Naval War College

The Red River Campaign of 1864 Naval War College

THE UNION'S RED RIVER OPERATIONS DURING THE SPRING OF' 1864 ARE ANALYZED IN THE CONTEXT OF OPERATIONAL DOCTRINE AND THE PRINCIPLES OF WAR. THE MOVEMENTS OF BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE FORCES ARE DESCRIBED AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL. TACTICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS BATTLES AND ENGAGEMENTS ARE DETAILED ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO DESCRIBE THE OPERATIONAL MOVEMENTS. MAJOR GENERAL HALLECK OF THE UNION ARMY CONFIGURED A FATALLY FLAWED OPERATION ON THE RED RIVER TO SEIZE SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA. MAJOR GENERAL BANKS EXECUTED THAT OPERATION WITH TOTAL DISREGARD FOR AT LEAST SEVEN OF THE U. S. ARMY'S NINE PRINCIPLES OF WAR. THE COMBINATION OF FLAWED OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND DISREGARD FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF WAR ALLOWED AN OVERWHELMINGLY SUPERIOR UNION FORCE TO BE DEFEATED.