This geocaching adventure challenges you to visit each of Louisiana's State Parks and Historic Sites. Each State Park and Historic Site has a unique special mission with a story to tell, and offers its own very special geocaching adventure for you to experience. Each of these facilities has an official Geo Project cache, containing a special clue for you to find and record. These clues collectively will enable you to determine the coordinates of the mystery location of the Final Cache, which is located somewhere in the state of Louisiana. Use this Official LAOSP Clue Tracking Sheet to record all your clues.
As you travel our fine state, we encourage you to upload photos of your travels on the geocaching.com web pages. However, we ask that you please do not log clues or spoilers to the caches...they would have to be deleted to keep the game fun for everyone! Do tell us all about your travels and what you liked best about our parks and historic sites. As an extra incentive, and for a limited time, you can earn a Louisiana State Park Geocoin for visiting all of our State Parks and Historic Sites, and finding all the official geocaches placed for your pleasure! Prizes are limited to the supply in hand and will not be replenished.
Before you hunt for your first cache, click this link to read the rules for the Geo Project * Louisiana Office of State Parks. You must follow all the rules, to qualify to win one of these great prizes and collectibles.
This cache was place by the geocachers of Louisiana, on behalf of the Louisiana Office of State Parks. It is designed to bring your attention to these beautiful State Parks and Historic Sites. We ask that you join us by visiting them whenever you get a chance. Our State Park system is a great resource, so remember to "cache in and trash out".
Congratulations to Northstarrx FTF!
Mansfield State Historic Site
15149 Highway 175, Mansfield, LA 71052
318-872-1474 or 888-677-6267 toll free
Email: mansfield@crt.la.gov
Directions: The site is located in DeSoto Parish, four miles south of the town of Mansfield on LA 175. Exit I-49 to the town of Mansfield and follow LA 175 south. GPS Coordinates: N 32 0.5939, W 93 39.9331.
Hours of Operation:Wednesday - Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Entrance Fees: $4 per person; free for seniors (62 and over) and for children age 12 and under. Groups are asked to call in advance.
Golden Age & Golden Access Passports (Available through the National Park Service. Click here for more information)
Visitors who hold a Golden Age or Golden Access Passport are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport).
It is recommended that anyone attempting the State Park Geo Project series should consider getting the Louisiana State Parks' $80 Annual Park Pass, which is valid for day use at all sites for the duration of a calendar year (i.e., January through December), and can be purchased at any state park. All people accompanying a permit holder as occupants of a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, in which the permit holder is a passenger or driver, are included in the Annual Pass admission.
Trails at Mansfield State Historic Site:
- 3/4-mile Battlefield Trail
With the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson in July 1863, the Mississippi River was entirely controlled by the Union. President Lincoln and his staff decided that the capture of Texas and the Trans-Mississippi headquarters at Shreveport, Louisiana, would be the next objective. The Union surmised that a successful Red River campaign would accomplish several important goals, from the confiscation of cotton to preventing French-Mexican forces from providing supplies and support to the Confederate troops.
Like many important battles, the Mansfield-Pleasant Hill engagement was actually a series of encounters taking place over several days. After a two-hour cavalry fight with Union forces near Wilson's Farm on April 7, 1864, Confederate commander General Richard Taylor (son of President Zachary Taylor) elected to defend a site about four miles south of Mansfield, now the location of the state historic site. General N.P. Banks did not expect the Confederates to fight until he reached Shreveport, so the Union army became stretched out along the narrow road leading to Mansfield. This allowed Taylor to deal with his opponents on more equal terms since the Confederate troops were heavily outnumbered.
At noon on April 8, the head of the disorganized Union army (6,400 troops) was confronted by the Confederate army (10,500 troops) in battle formation. The Union troops quickly formed a line of battle along a rail fence and a ridge known as Honeycutt Hill. On orders from Taylor, General Alfred Mouton's Division charged the rail fence. Mouton was killed leading the attack, but French born General C. J. Polignac, along with other Confederate forces, continued the attack and overwhelmed the Union line.
Two miles to the south, another 6,500 Union troops formed a defensive position at Chapman's Bayou and held this location until dark. During the night the defeated Union forces fell back to Pleasant Hill. On April 9, the fierce Battle of Pleasant Hill was fought, with both sides taking heavy losses and withdrawing from the field after dark. By turning back Union forces at this time, the Confederates were able to prevent complete Union control of Louisiana and stop progression of the war into Texas. In fact, the Confederate victory at Mansfield may have prolonged the war by several months.
In 1973, this State Historic Site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, an honorary designation for significant historical sites. Through living history events, exhibits, battle reenactments and interpretive programs, Mansfield State Historic Site allows visitors to travel back to the unrest of the Civil War years. Watch for musket demonstrations, candlelight tours of the battlefield and other exciting events scheduled throughout the year.
The Friends of the Mansfield Battlefield organization supports the preservation efforts of the Office of State Parks. For more information visit www.mansfieldbattlefield.org.
Your Clues to this Cache...
Placed by Northwest Louisiana Geocachers.
The Soldiers Hidden Treasure...
Medium ziploc camo container
Contents - Log & Pin, Heart Charm, Post it notes, shampoo, Key Cord & FTF CARD.
A two step multi, easy enough said and done. Be sure and go through the Interpretive Center for more interesting information on the park. The park personnel are all up to date on the workings of this cache, so if you can't figure it out, ask and they will assist you on your way....
Please don't enter the park after hours.