Nerson's Woods, Franklin Civil War Louisiana American Civil War
April 14, 1863 While the other two Union XIX Army Corps
divisions comprising the expedition into West Louisiana moved
across Berwick Bay towards Fort Bisland, Brigadier General
Cuvier Grover's division went up the Atchafalaya River into
Grand Lake, intending to intercept a Confederate retreat from
Fort Bisland or turn the enemy's position. On the morning of
April 13, the division landed in the vicinity of Franklin and
scattered Rebel troops attempting to stop them from
disembarking. That night, Grover ordered the division to cross
Bayou Teche and prepare for an attack towards Franklin at dawn.
In the meantime, Confederate Major General Richard Taylor had
sent some men to meet Grover's threat. On the morning of the
14th, Taylor and his men were at Nerson's Woods, around a mile
and a half above Franklin. As Grover's lead brigade marched out
a few miles, it encountered Rebels on its right and began
skirmishing with them. The fighting became intense;