Civil War Battles |
Colonial Wars |
American Wars |
Link To This Page — Contact Us —
The Battle of Plains Store
May 21, 1863 in East Baton Rouge Parish , Louisiana
Port Hudson Campaign
Union Forces Commanded by:
Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur
Confederate Forces Commanded by: Col. Frank P. Powers and Col. William R. Miles
**Missing and Captured Conclusion: Union Victory |
 |
BATTLE SUMMARY
Early in the morning of May 21, Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur's Union division advanced from Baton Rouge toward the intersection of Plains Store and Bayou Sara roads on the way to secure a landing, on the river, for Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks. Col. Benjamin H. Grierson's cavalry, in the lead, encountered Confederate forces under the command of Col. Frank P. Powers and skirmishing ensued. As the morning progressed the Union infantry approached the crossroads and came under fire, bringing on a general engagement.
At noon, Col. W.R. Miles set out for Plains Store with Confederate reinforcements. By the time that Miles arrived in the area late in the day, the fighting had ceased, the Confederate forces had retreated, and the Federals were preparing camps for the night. Miles attacked the Union forces and, at first, drove them, but they regrouped and counterattacked. Miles could not stand against the overwhelming Union force and retired into the Port Hudson perimeter. The battle ended, and the last Confederate escape route from Port Hudson was closed.
