Eastern Louisiana

(Florida Parishes)

Last Update: 20/JULY/2025

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2025 American Forts Network

NOTE: For ease of reference, this page includes sites on both sides of the Mississippi River between Torras (Red River Landing) and Eliza/Morrisonville, and on both sides of Bayou Manchac and Pass Manchac between the Mississippi River and Lake Maurepas. The "Florida Parishes" were once a part of British and later Spanish West Florida Province from 1763 until 1810. This region was not included in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase by the United States.

Fort of the Colapissas
(1740s ?), near Slidell ?
A Colapissa Indian fortified settlement (with a circular palisade) following raids by the Chickasaw Indians. Located somewhere on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, near the Rigolets.

Camp Mandeville
(1861 - 1864), Mandeville
A Confederate camp from mid-summer 1861 to April 1862. Union troops encamped here after that time until at least March 1864.

Fort Oak
(1813 - 1815), near Houltonville
An American military encampment located at Post Oak Landing, on the east side of the Tchefuncta River just above Madisonville. Also known as Camp Tchefuncta (2) (various spellings). Established in September 1813 to protect the new Navy Yard just upriver, originally with a detachment of U.S. Marines manning a shore battery. Later occupied by U.S. Army and/or state militia troops, abandoned in March 1815. Site now located within Fairview-Riverside State Park.

Post at Madisonville Navy Yard
(1814 - 1815), near Houltonville
An Army headquarters post for the U.S. 7th Military District, and also for the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment, established in June-July 1814 at the Madisonville (Tchefuncta) Navy Yard, located on the east bank of the Tchefuncta River at "Beau Chęne", about two miles north of Madisonville, and just downriver from the mouth of Bayou Tęte L'Ours. Also sometimes referred to as Camp Tchefuncta (3). Troops were withdrawn in March 1815. The Navy Yard was officially shut down in 1823.

Camp at Madisonville
(1862, 1864), Madisonville
A Confederate camp during April-May 1862. Union troops were later here in February 1864, where they erected defensive earthworks around the town. Traces of these works are still located on Johnson Street between 2nd and 9th Streets.

Camp Covington (1)
(1817 - 1818), Covington
A temporary Army infantry encampment and supply depot serving the lower end of the Jackson Military Road between Madisonville, LA and Nashville, TN. Also sometimes referred to as Fort Covington.

Camp Covington (2)
(1862), Covington
A temporary CSA encampment used at various times by various units, between March and October 1862.

Camp Slocum
(1862), Covington
A CSA camp (July-October 1862) for Mounted Rangers located at or near the town.

Camp Caffery
(1898), near Covington
A Spanish-American War muster camp (May-June 1898) for the state militia located on the Tchefuncta River about one mile northwest of town.
This may or may not be the same as Camp Covington (3).

Camp Blanchard (2)
(1904), Covington
A Louisiana National Guard summer encampment (August 1904) on the Bogue Falaya River about one and one-half miles north of town.

Cantonment on the Little Bogue Falaya River
(1812, 1818), near Covington
An Army construction camp on the Jackson Military Road, about four or five miles northeast of the city, on the east bank below the river's junction with the East Fork Little Bogue Falaya River. Barracks and Officers' quarters had been built here in 1812, but the camp was left empty before the end of that year, and apparently not re-occupied until 1818. A sawmill site used for the road construction was located just north of the camp. Modern LA Highway 21 generally follows the route through this section.

Post / Cantonment at St. Tammany
(1812), near Covington ?
A U.S. Army post (June-July 1812) located in St. Tammany Parish, probably on the Tchefuncta River, or possibly the Bogue Falaya River, somewhere near Covington. Possibly also known as Post on Tchefuncta (1) (June-July 1812). This could be a separate post from, or an alternate name for, the 1812 camp on the Little Bogue Falaya River (see above).

U.S. troops were also reported to be at a Camp Tchefuncta (4) in July 1815. This could be at any one of the various so-named camps in this area.

Camp at Jacksonville
(1819), near Bogalusa
An Army construction camp on the Jackson Military Road at Jacksonville, a former village once located on Bogue Lusa Creek about four miles west of Bogalusa, west of Ben's Creek. This may be the same site as Camp Woolford (December 1819), located at Jacksonville Springs on Bogue Lusa Creek.

Camp at Washington Field
(1814), near Enon, Washington Parish
A Louisiana state militia camp, possibly on Warner's Creek.

