The Louisiana state historic site commemorates the Battle of Mansfield fought on Friday, April 8, 1864, during the Red River Campaign of the American Civil War.

In early 1864, during the American Civil War, Union leadership planned a joint Army-Navy drive up the Red River of the South in Confederate-held Louisiana.

It was hoped that Union military presence in the area would prevent collaboration between the Confederacy and the French, who had begun intervening in Mexico; expand Union political control in the region; and provide cotton, at that time a valuable commodity, to business interests in New England.

Leading elements of Banks's army made contact with the Confederates and deployed into an angled line, setting the stage for the Battle of Mansfield.

Taylor ordered an assault at around 4:00 pm, and the Confederate forces attacked over the clearing, suffering heavy casualties in the process.

[4] The Union forces continued to withdraw, pursued by some of Taylor's men, but Banks's army and Porter's fleet were able to escape.

By that time, the UDC had expanded the park to 44 acres (18 ha), and three additional monuments (to Taylor and two Confederate officers killed in the battle) had been placed.

Funding issues had resulted in the UDC being unable to provide their desired level of maintenance, and attempts to make the site a national park had failed.

[18] On April 13, 1973, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Mansfield Battle Park.

[27] Living history events, such as musket demonstrations and soldier's gear talks, as well as other activities are sometimes held at the park.