According to Gregg Potts, the Port Hudson State Commemorative Area Manager; about 550 living historians attended and visitation by spectators for the two days was was 3,534.

Weather was very cooperative. We did not have one drop of rain until late Sunday afternoon.

A special thanks goes to Colonel Calloway for commanding the field for this event for many years. This was Bill's last event to command and we hope to see Bill & Alice once again around the campfire.

SELMA

The Selma, Alabama event was held on April 1999. Members attending from the 8th Louisiana included Wayne Cosby and James Chauvin.

MANSFIELD

The Mansfield event held on May 6, 7, 1999. Members attending from the 8th Louisiana included Jude Brand, Steven Driskell, Joey Miguez, Ray O., Raymond O. and member applicant Glenn Richard. This event marked the 135th Anniversary of the battle. An exceptional number of reenactors and exceptional nice weather turned out for this event.

Raymond O., Ray O., Steven Driskell, Jude Brand, & Joey Miguez celebrate surviving Jude's preparation of Gradoo. Missing from the photo, is Glenn Richard who is making a speedy recovery.

Like many important battles, the Mansfield-Pleasant Hill engagement was actually a series of encounters taking place over several days. After a two hour cavalry fight with Union forces near Wilson's Farm on April 7, 1864, General Taylor selected to defend a site about four miles south of Mansfield, now the location of the state commemorative area. General Banks did not expect the Confederates to fight until he reached Shreveport and the Union Army became strung out along the narrow road leading to Mansfield. This allowed Taylor to deal with his opponents on more equal terms since the Confederate troops were heavily outnumbered.

At 2:00 P.M. on April 8 the head of the disorganized Union Army (5,700 troops) was confronted by the Confederate Army (8,800 troops) in battle formation. The Union Troops quickly formed a line of battle along a rail fence and a ridge known as Honeycutt Hill. On orders from Taylor, General Alfred Mouton's Division charged the rail fence. Mouton was killed leading the attack, but French born General J. C. Polignac continued the charge and overwhelmed the Union line.

A fresh unit of 1,200 Union Troops formed another line of battle about a mile south of the first. After a brief encounter, Taylor and the Confederates routed the Union forces, taking many prisoners and seizing guns, small arms and wagons abandoned by the fleeing soldiers.