On this day, June 7, 1863, a small but brutal battle was fought at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana, a Federal outpost just upriver from the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Both sides brought about the same number of men to the battle, roughly 1500 on each side. Few had seen active combat. But the number of casualties compared to the number of men involved would be jarring, especially for the newly-recruited African American regiments. Union losses would total nearly 500 – almost one third of their starting force. The 9th Louisiana Infantry, African Descent, in particular, was decimated, losing 68% in killed, wounded and missing. The Confederate brigade of Texans under Brig. Gen. Henry McCulloch lost slightly under 200 men from all causes, or around 12%. Ultimately, the Union “African Brigade” along with a small contingent from the 23rd Iowa, held on to the riverbank by their fingernails, and the Confederate troops withdrew after coming under fire from two Union gunboats. Given the outcome, and the losses, who, then, won the battle?

Confederates claim victory

Most of the enlisted men as well as regimental commanders viewed Mlliken’s Bend as an unquestioned victory, despite having to yield the field. Their casualties, compared to Union losses, would also support this view. They had inflicted much greater losses upon their foe. Peter Gravis of the 16th Texas Infantry recalled, “We…turned loose our war dogs, and I tell you…they howled! We clubbed guns, bayoneted, cut with the sword, until the enemy fled helter, skelter.” (p. 91).

Gen. McCulloch also praised his men: “No charge was ever more gallantly made than this, and the enemy were … driven from the levee.” Interestingly enough, he also praised his foe: “This charge was resisted by the negro portion of the enemy’s force with considerable obstinancy.” 92

But McCulloch’s superiors were disappointed that the post was not taken. Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor insulted the Texans: “the officers and men of this division were possessed of a dread of gunboats such as pervaded our people at the start of the war.” Taylor thought the post could have been seized by 8 a.m. Clearly, Taylor saw it as a failure, not a victory.100

The Union claims victory

Exhausted and overwhelmed with casualties, the surviving Union soldiers breathed a sigh of relief when the Rebels withdrew. Without a doubt, most Yankees, both officers and enlisted men, saw the battle as a hard-fought, costly victory. Not only did Confederate forces withdraw, but perhaps more importantly, it was a moral victory, proving that former slaves could fight with courage and valor, despite inadequate training.

Col. Isaac Shepard declared: “What fight shows so grand a record? …I think there will be a future that will make this first regular battle against the blacks alone honorably historic.” Chaplain George G. Edwards declared: “This battle has significance. It demonstrates the fact that the freed slaves will fight. Our figures are our arguments that colored men will fight” calling the losses “mournfully brave.” The Chicago Tribune trumpeted Milliken’s Bend as the “crowning glory” of Negro troops in the war, thus far.

True victors

Although there is still debate to this day about whether it was a Southern or Union victory, I contend that Miliken’s Bend was a Union victory. The Confederates gained nothing by this battle. While the North and the Black troops of what would soon become the U.S. Colored Troops, gained credence and momentum, and praise. That alone does not make a “victory.” But the positive impact this small but severe engagement had on Union morale, and how it aided in recruiting efforts among the freedmen, and changed some Northern white’s opinions about using Black soldiers during the war marks it as a victory in my book. The true victors, in this case, were indeed the freedmen. The former slaves, now soldiers, proved their valor and won and secured their freedom on the levees that day. Pause to remember them today.

Source: Milliken’s Bend A Civil War Battle in History and Memory, pages: 91-92; 100; 209-210; 140.