Mansfield State Historic Site is a Louisiana state historic site located near Mansfield, Louisiana, that commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Mansfield. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Mansfield Battle Park in 1973. Founded in 1924 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the site was transferred to the state of Louisiana in 1954. Site history Battle In early 1864, during the American Civil War, Union leadership planned a joint Army-Navy drive up the Red River of the South in Confederate-held Louisiana. The planned campaign had both political, economic, and strategic goals. It was hoped that Union military presence in the area would prevent collaboration between the Confederacy and the French, who had begun intervening in Mexico; expand Union political control in the region; and provide cotton, at that time a valuable commodity, to business interests in New England. The planned expedition, which became known as the Red River campaign, began in March 1864. The army elements were commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, while the naval elements were led by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter. To the north, in Arkansas, the Camden expedition was intended to cooperate with the Red River campaign. Outnumbered, Confederate forces commanded by Major General Richard Taylor withdrew upriver towards the Confederate administrative capital of Shreveport, Louisiana. Taylor halted his men near the community of Mansfield, Louisiana, in early April. He felt that Mansfield was a good place to make a stand, as Banks's men would be forced to approach the area on a single road, while multiple roads would be available between Mansfield and Shreveport, including one that could be protected by the Union naval fleet. On April 8, Taylor arrayed his forces along a clearing near the road leading to Mansfield from the southeast. Leading elements of Banks's army made contact with the Confederates and deployed into an angled line, setting the stage for the Battle of Mansfield. Taylor ordered an assault at around 4:00 pm, and the Confederate forces attacked over the clearing, suffering heavy casualties in the process. The first Union line was driven back, as was a second one about further back. A Union wagon train was captured, and the Confederates drove on to a third Union line, which was from the first Union line. This line was driven back slightly, but held to nightfall. Banks's men withdrew from the field at