April 14, 1864

April 14, 1864

---As Banks and his army fall back, Admiral David Dixon Porter, in command of the huge river flotilla on the Red River, also has to back and turn his behemoth expedition around, heading back to Grand Ecore.  Needless to say, the Rebels are intent on cutting off the exposed Federal fleet.  After being attack by Gen. Tom Green’s cavalry (and in which fight Green is killed), Porter proceeds with guns run out and loaded.  The river is running low, and the transports and gunboats regularly bottom out on sandbars and shoals.  Several brigades of infantry aid Porter in the withdrawal.  In the meanwhile, Gen. Taylor’s Rebels retreat back to Mansfield, and are not pursuing the Yankees, even though Gen. Banks feels that they must be. 

 

---Gen. Sherman sends a dispatch to Gen. Banks, with orders to the effect that Gen. Steele and his army in Arkansas is to press for Shreveport, Banks is to wheel about and move on Mobile, Alabama, and that A.J. Smith and his divisions are to be returned to Sherman immediately,  Sherman issues these orders ignorant of the fact of Banks’ retreat, and of Steele’s aborted march from Little Rock.