Tangipahoa River Blockhouse
(1766), Tangipahoa Parish
A British military-operated Indian Factory (government-run trading post) with a blockhouse (with 50 men) was planned for somewhere on the Tangipahoa River for controlling the Choctaw-New Orleans Indian trade. It is unclear if it was actually built. Location unknown.

Camp May
(1897), Hammond
A Louisiana National Guard training camp (July 1897) located three-fourths of one mile northwest of town at the old fairgrounds.

Camp Simonton
(1863), Ponchatoula
A CSA camp (April 1863) located at the town, different from Camp Ruggles.

Camp Ruggles
(1862 - 1863), near Ponchatoula
A CSA camp (July 1862 - April 1863) located near town, possibly north of town on Ponchatoula Creek. Possibly the same as Camp at Ponchatoula (October 1862).

Camp Wheat
(1863), near Ponchatoula
A Confederate camp (April 1863) near town.

Fort at Bookter's Landing
(1810), Springfield
A settlers' stockade (October 1810) at Bookter's Landing on the west bank of the Natalbany River, built by those opposed to the West Florida rebellion against the Spanish. Also known as Fort Ferdinand, for the Spanish king. Apparently the settlers here were rather quickly persuaded to join the rebellion, standing down only a week or two after constructing the stockade. The town was incorporated and renamed in 1838.

Camp Baptiste
(1865), Livingston Parish
A CSA temporary scout encampment (April 1865) near the Blood River. Exact location unknown.

Camp Pulaski
(1861), Amite
A CSA training camp (June-August 1861) for the Louisiana Polish Brigade. Exact location uncertain, but near the town, probably a short distance north and about one mile from the Tangipahoa River. Possibly also known as Camp at Amite City.

Camp Moore (Cemetery and Confederate Museum)
(1861 - 1864), Tangipahoa
A major Confederate training and muster camp for the state. It replaced the overcrowded Camp Walker in New Orleans in May 1861. Also known as the East Louisiana Camp of Instruction, and sometimes as Camp Tangipahoa. Located along the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroad, between the railroad and the river, and north of Beaver Creek. After the fall of Baton Rouge to the Union in May 1862, the state governor briefly made his headquarters here. Also known as Camp Tracy (or at least the upper part of the camp was so named, after the commanding officer Brigadier General Elisha Tracy). Union POWs were also kept here. The post was destroyed by Union cavalry in November 1864. Over six acres of the original site have been preserved. The two-acre Confederate Cemetery was preserved and formally dedicated by the state in 1904. The Camp Moore Museum was built in 1965 (admission fee).

Camp Beaver Creek
(1863), St. Helena Parish ?
A Confederate cavalry camp (January 1863) located on Beaver Creek. Possibly sited on the Beaver Creek northwest of Tangipahoa, or on the Beaver Creek northeast of Felixville.

Camp at Williams' Bridge
(1862 - 1863), near Grangeville, St. Helena Parish
A CSA outpost protecting the Amite River crossing of the Greensburg Road. A minor cavalry skirmish occurred here in June 1862. The bridge was later destroyed by Union troops.

Camp Relief
(1864), near Coleman Town ?, St. Helena Parish
A CSA cavalry camp at the McAdams Bridge over the Amite River on the Clinton Road.

Post at Clinton
(1863 - 1864), Clinton
A Confederate cavalry camp in or near the town. Occupied at various times by various units between February 1863 to September 1864. CSA headquarters of the Homochitto District in August 1864.

Camp Beauregard (2)
(1864), Clinton
A CSA camp captured by Union cavalry in 1864.

Camp Polk (1)
(1862 - 1864), Clinton
A CSA cavalry camp (September 1862 - September 1864) located one-half mile above the town. CSA headquarters camp of the District of Southwest Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana in September 1864.

Camp Carter
(1864), East Feliciana Parish
A CSA cavalry encampment (February 1864). Undetermined location.

Camp Beal
(1863), East Feliciana Parish
A CSA cavalry encampment (January 1863) located 10 miles south of Clinton on the Plank Road.

Camp at Olive Branch Station
(1861, 1863), Olive Branch
A CSA encampment on the Port Hudson and Clinton Railroad for various units at various times. The Hunter Rifles, a local unit from Clinton, was here in April 1861. Two battalions of cavalry were here in February 1863. In May 1863 were Miles' Legion, a battalion of Partisan Rangers, and two artillery batteries.

