Fort Beauregard facts for kids

Fort Beauregard was an important fort during the American Civil War. It was built in 1862 by the Confederate army. The fort was located near Harrisonburg, in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. It was one of four forts that protected the Ouachita River from attacks. In 1863, four Union gunboats tried to capture it, but they were not successful.

Why Fort Beauregard Was Important

Fort Beauregard was built on a hill. This hill overlooked the Ouachita River. It was one of the only places where the land was high enough to place cannons near the river. This meant the fort could control who traveled on the water.

Controlling the river was very important. It was the main way to get to Monroe. Monroe was a key city for the Confederates in Northeast Louisiana. Because of its location, Fort Beauregard became the most important fort in the entire Ouachita River Valley. It was like a key that unlocked the whole area.

The Attack on Fort Beauregard

On May 10, 1863, four Union gunboats arrived. They were led by Commodore Selim E. Woodworth. The Union forces first sent a boat with a white flag. This meant they wanted to talk. Lieutenant William W. Fowler from the Union side demanded that the fort surrender.

However, the Confederate commander, Lieutenant Colonel George W. Logan, refused. He sent his own officers to meet the Union boat. He told them to say, "we would hold the fort forever." After the Union boat left, three of their gunboats started firing. They shot about 150 cannonballs at the fort. One Confederate officer was hurt, and some parts of the fort were damaged. One house in the nearby town was also destroyed. But the Union forces could not take the fort.

Why the Fort Was Left Behind

Later that year, on September 4, 1863, the Confederates decided to leave Fort Beauregard. They destroyed the fort themselves. This was because a very large Union army was coming. Generals M.M. Crocker and Walter Q. Gresham were leading this big army. They were marching from Natchez. The Confederates knew they could not hold the fort against such a large force. So, they destroyed it to keep the Union from using it.

Fort Beauregard Today

Today, Fort Beauregard is open to the public. People can visit the site. In recent years, there have been several re-enactments of Civil War battles there. These events help people learn about history. There were once plans to build an amusement park on the site, but that did not happen. For a while, there were also small shops, but they have moved. Plans for more re-enactments are being made for the future.