Port Hudson State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Hudson State Historic Site |
|
|---|---|
 Port Hudson State Historic Site
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana |
| Nearest city | Jackson, Louisiana |
| Governing body | Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism; Office of State Parks |
|
Port Hudson
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002349 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
The Port Hudson State Historic Site is a special place in Louisiana. It's located near the Mississippi River, north of Baton Rouge. This site helps us remember an important part of the American Civil War.
From May 23 to July 9, 1863, Port Hudson was the site of the longest siege in American history. A siege is when an army surrounds a place to cut off supplies and force a surrender. Today, you can visit the site to see old forts, cannons, and learn about the battle. There's also a museum and special events where people act out history. Port Hudson is also famous because it was one of the first places where African-American soldiers fought for the Union Army. They even had African-American leaders.
Contents
Exploring the Historic Site
The Port Hudson State Historic Site is found north of the small town of Port Hudson. It sits on a high area of land, about 65 to 80 feet (20 to 24 meters) above the nearby creeks. This high ground with its twisting, steep hills made it a perfect spot for soldiers to defend.
The Union Army dug in their positions on this high ground. The Confederate soldiers set up their defenses just southwest of Foster Creek. These were just a small part of the many forts and trenches that surrounded the whole area. There were even cannons overlooking the mighty Mississippi River.
The site has grown over time. An extra 256 acres (1.04 square kilometers) were added to help protect more of this historic battlefield. This was made possible by groups like The Conservation Fund.
About 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the site is the Port Hudson National Cemetery. Many soldiers who died during the siege are buried there.
The Great Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson was a big part of the Union Army's plan to control the entire Mississippi River. This river was like a highway for moving supplies and troops. The siege lasted from May 22 to July 9, 1863.
Union forces were led by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks. The Confederate General Franklin Gardner finally surrendered. This happened after he learned that another important Confederate stronghold, Vicksburg, Mississippi, had also fallen to the Union.
African-American Soldiers in Battle
A very important moment happened on May 27, 1863. General Banks ordered two units made up entirely of African-American soldiers to attack the Confederate lines. These were the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guards. These units were special because they were among the first to have African-American leaders in the field.
Some people in the Union Army wondered how these new units would perform. But the soldiers proved themselves bravely. They charged three times, getting as close as 50 feet (15 meters) from the Confederate cannons. Even though they were pushed back, they fought well.
The overall attack plan didn't work out as General Banks hoped. It was a bit messy and not well-organized. The African-American units suffered many losses: 37 killed, 155 wounded, and 116 missing out of just over 1,000 men. They stayed on the battlefield until they were told to retreat late in the afternoon. Their bravery helped show that African-American soldiers could fight just as well as any others.
Honoring Fallen Soldiers
In 1997, a special ceremony was held at Port Hudson. It was to honor all the soldiers who died during the siege. People dressed as Civil War soldiers and modern military members took part. They escorted a wooden coffin holding the remains of soldiers from both sides.
After the ceremony, the coffin was buried under a tall stone monument. These remains were found during an archaeological study that started in 1987. This study helped confirm that soldiers' graves were at the historic cemetery. They even found buttons from Union and Confederate uniforms. One Union soldier was found with eagle buttons and signs of a close-range gunshot wound.
The monument has a plaque that reads:
Port Hudson Peace Monument
Re-Interred May 27, 1997
Two Soldiers
One Federal
One Confederate
Discovering History Through Archaeology
Students from Louisiana State University have done archaeological surveys at Port Hudson. One survey focused on Union Siege Battery 8. A battery is a place where cannons are set up.
The students wanted to find the exact edges of this battery. They also looked for signs of a "zigzag trench," or sap. Historical records say Union troops dug these trenches from the battery very close to the Confederate lines. This project also created a digital map of the area. This map helps park staff compare the land today with old maps from the 1860s.
Battery 8 is located in the northeast part of the Union Siege lines, as you can see on the 1864 map.
Gallery
- Port Hudson State Historic Site
-
Confederate siege gun mounted in the river fortifications, 1863.
-
View of Fort Desperate from the observation tower.
-
Outside the Fort Desperate earthworks looking west.
-
Fort Desperate, July 1863.
-
Foster Creek below Artillery Ridge looking west toward Fort Babcock.
-
Foster Creek west of the Alabama-Arkansas Redoubt looking north toward Artillery Ridge.
-
Captain Bainbridge's Battery A, 1st U.S. Artillery, 1863.
-
US Army 20-Pounder Parrott Rifle Model 1861.
