On May 1, 1863, 8,000 Confederate troops led by Brigadier Gen. John S. Bowen fought 24,000 Federals under Major Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Purpose of the 18-hour engagement was to prevent Federal forces from gaining a foothold on the Mississippi side of the River. Bowen was not successful and withdrew across Bayou Pierre and Little Bayou Pierre, burning bridges after crossing. The site of the battle was listed on the National Register on 3 November 1972, with 2,080 acres of land. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on 5 April 2005, as a larger area of approximately 3,400 acres of land. Components of the NHL property include the Shaifer House (021-PGB-5101-NHLE-ML), the site of the (Old) Magnolia Church (021-PGB-5102-NHLE-S), and Shaifer Road (021-PGB-5103-NHLE-ML). |