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The Battle of Fort Bisland was fought #OTD in 1863. General Nathaniel Banks marched his XIX Corps north out of New Orleans, with the goal of capturing Alexandria. The campaign was planned to coordinate with @USGrantNPS’s move toward @VicksburgNPS. #ConfederateHeritageMonth 🧵 
Opposing Banks was Dick Taylor’s small confederate army, entrenched in an outpost named Fort Bisland near the Bayou Teche region of central Louisiana. It was the only major defensive position barring Banks’ advance.
Taylor’s men were able to hold off a series of US assaults, but ultimately were forced to abandon the fort when it became clear that a @USArmy division was in position to cut off their retreat. Banks was able to continue his advance, and occupied Alexandria for over a year.
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