Maj. Joseph D. Bullen, USA
Brig. Gen. Tom Green, CSA
The Confederates attacked with two brigades; the Union garrison was two companies of the 28th Maine and some assorted convalescents.
The Union lost a handful but inflicted about 300 casualties.
On June 28, 1863, Confederate Brig. Gen. Jean Alfred Mouton ordered Tom Green's and James Major's brigades to take Donaldsonville. The Union had built Fort Butler, a strong fort with a deep ditch and both flanks on the water, which the Rebels had to take before occupying the town.
On the night of June 27, Green, within a mile and a half of the fort, began moving troops ahead to attack. The attack started soon after midnight, and the Confederates quickly surrounded the fort and began passing through the various obstructions. Unfortunately, the party attacking along the levee came to a ditch, unknown to them and too wide to cross, that saved the day for the Union garrison. A Union gunboat, the Princess Royal, came to the garrison's aid also and began shelling the attackers. Futile Confederate assaults continued for some time but they eventually ceased their operations, cut their losses, and withdrew.
This and many other Mississippi River towns were occupied by the Yankees: the Confederates could harass but not eliminate the Union enclaves.
