 Admiral Porter's gunboats, in cooperation with General Banks, had ascended the Red River in an effort to replant the United States flag on Texas soil as a check against French interference in Mexico and to encourage the re-establishment of loyal state governments in Louisiana and Arkansas.While the Union ships were at Springfield Landing making preparations to clear away the sunken hulk of an old steamer which had stopped their progress toward Shreveport, Louisiana, a messenger arrived with word that General Banks had suffered a severe defeat near Mansfield and was falling back to Grand Ecore.Reluctantly Porter ordered the gunboats to reverse course.