Camp Norwood
(1864), Norwood ?
A CSA cavalry encampment (June 1864). Undetermined location.

Camp Sherburne
(1864), East Feliciana Parish
A CSA cavalry encampment (March 1864) located 11 miles northwest of Clinton. Undetermined location.

Thompson's Creek Post
(1778 - 1779), near Jackson
A British sentry post on Thompson's Creek (Bayou des Ecors) south of town, probably near Murdock's Ford. Also known as Thompson's Barracks in Spanish reports. It was captured by the Spanish in September 1779.

Camp Taylor (3)
(1865), West Feliciana Parish
A CSA camp (January 1865). Undetermined location.

Fort Tunicas
(1716), near Torras ?
A French wooden palisade fort (April 1716) with three cabins for 34 men, located on an island about two leagues (5-6 miles) above the old mouth of the Red River, beside a lake (?), somewhere between present-day Red River Landing and Point Breeze. It became flooded by the river in June 1716, and a new fort (Fort St. Joseph) was then built at the nearby Tunica village to the south.

Camp Miles
(1862), near Torras
A Confederate assembly and training camp (March-April 1862) for Capt. R.M. Boone's Battery (later part of Miles' Legion), located at Red River Landing, just south of the mouth of the Lower Old River at the Mississippi River.

Fort St. Joseph
(1716 - 1737), near Lacour ?
A small French stockade fort (June 1716) with barracks, reportedly located about 15 miles from Point Coupeé, at a Tunica Indian village along the east bank of the Mississippi River at the south end of the "Portage of the Cross". Rebuilt and/or enlarged in December 1729 with French troops, after the November 1729 massacre of the French garrison at Natchez, Mississippi. The French and Tunica Indians, with Choctaw allies, attacked and dispersed the Natchez Indians in January-February 1730. The garrison at Tunica was removed in December 1737 after a Frenchman was killed by the Indians. Probable site now inundated in the bed of the Old River channel around the lower end of Raccourci Island.

Fort Morganza
(1864 - 1865), Morganza
A Union 18-gun bastioned earthwork (May 1864) on the Mississippi River, with two lines of loop-holed and embrasured log palisades extending to the riverbank. About 40,000 Union troops were posted here, most of whom were former slaves. The fort was abandoned in May 1865 due to malaria and cholera epidemics. Also spelled Morganzia in some reports, and in others as Fortress Morganza. The Morganza Plantation House had been burned down earlier in October 1863, immediately after the Battle of Fordoche Bridge/Sterling Plantation (September 1863).

Fort Sterling
(1863), near Viva (?)
A Union post located near the Mississippi River. Possibly located at the Sterling (alt. Stirling) Plantation on Bayou Fordoche, about five miles west of Morganza, where it would have protected the approach to the Fordoche Bridge on the Opelousas Road (present-day LA Highway 10) to the Atchafalaya River. The Battle of Fordoche Bridge (September 1863) occurred near here, a Confederate victory. It is unclear if the post so-named was established before or after the battle, if it was in fact located here.

Fort St. Reine
(1729 ? - 1736), near Bayou Sara
A French settlement (founded 1721 ?) palisade fort was reportedly located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in this vicinity until abandoned in 1736.

Bayou Sara Fort (1)
(1792), near Bayou Sara
A settlers' fortified house or blockhouse (November 1792) built for protection against Indian attacks. Location undetermined.

Post at Bayou Sara (2)
(1864), Bayou Sara
A temporary Union post established by troops from Fort Morganza because of high water there.

St. Francisville Post
(1810), St. Francisville
The armed camp and town became the capital of the short-lived "West Florida Republic" in September 1810 after the capture of Spanish Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge by American and British settlers. Most of the weapons captured there were stored here. U.S. troops arrived in December 1810, and that part of West Florida west of the Pearl River (Baton Rouge District) was subsequently annexed to the Territory of Orleans (Louisiana) by the United States. See also Explore Southern History.com

Fort la Pointe Coupée
(1729 - 1780 ?), near Pointe Coupée
A small French stockaded settlement fort (December 1729), possibly located along, or at the upper end, of the False River, at least originally. Continuously garrisoned by regular French troops and/or local militia, and possibly rebuilt on more than one occasion (and sites), it became Spanish in 1766, renamed Post Punta Cortada. By then it was a quadrangle work with four bastions, enclosing Officers' quarters, barracks, storehouses, and a prison. Spanish militia troops were posted here in 1779, prior to the attack on British-held Thompson's Creek Post and Fort Richmond (September 1779). Probably abandoned in 1780. It was reported in ruins and with only four guns in 1783. Its last location was northeast of New Roads, on the Mississippi River just downstream and across from St. Francisville and Bayou Sara. No remains.

