Download or read book Decisions of the Red River Campaign written by Michael S. Lang and published by Univ. of Tennessee Press. This book was released on 2025 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "At the time of the Red River Campaign, between March 10 and May 22, 1864, Federal victory was nearly assured. However, this final Trans-Mississippi offensive was launched to capture Shreveport, a strategic port and military complex for the Confederate Army. The fall of Shreveport would split the Confederate lines, allowing the Federals to encircle and destroy the Confederate military forces in Louisiana and southern Arkansas as well as open a gateway to potentially invade Texas. But the dense forests and swamps of Louisiana made for difficult maneuvering, and both sides made severe tactical mistakes, leading General William Tecumseh Sherman to infamously exclaim the Red River Campaign was simply 'one damn blunder from beginning to end.' "--