Simmesport Map
Simmesport is a town in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,239 at the 2000 census.
During the American Civil War, Union General Nathaniel P. Banks was superseded in command by E.R.S. Canby. U.S. Grant had sought Banks' removal for months, but U.S. President Abraham Lincoln would not dismiss Bankis, who had strong political support in the U.S. Congress. On May 18, 1864, Canby took over the command in Simmesport, but Banks retained the nominal title of commander of the Department of the Gulf. Historian John D. Winters in The Civil War in Louisiana writes that the failure of the Union's Red River campaign "could largely be laid at Banks' door, but there were many who shared in this failure."
Simmesport is located at 30°59?1?N 91°48?45?W / 30.98361°N 91.8125°W / 30.98361; -91.8125 (30.983485, ?91.812590).
Nearby cities include Plaucheville, Moreauville, Cottonport, Mansura, Evergreen.