Mansfield State Historic Site — Attraction in Louisiana

On April 8,1864 an approximate force of 25,000 Union Infantry, Cavalry & Artillery supported by a large Union flotilla in Red River were stopped cold and driven back by a Confederate Army of much smaller size. This is the stopping point of the North's last great attempt to invade Texas. Here two opposing generals who had fought against each other in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, CS Gen. Richard Taylor & US Gen. Nathaniel Banks would face off again in one last bloody struggle before the war's end. Mansfield State Historic Park is the most Northern point of march by the Union Army attempting to capture Shreveport, LA and enter Texas through the backdoor. Here is where the long retreating Confederate Army turned, fought and drove the Yankees back defeating them 3 times in 3 phases of battle that lasted deep into the night. Three days of fighting, April 7,8&9, 1864 took place to and from this location culminating in the largest Civil War Battle fought West of the Mississippi River at Pleasant Hill, LA. The turning point of the Red River Campaign happened on this field. Mansfield State Park preserves a part of the much larger battlefield. The Visitors Center & Museum offer an Orientation Film, Interpretive displays of artifacts, 3 original cannon used in the battle, picnicking area, clean restrooms & a drinking fountain. The battlefield has signs & monuments to assist the visitor. A small research library is in the Visitors Center. Park Rangers on site are knowledgeable and very helpful with not only the park & battlefield details but also the location of skirmishes & battles associated with this Campaign. On this field a notable but under reported event took place. Soldiers under the command of CS Gen. Alfred Mouton made a charge that was as statistically deadly as Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg! Whether you are a student, expert or tourist of Civil War Sites the Mansfield State Park is a "must visit" location. NOTE: Relic diggers & Collectors, should you find a Civil War Artifact of any kind please take it to the Park Visitors Center. Ranger Scott works well with private collectors. He encourages you to add your find to the Park's map so that something as simple as a Minie Ball will add to the body of Archaeological knowledge that they keep on file. He doesn't want your find he simply wants to map your find so that the data base is as complete as possible!!! Let's work together to save...

The rudest people ever!! Nothing special to see here that you cannot find all over LA. We drove out of our way to see this place and of course there are no prices until you get to the museum door. We followed everything the signs said. Parked and went to museum to pay. The prices are on the door, but on the way to the door are some markers that we scanned over. Well we get to the door and see the price, $4 a person. Only having $4 in cash I said, "oh bummer we will have to come back on our return trip." As I started walking back towards the car, this guy comes rushing out of the museum wanting payment. I explained that we will have to come back because I didn't have enough. So he says that they will take my credit card. I just shook my head and told him that if they had the prices listed down on the road with the hours then it would have saved us driving up and getting out. I am not paying $8 for driving up their driveway and coming to their door. He then went on to accuse me of looking at stuff and taking pictures. Mind you my son is on the phone with his brother (unable to take photos) and I have no devices at all. So if he is talking about me reading the marker on the sidewalk to the museum....let me tell you....those same markers are scattered all over the state for free. And I dont even know what it said, I just scanned over it to see if this was a place worth seeing. I hope he saw my military veteran plates as I drove away and feels a little bit like an idiot. This man who was there...

My husband and I went there to get information on a family member who fought in the Mansfield Battle. The superintendents there were very helpful, knowledgeable, and the place was in immaculate condition. Yes, it's been many years since that battle, but this information was something my husband wanted for the family genealogy records. He learned so much from the guys working that day (6-3-17 Michael & Scott)! The most interesting of all is that Matt's Great, Great Uncle was a Union Soilder and died the day before the big battle at a skirmish on Wilson's farm. We would have never gotten that info without their knowledge and willingness to answer questions and show him locations.

I would encourage anyone to stop, look around, and reflect on what our great country has been through. I would hate to see us loose these significant locations and relicks! Thanks...