The Battle of Georgia Landing or Battle of Labadieville[1] (October 27, 1862) was fought between a Union Army force led by Brigadier General Godfrey Weitzel and a Confederate States Army force commanded by Brigadier General Alfred Mouton near Labadieville, Assumption Parish, Louisiana, during the American Civil War.

The Capture of New Orleans was accomplished by a joint Army-Navy expedition led by Flag Officer David G. Farragut and Major General Butler.

[2] In June 1862, Brigadier General John W. Phelps, one of Butler's subordinates and an ardent abolitionist, began recruiting and training free and formerly enslaved African-Americans as soldiers.

However, by then Butler had warmed to the idea and formed two regiments of so-called Native Guards with white officers and Black enlisted men.

[3] A company of partisan rangers began firing on passing Union gunboats in the Mississippi River from Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

After allowing the inhabitants to evacuate, the gunboats opened fire on the town, then landing parties went ashore to burn down more buildings.

In early September, a Confederate force led by Brigadier General John G. Pratt set out to capture both garrisons.

The force consisted of the Terrebonne and St. Charles militias and a Texas-Louisiana partisan ranger battalion led by Major James A. McWaters[5] of the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry Regiment.

[8] Attempting to exploit his success, McWaters moved his rangers to St. Charles Court House where they were caught between two converging Union forces.

Most of McWaters' rangers escaped into the swamps, but the Federals killed 2, wounded 3, and captured 50 men, 300 horses, weapons, and equipment.

[10] Colonel Stephen Thomas with the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment and the 1st Native Guards marched from Algiers to Thibodaux along the railroad.

Colonel William G. Vincent[10] of the 2nd Louisiana Cavalry[6] withdrew his 850 Confederate defenders south to Napoleonville on Bayou Lafourche.

Weitzel left Colonel Richard Holcomb's 1st Louisiana to hold Donaldsonville and marched south on Bayou Lafourche with the rest of his troops in unseasonably cold weather.

At this time, Taylor was supervising the layout of defenses on the lower Red River and he did not become aware of the fighting until October 31.

[14] On October 26, Weitzel's force started early and marched down the left (east) bank Bayou Lafourche until 1 mi (1.6 km) from Napoleonville, where the Union troops camped in battle order.

Using the flatboats, Weitzel moved the 8th New Hampshire and some cavalry led by Lieutenant Solon A. Perkins to the right (west) bank.

Getting a report that Confederates were in considerable force ahead and that they had 6 artillery pieces, Weitzel formed the 75th New York, 13th Connecticut, and Thompson's battery in battle order on the left (east) bank.

Weitzel held back a rearguard of 2 companies of the 12th Connecticut, Williamson's cavalry, and 2 of Carruth's guns[19] (these were 12-pounder howitzers).

The Federals fired at will as they advanced, cursing at the top of their lungs, while Weitzel sat on his horse smoking a cigar.

[21] The 2nd Louisiana Cavalry started attacking the Union wagon train, but they pulled back after bumping into the 8th New Hampshire.

[25] On October 28, Mouton's force withdrew to Thibodaux where they burned the railroad depot, bridges, sugar, and other supplies before abandoning the place.

Some plantation owners took a pro-Union oath and were allowed to remain in the Lafourche district as long as they paid their former slaves a wage.

[28] On November 5, 1862, Weitzel wrote a letter to Butler refusing to assume command over the Native Guard regiments, in which he stated he had no confidence.