. History of the American Civil War . sented Banks undertakes . - _ • -i i the shreveport ex- important advantages j but, considered as a pedition. A . movement of national policy, its value wascomparatively trifling. Nevertheless, it was determinedupon, and Banks attempted to carry it into effect. Hewas, however, unskillful in military operations, excellingrather in schemes of civil experiments — a qualificationwhich is unsuited to the conduct of a perilous campaign. Chap. LXXVL] THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 231 Sherman, on completing his Meridian expedition, wentimmediately to New Orleans, and
. History of the American Civil War . sented Banks undertakes . - _ • -i i the shreveport ex- important advantages j but, considered as a pedition. A . movement of national policy, its value wascomparatively trifling. Nevertheless, it was determinedupon, and Banks attempted to carry it into effect. Hewas, however, unskillful in military operations, excellingrather in schemes of civil experiments — a qualificationwhich is unsuited to the conduct of a perilous campaign. Chap. LXXVL] THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 231 Sherman, on completing his Meridian expedition, wentimmediately to New Orleans, and had an interview withBanks. A plan of campaign up the Red River was agreedupon, having Shreveport, which is at the head of steam-boatnavigation on that river, for its objective. About the beginning of March, 1864, Franklin movedfrom New Orleans, by railroad, to Brashear mences the cam- Citv, and thence bv the Bavou Teche and paign. J J Opelousas to Alexandria. A powerful fleet,under Admiral Porter, was brought to the mouth of the. Cx^Ia^ os U- L ^ O THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. Red River; it consisted of twenty steamers, several of thembeing monitors and iron-clads. Franklin, who had formerlyheld a command in the Army of the Potomac (vol. ii., page471), was intrusted with the initiation of the movement,Banks being for the moment detained in New Orleans, su-pervising certain political operations. In accordance with their agreement, Sherman sent to 232 CAPTURE OF FORT DE HUSSY. [Sect. XVII. A detachment under BaillvS Smith, Avitll 7500 llieil of tile lGtllA. .!. >mitll from 7 nn^sS^,;: Corps, and 2500 of the 17th Corps. SmithAxkansaa, added. eml),(1 atVicksburg on the 10th of March to join Porters fleet. He was then to unite with Bankssforce, and a force under General Steele, from Arkansas, wasto be added. At this time the Confederate trans-Missis-sippi force under Kirby Smith was 41,000, of whom 31,000were serviceable. A large part of it, under Taylor, lay at
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