First Battle of Donaldsonville

Other Names: None

Location: Ascension Parish, Louisiana

Campaign: Operations against Baton Rouge (1862)

Date: August 9, 1862

Principal Commanders: Rear Adm. David G. Farragut [US]; Capt. Phillippe Landry [CS]

Forces Engaged: Three Navy ships [US]; a few partisans [CS]

Casualties and losses: None

Result(s): Union victory

Brief Description:

A number of incidents of artillery firing on Union steamers passing up and down the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville influenced the U.S. Navy to undertake a retaliatory attack. Rear Adm. David G. Farragut sent the town notice of his intentions and suggested that the citizens send the women and children away. He then anchored in front of the town and fired upon it with guns and mortars. Farragut also sent a detachment ashore that set fire to the hotels, wharf buildings, and the dwelling houses and other buildings of Capt. Phillippe Landry. Landry, thought to be the captain of the partisan unit, purportedly fired on the landing party during the raid. Some citizens protested the raid, but, generally, firing on Union ships ceased thereafter.