Fort St. Philip
Encyclopedia
Fort St. Philip is a decommissioned masonry fort located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River
, about 40 miles (64.4 km) up river from its mouth in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
. It formerly served as military protection of New Orleans, Louisiana
, some 80 miles (128.7 km) up river, and the lower Mississippi.
The first fort on this location "San Felipe", was constructed in the 18th century during the Spanish
control of Louisiana
.
The fort served a role in protecting the United States
from the British
invasion in the War of 1812
, seeing 9 days of battle
in January 1815, the 9th to the 18th.
Specifically, an action against British Navy vessels attempting to attack or bypass the fort.
The current fort was constructed along with Fort Jackson on the river's western bank as a coastal defense for New Orleans and the Mississippi, on urging of Andrew Jackson
.
The fort was the site of a twelve-day siege
in April 1862 by the Union army during the American Civil War
.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1960.
In the 1930s the fort was used as a tanning factory. This explains the old railroad tracks and fire hydrants.
From 1978 through 1989 the fort complex served as the site of an intentional, nonsectarian spiritual community called Velaashby, named by conjoining the surnames the original and subsequent private property owners respectively. The community members numbered as many as 16 at any one time and were known as the Christos family. They lived in four buildings—three two-story officers quarters and an officers club—that remained from the re-fortification of the site during the 1898 Spanish-American War.
Fort St. Philip remains privately owned and in a state of bad deterioration. It was heavily damaged in hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
According to the National Park Service, the owner reported that only the original brick fort and the concrete structures from the time of the Spanish-American War remain.
The site is accessible only by boat or helicopter, and following erosion of the small levee is now subject to flooding during high water levels of the Mississippi River.
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...
, about 40 miles (64.4 km) up river from its mouth 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 formerly served as military protection of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, some 80 miles (128.7 km) up river, and the lower Mississippi.
The first fort on this location "San Felipe", was constructed in the 18th century during the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
control of Louisiana
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...
.
The fort served a role in protecting the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
invasion in 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...
, seeing 9 days of battle
Siege of Fort St. Philip (1815)
The Siege of Fort St. Philip was a battle during the War of 1812, between a British naval force and the American garrison of Fort St. Philip. The siege lasted from January 9 to January 18, 1815 just after the British defeat at New Orleans.-Background:...
in January 1815, the 9th to the 18th.
Specifically, an action against British Navy vessels attempting to attack or bypass the fort.
The current fort was constructed along with Fort Jackson on the river's western bank as a coastal defense for New Orleans and the Mississippi, on urging 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...
.
The fort was the site of a twelve-day siege
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...
in April 1862 by the Union army 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...
.
It was declared 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...
in 1960.
In the 1930s the fort was used as a tanning factory. This explains the old railroad tracks and fire hydrants.
From 1978 through 1989 the fort complex served as the site of an intentional, nonsectarian spiritual community called Velaashby, named by conjoining the surnames the original and subsequent private property owners respectively. The community members numbered as many as 16 at any one time and were known as the Christos family. They lived in four buildings—three two-story officers quarters and an officers club—that remained from the re-fortification of the site during the 1898 Spanish-American War.
Fort St. Philip remains privately owned and in a state of bad deterioration. It was heavily damaged in hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
According to the National Park Service, the owner reported that only the original brick fort and the concrete structures from the time of the Spanish-American War remain.
The site is accessible only by boat or helicopter, and following erosion of the small levee is now subject to flooding during high water levels of the Mississippi River.
External links
- First Siege of Fort St. Philip (1815) — eyewitness accounts, as published in the Louisiana Historical Quarterly.
- Second Siege of Fort St. Philip (1862) — Chapter 15 of Kendall's History of New Orleans