under political pressure to show progress, banks embarked on operations to secure a route that bypassed port hudson via the red river in late march. he was eventually able to reach alexandria, louisiana, but stiff resistance from the smaller forces of confederate general richard taylor meant he did not get there until early may. his army seized thousands of bales of cotton, and banks claimed to have interrupted supplies to confederate forces further east. during these operations admiral farragut turned command of the naval forces assisting banks over to david porter, with whom banks had a difficult and prickly relationship.