Nov. MCCWRT Meeting-- Part 3: The Red River Campaign

In early 1864, the Red River Expedition was launched with Shreveport, Louisiana, as its objective.  The overall Union general in charge, Nathaniel Banks, was a political general who had been moved out west after being embarrassed and thoroughly trounced by Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

He was a powerful Massachusetts politician and had been moved in 1863 and made head of the Department of the Gulf.

For the campaign, Banks had a total of 25,000 troops overall along with the Mississippi Squadron under Admiral David D. Porter which consisted of 30 gunboats, many transports and the Marine Brigade.

One of Banks' generals was Andrew W. Smith, who accompanied Porter's fleet up the Red River.  Smith and Banks did not like each other at all.

--Old Secesh