Battle of Ponchatoula

Part of the American Civil War

Date	March 24–26, 1863
Location	Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Result	Confederate victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

Confederate States

Commanders and leaders

Political leaders:

Abraham Lincoln

Military commander:

Thomas S. Clark

Political leaders:

Jefferson Davis

Military commander:

Horace H. Miller

Units involved

6th Michigan Infantry
9th Connecticut
14th Maine
24 Maine
165th New York Infantry
177th New York

1st Choctaw Battalion
1st Mississippi Cavalry
14th Mississippi Cavalry
14th Mississippi Regiment Infantry
20th Mississippi Regiment Infantry

Strength

900 (estimated)

350 (estimated)

Casualties and losses

9 wounded

3 killed; 11 wounded

Political leaders:

Military commander:

Political leaders:

Military commander:

The Battle of Ponchatoula was fought between March 24-26, 1863 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and Ponchatoula Creek during the onset of the Vicksburg Campaign. It was an offensive campaign waged by the Union's 6th Michigan, 9th Connecticut, 14th Maine, 24th Maine, 165th New York Zouaves, and 177th New York against the Confederate troops in order to rid the town of Confederate troops and to destroy the town's railroad bridge.

Several battles were conducted in the Ponchatoula area.

In September of 1862, the 26th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment conducted an expedition to Manchac Pass and Ponchatoula. It was a devastating defeat for the Union. Private Elmore Dane of Company F wrote,

"Out of 125 men 40 were killed, wounded and missing, almost 50 percent of our number. We were kept as a reserved corps, and came up just in time to save the rest of the party from all being taken prisoners. We kept the enemy from out flanking them and covered their retreat. The fight took place at Paschola [Ponchatoula, La.] We went up the Maunshag river to the Jackson and New Orleans railroad and marched up the road. It was a bad defeat for us we had no artillery and the rebels were 1500 strong with 5 pieces of artillery. We were obliged to leave our dead on the field and the wounded in the hospital with the Doct. and assistants as prisoners in the Rebels hands as prisoners it was a hard jaunt and well nigh cost us all imprisonment...many more die of sickness then of bullets from the enemy ..."

In the early part of 1863, a new expedition was sent once again sent to Ponchatoula.

Union headquarters at New Orleans were alarmed by an improbable invasion by "Stonewall" Jackson with 40,000 men. The Union officers considered the swamps as the most likely approach.

A reconnaissance was ordered of Manchac Pass on the New Orleans, Jackson, & Greater Northern Railroad where it crossed at Jones Island. Union Officer Col. Langdon conducted a reconnaissance and found Confederates and "negroes" working on the north side of Manchac Pass, but he found no evidence for an approaching invasion.

Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks issued orders to Col. Thomas S. Clark of the 6th Michigan to proceed to Manchac Pass.

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Wikipedia