Cannon and rifle fire reverberated through the quiet village of Pleasant Hill April 9-10 as the Union and Confederate armies clashed in one of the battles of Union General Nathan P. Banks’ Red River Campaign. Unlike the actual battle in 1864, the cannon and rifle fire did not result in a storm of lead and steel and the casualties “resurrected” after the battle was over.
Friday, April 9, marked the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Pleasant Hill. The first re-enactment was held in 1964 on the 100th anniversary of the battle. After a hiatus of several years, the re-enactment went on to become a beloved tradition held on the anniversary of the battle. This year’s re-enactment is the 42nd one. The Battle of Pleasant Hill re-enactment is one of only a few in that it commemorates a specific battle and takes place on the actual battlefield. The site is about 3 miles from the modern site of the Village of Pleasant Hill. This year’s re-enactment featured approximately 350 participants from Louisiana and surrounding states, and from as far away as Iowa and Florida.
Friday featured an open camp held for local educators so school groups could come and learn about life in the Civil War era. Saturday and Sunday each featured battles fought before a large crowd of visitors as well as the Battle of Pleasant Hill Queen, court and a contingent of festival and pageant queens from across Louisiana. Young men from Jennings’ Trail Life Troop 1273 raised the flag in the opening ceremony.
There was also a period church service Sunday as well as a memorial luminaria ceremony commemorating the soldiers who fell in the battle of Pleasant Hill.
2020-2022 Miss Battle of Pleasant Hill Queens: 2022 Battle Queens Baby Miss- Florence Rivers Toddler Miss- Raelee Stockton T’nincy Miss- Tynslee Ezernack Little Miss- Emma Kojis Deb Miss- Lexie Jones Jr. Miss- Haven Marr Miss- Landri Leach, 2020-21 Teen Miss Battle- Annabelle Bagley, Miss-Autumn Palmer
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