Fort St. Philip

Fort St. Philip. A historic masonry and earthwork coastal fortification located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Constructed by the United States Army in the early 19th century, it formed a critical defensive pair with Fort Jackson directly across the river, guarding the southern water approaches to New Orleans. The fort saw significant action during the War of 1812 and was a heavily contested site in the American Civil War.

History

The strategic significance of the site was first recognized by French colonists in the early 18th century, who established a small battery there. Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the United States government moved to solidify its defenses on the Mississippi River Delta. The first substantial American fort was built between 1792 and 1812, replacing earlier Spanish and French works. Throughout the antebellum period, the fort was garrisoned intermittently by United States Army units. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Louisiana state forces seized the fort in January 1861, and it was subsequently turned over to the Confederate States Army. After the war, it was reactivated by the U.S. Army and remained in intermittent use through the Endicott period of coastal defense modernization. It was officially declared surplus after World War II.

Construction and design

The original fort was a star-shaped masonry structure begun in the Jeffersonian era, similar in concept to contemporary forts like Fort McHenry. Major renovations and expansions occurred in the 1840s under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers, including the addition of a water battery and thicker walls. Its most transformative period came during the 1850s and early 1860s, when it was substantially rebuilt and enlarged with extensive earthen parapets and traverses to better withstand modern rifled artillery. This redesign was influenced by lessons from the Crimean War, particularly the siege of Sevastopol. The final form was an irregular pentagon with a central parade ground, featuring multiple tiers of cannon emplacements facing downriver.

Military engagements

The fort's first major combat test came during the final days of the War of 1812. In January 1815, a Royal Navy squadron under Captain John L. P. Gordon attempted to pass the fort to join forces with General Pakenham's army. A prolonged artillery duel, known as the Battle of Fort St. Philip, lasted for over a week, with the British fleet ultimately failing to silence the fort's guns. Its most famous engagement was during the American Civil War, as part of the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip in April 1862. A Union fleet under Flag Officer David Farragut, including powerful vessels like the USS Hartford, bombarded and then successfully ran past the Confederate-held fort, leading directly to the Capture of New Orleans.

Preservation and current status

The fort was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Unlike its counterpart Fort Jackson, it has not been developed as a major tourist attraction. Located on a remote, marshy peninsula accessible only by boat, the site is largely abandoned and in a state of stabilized ruin. Ownership is divided between the state and private interests. The masonry and earthen works are slowly succumbing to erosion from the Mississippi River, tropical storms like Hurricane Katrina, and subsidence. Various preservation studies have been conducted by organizations like the Louisiana Landmarks Society, but no large-scale restoration has been undertaken.

Notable commanders and personnel

During the War of 1812, the fort was commanded by Major Walter H. Overton. In the American Civil War, Confederate command fell to Brigadier General Johnson K. Duncan, who oversaw the river defenses. The garrison included soldiers from Louisiana units such as the Louisiana Tigers. Union forces that later occupied the fort included regiments of United States Colored Troops. In the late 19th century, a young Arthur MacArthur Jr., father of Douglas MacArthur, was stationed there. The fort's strategic importance was analyzed by military engineers like Joseph Gilbert Totten, a former Chief of Engineers.

Category:Forts in Louisiana Category:National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana Category:War of 1812 forts Category:American Civil War forts