Fort Jackson, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Fort Jackson is a decommissioned masonry fort located some 40 miles (64.4 km) up river from the mouth of the Mississippi River
in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
. It was constructed as a coastal defense of New Orleans between 1822 and 1832, and was a battle site in the American Civil War
. It is a National Historic Landmark
. It was damaged in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and its condition is threatened.
Fort Jackson is situated approximately 70 miles (112.7 km) south of New Orleans on the western bank of the Mississippi, approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Triumph, Louisiana
. The older Fort St. Philip
is located opposite of Fort Jackson on the eastern bank; this West Bank fort was constructed after the War of 1812
on the advice of Andrew Jackson
, for whom it is named.
The fort was occupied off and on for various military purposes from its completion until after World War I
, when it served as a training station. It is now a National Historic Landmark
and historical museum owned and operated by Plaquemines Parish.
Fort Jackson was the site of the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
from April 16 to April 28, 1862, during the American Civil War
. The Confederate
-controlled fort was besieged for 12 days by the fleet of U.S. Navy Flag Officer David Farragut
. Fort Jackson fell on April 28 after the Union
fleet bombarded it and then sailed past its guns. A mutiny against the officers and conditions then occurred and the fort fell to the Union. Union forces then went on to capture New Orleans.
Following the engagement, Fort Jackson was used as a Union prison. It was here that the French Champagne magnate Charles Heidsieck
was held for seven months on charges of spying.
in 1960. It has been owned by Plaquemines Parish since 1962. In the 1960s, Leander Perez
threatened to turn it into a prison for any hippie
s and advocates of desegregation
who entered the Parish. The fort site was later opened as a park.
The fort was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina
's storm surge
in 2005. Between Katrina and Hurricane Rita
the following month, much of the fort sat under water for up to six weeks. Many of the historic exhibits in the fort were destroyed, and the fort itself suffered structural damage.
The fort was used to treat oily birds in the early weeks of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
. The treatment facility was moved on July 4, 2010, to Hammond, Louisiana
, in order to make it less vulnerable to hurricanes.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Plaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe à la Hache...
. It was constructed as a coastal defense of New Orleans between 1822 and 1832, and was a battle site in 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...
. It is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. It was damaged in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and its condition is threatened.
Triumph, Louisiana
Triumph is an unincorporated community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located on the south bank of the Mississippi River....
. The older Fort St. Philip
Fort St. Philip
Fort St. Philip is a decommissioned masonry fort located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, about up river from its mouth in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana...
is located opposite of Fort Jackson on the eastern bank; this West Bank fort was constructed after the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
on the advice of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, for whom it is named.
The fort was occupied off and on for various military purposes from its completion until after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when it served as a training station. It is now a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and historical museum owned and operated by Plaquemines Parish.
Fort Jackson was the site of the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
The Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip was the decisive battle for possession of New Orleans in the American Civil War. The two Confederate forts on the Mississippi River south of the city were attacked by a Union Navy fleet...
from April 16 to April 28, 1862, 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...
. The Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
-controlled fort was besieged for 12 days by the fleet of U.S. Navy Flag Officer David Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
. Fort Jackson fell on April 28 after the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
fleet bombarded it and then sailed past its guns. A mutiny against the officers and conditions then occurred and the fort fell to the Union. Union forces then went on to capture New Orleans.
Following the engagement, Fort Jackson was used as a Union prison. It was here that the French Champagne magnate Charles Heidsieck
Charles Heidsieck
Charles Camille Heidsieck was a 19th-century French Champagne merchant who founded the Champagne firm Charles Heidsieck in 1851. He is credited with popularizing Champagne in the United States and was known as "Champagne Charlie" during his stay...
was held for seven months on charges of spying.
Modern times
The fort was declared a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1960. It has been owned by Plaquemines Parish since 1962. In the 1960s, Leander Perez
Leander Perez
Leander Henry Perez, Sr. , was the Democratic political boss of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes in southeastern Louisiana during the middle third of the 20th century. Officially, he served as a district judge, later as district attorney, and as president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission...
threatened to turn it into a prison for any hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
s and advocates of desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
who entered the Parish. The fort site was later opened as a park.
The fort was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
's storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
in 2005. Between Katrina and Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
the following month, much of the fort sat under water for up to six weeks. Many of the historic exhibits in the fort were destroyed, and the fort itself suffered structural damage.
The fort was used to treat oily birds in the early weeks of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
. The treatment facility was moved on July 4, 2010, to Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
, in order to make it less vulnerable to hurricanes.