On Tuesday morning, April 14, 1863 Union forces under General Nathaniel Banks took possession of Fort Bisland, Louisiana which Confederate troops had abandoned during the prior night.
Moving against Confederate held Port Hudson on the Mississippi River, Union forces in a series of maneuvers had traversed the marshy swamps of the Bayou Teche region and attacked Confederate troops under the command of General Richard Taylor at Fort Bisland, located in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
On April 12, Union forces formed a battle line outside the Fort Bisland's defenses and attacked on the following day. When Taylor’s Confederates learned that a Union division was preparing to move into position to cut off a retreat, they were forced to evacuate Fort Bisland, bringing the Union one step closer to closing the Mississippi River.