Driskill Mountain
Encyclopedia
Driskill Mountain is the highest natural summit in Louisiana
with an elevation of 535 feet (163 m) above sea level. It lies about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) southeast of Bryceland, Louisiana
. It is located in the northeast corner of Sec. 32, T. 17 N., R. 5 W. at 32° 25′ 29.32″ N 92° 53′ 47.90″ W (WGS84) within Bienville Parish
. Although the word mountain is in its name, Driskill Mountain is actually a tall hill. Its elevation is below the level considered to be a mountain.
Driskill Mountain is a landform created by the erosion of unlithified Paleogene
sediment
. Its summit consists of nonmarine quartz sands of the Cockfield Formation. These sands overlie shallow marine and coastal clays, silts, and sands of the Cook Mountain Formation, which form the bulk of Driskill Mountain.
James Christopher Driskill, the person for whom Driskill Mountain was named, was born in Hancock County
, Georgia
, on June 27, 1817. In 1840, he married the former Eugenia Irwin Walker. In October 1859, Driskill sold his land in Troup County
, Georgia, and moved his family, which by then consisted of his wife, eight boys, and one girl to Louisiana. By December 1859, Driskill had purchased in Louisiana 324 acres (1.3 km²), which included Driskill Mountain. During the American Civil War
, Driskill served in the Home Guard. His eldest son, William B. Driskill, was killed in action at the Battle of the Wilderness
in Virginia on May 5, 1864. Another one of his sons, James B. Driskill, disappeared after he had left Louisiana to fight in the Civil War. Except for one son and daughter, Driskill's family remained in Bienville Parish, and his descendents still live in the area.
One may walk the trail to the top and sign the logbook located in an army box. A large pile of rocks
marks the high point.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
with an elevation of 535 feet (163 m) above sea level. It lies about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) southeast of Bryceland, Louisiana
Bryceland, Louisiana
Bryceland is a village in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 114 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bryceland is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of...
. It is located in the northeast corner of Sec. 32, T. 17 N., R. 5 W. at 32° 25′ 29.32″ N 92° 53′ 47.90″ W (WGS84) within Bienville Parish
Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752....
. Although the word mountain is in its name, Driskill Mountain is actually a tall hill. Its elevation is below the level considered to be a mountain.
Driskill Mountain is a landform created by the erosion of unlithified Paleogene
Paleogene
The Paleogene is a geologic period and system that began 65.5 ± 0.3 and ended 23.03 ± 0.05 million years ago and comprises the first part of the Cenozoic Era...
sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
. Its summit consists of nonmarine quartz sands of the Cockfield Formation. These sands overlie shallow marine and coastal clays, silts, and sands of the Cook Mountain Formation, which form the bulk of Driskill Mountain.
James Christopher Driskill, the person for whom Driskill Mountain was named, was born in Hancock County
Hancock County, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, on June 27, 1817. In 1840, he married the former Eugenia Irwin Walker. In October 1859, Driskill sold his land in Troup County
Troup County, Georgia
Troup County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 67,044. The county seat is LaGrange.-History:...
, Georgia, and moved his family, which by then consisted of his wife, eight boys, and one girl to Louisiana. By December 1859, Driskill had purchased in Louisiana 324 acres (1.3 km²), which included Driskill Mountain. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Driskill served in the Home Guard. His eldest son, William B. Driskill, was killed in action at the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
in Virginia on May 5, 1864. Another one of his sons, James B. Driskill, disappeared after he had left Louisiana to fight in the Civil War. Except for one son and daughter, Driskill's family remained in Bienville Parish, and his descendents still live in the area.
One may walk the trail to the top and sign the logbook located in an army box. A large pile of rocks
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
marks the high point.