Description
Brief description: The Union invades the Red River Valley. This book details one of the most surprising and humiliating defeats in United States’ military history. The campaign began in April of 1864 when the Union army invaded the Red River Valley, anticipating little resistance from the Confederates. But when General Taylor launched a surprise attack near Mansfield, the Yankees were soon running for their lives.
From the Inside Flap
One of the most surprising and humiliating defeats in the United States’ military history, the Red River Campaign narrowly missed turning the tide of the entire Civil War. This pictorial volume, written in an engaging tone, relays the full story of the conflict.
Led by the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Union Army invaded the Southern Red River Valley with 32,000 men. They anticipated little trouble from the Confederates-whom they outnumbered nearly four to one-and even painted names of the towns they planned to conquer on their wagons, such as San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. The men in blue did not expect a battle until they reached Shreveport, the Confederate capital of Louisiana.
On April 8, 1864, the Confederate Patton, Gen. Richard Taylor, launched a devastating attack near Mansfield with 8,800 men. By nightfall, the Yankee soldiers were no longer discussing victories in Houston, Dallas, or even Shreveport-they were running for their lives.
Complete with maps, period photographs, and firsthand accounts from soldiers, Richard Taylor and the Red River Campaign of 1864 serves as a definitive resource for historians or anyone seeking knowledge on this daring operation.
About the Author:
Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., is the author of more than forty history books, which have received praise from Publishers Weekly and British Army Review. In addition to writing articles for the Journal of Soviet Military Studies, he has appeared on the History Channel, CBS, National Public Radio, and the British Broadcasting Network.
Mitcham has lectured at West Point, Air War College, and the General Staff College of the Marine Corps. He also taught geography and military history at Henderson State University, Georgia Southern University, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where the freshman honor society named him professor of the year.
Mitcham received his BA in journalism from Northeast Louisiana University and later earned his MS and PhD. He lives in Monroe, Louisiana.
From the Back Cover
Throughout the Civil War, Louisiana was a major hub for wartime exports, both soldiers and supplies alike. As the nation’s largest cotton exporter, the city of New Orleans was a particularly important factor in the fight against the Union. Within this framework, author Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., looks at how, with the help of the region’s resources and Richard Taylor, the Confederacy was able to win one of its most surprising victories.
Through extensive research, Mitcham masterfully compiles historical data in order to dissect the Red River Campaign and the resulting aftermath from the series of battles. Consequences for both the Union and Confederacy are discussed in depth, as are the lives of all the essential players. This account highlights the bravery, spirit, and dedication of Southerners fighting against the odds and looks at the struggles of the South’s often forgotten war-torn men during this brave campaign.
Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., is the author of more than forty history books, which have received acclaim from Publishers Weekly and British Army Review. Mitcham has appeared on the History Channel and NPR, and he has lectured at West Point.
