joseph Bailey hurriedly built dams across the river, which raised the water level enough for the flotilla to continue its retreat.

The Union fleet under Rear Adm. David Porter included 13 ironclads, 11 tinclads, one timberclad, one ram, and numerous support vessels. Collectively, the fleet carried an arsenal of 210 guns.

The backbone of Admiral Porters fleet were the 13 heavily armed ironclads. The 700-ton Eastport, the largest of the ironclads, was struck by a Confederate mine during the retreat ordered by Maj. Gen. Banks and had to be destroyed.

The Union losses at Mansfield were 2,235 killed, wounded, or captured. Confederate losses were unofficially estimated to be 1,000 killed or wounded. The Battle of Pleasant Hill resulted in roughly 1,500 casualties on each side.

With the Union fleet safely beyond the shallow Red River rapids at Alexandria, Banks ordered all forces to move out of the city. As his troops were leaving, the city went up in flames. The origins of the fire are disputed.

FoRTs Randolph and Buhlow: pRepaRed FoR an enemy ThaT neveR Came
The initial planning for the forts was done by Capt. David Boyd, the district engineer and future president of LSU. The earthen forts were built 600 yards apart on the north side of the Red River, across from the city of Alexandria. The forts were finished in March 1965 with the labor of 500 slaves taken from area plantations. The forts were fortified with 14 guns and manned by 800 soldiers, who had to endure primitive living conditions. In May of 1865, at the wars end, the forts were surrendered to Union forces.

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