Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Monette's Ferry, April 23, 1864. While the actual affair turned into little more than a minor inconvience for the retreating Federals, the question is, could it have been more?

Even with his small force, about 5,000 effectives, could Taylor have shown enough resistence to convince Banks that retreat was impossible and forced a surrender? There is some evidence, that after Dwight's brigade was repulsed by Bee at the heights, and the reports from the cavalry that the Confederates were entrenched along the ridge, Banks offered as a possibility surrendering the army. Naturally, most of his officers balked at that notion, and I doubt that A.J. Smith would have surrendered his corps without a stiff fight first. But, was it a possibility?

Secondly, what if Taylor had retained all the troops he had with him at Pleasant Hill and could have brought another major engagement before Banks had reached Alexandria, could that have been enough to alter history, at least a little?

Thoughts?