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(Plains Store)

Plains Store

May 21, 1863
Also known as: Springfield Road
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Campaign: Opening the Lower Mississippi

Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur, USA
Col. Frank P. Powers and Col. William R. Miles, CSA

Augur had a reinforced division against a much smaller Confederate force.

Neither side lost more than about 150 men in the skirmish.

Early in the morning of May 21, 1863, Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur’s Union division advanced from Baton Rouge toward the intersection of Plains Store and Bayou Sara roads.  Their mission was to secure a landing site on the river for Nathaniel Banks’ larger force.  Col. Benjamin 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, which began 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 Rebel forces had retreated, and the Federals were preparing camps for the night.  Miles attacked the Union forces and initially pushed them back, but the Federals regrouped and counterattacked.  Miles could not stand against the overwhelming Union force and fell back into the Port Hudson perimeter.  The battle ended with the last Confederate escape route from Port Hudson sealed.

Page 9

(Plains Store)