Post at Pointe Coupée
(1804/05 - 1806, 1809), near Pointe Coupée
An American garrison post consisting of barracks, a guardhouse and magazine, for about 30 troops. This was considered a subpost of Fort Adams, Mississippi. Built in late 1804 or by February 1805, abandoned in 1806. Probably the same site as the earlier Spanish fort here.

In 1809 (October-November) the site was used as a hospital camp for 100 sick men left behind from the movement of Federal troops from Camp Terre aux Boeufs below New Orleans, to Fort Adams at Natchez, MS.

Camp Thompson
(1862), Pointe Coupee Parish
A Confederate (Companies A and I, 2nd Louisiana Cavalry) camp (September 1862) located along the False River. Undetermined location.

Camp Vernon
(1862), Pointe Coupee Parish ?
A Confederate (Pointe Coupée Artillery) camp (August 1862) of this name was possibly located in this area.

Camp at Mouth of Sandy Creek (1)
(1814, 1815), near Port Hudson
A Tennessee state militia (Coffee's Brigade) encampment (December 1814, March 1815) located on the south side of the (old) mouth of Sandy Creek on the Mississippi River, just above old Port Hudson. Occupied on the march to New Orleans, and again on the return trip north. A hospital and supply depot were kept here in the meantime between occupations. The Mississippi River here has since shifted over a mile further away from its pre Civil War era channel.

Port Hudson Civil War Defenses
(1862 - 1866), Port Hudson
About four and one-half miles of Confederate earthworks with 33 numbered batteries surrounded the town on all sides, built beginning in April 1862, the first heavy guns installed in August 1862. The southernmost CS work along the river, Battery 11, was also known as the "Citadel" to Union soldiers. Reports vary, but there could have been as many as 42 total guns in the Confederate lines by July 1863. About six miles of twenty-four Union earthwork batteries (110 guns total) later surrounded the Confederate works in May-June 1863, with an additional three batteries (four guns total) on the west side of the river opposite the Citadel. The strategic town and garrison fell to the Union in July 1863, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, only a few days after Vicksburg, MS surrendered. The original Union line of defenses were later demolished and razed between August to December 1863, the Union then consolidating the former Confederate lines into a shorter and stronger line around the town. The town remained garrisoned by Union troops until July 1866. The Mississippi River since the Civil War has shifted over a mile west and southwest of the bluffs at old Port Hudson.

Camp Ashby (December 1862), a CSA temporary Mississippi cavalry battalion encampment somewhere in the area (undetermined location).
Camp Beauregard (1) (December 1862), a CSA temporary artillery encampment probably near town, in the southern tip of either West or East Feliciana Parish (undetermined location).
Camp Breaux (August 1862 - May 1863), a CSA (30th Louisiana Infantry) camp near town.
Camp Lee (November-December 1862), a CSA camp (Company A, Miles' Legion) near Port Hudson.
Camp Millard (January 1863), a CSA camp (detachment Miles' Legion) near Port Hudson.

Fort Desperate
(Port Hudson State Historic Site)
(1862 - 1863), Port Hudson
A CSA lunette on a hill near Foster Creek. So named because of the "desperate" attempts by the Union to take the fort in May-July 1863, which they eventually did. Also here in the park are Mississippi Redoubt and Alabama - Arkansas Redoubt, and Batteries #1 - #8. Miles of earthworks still exist, mostly along a walking trail. Admission fee. See also Explore Southern History.com

Fort Babcock (May-June 1863), a Union (75th New York Vol. Infantry) crude log and earthen work located on a small hill on the west side of Little Sandy Creek, about one-quarter mile northwest of Commissary Hill.

Post at Springfield Landing
(1863), near Irene, East Baton Rouge Parish
A Union supply depot and garrison post during the siege of Port Hudson, located about seven miles south of old Port Hudson, on the east bank of the Mississippi River at a plantation landing across from the southern end of Proffit Island. Attacked by Confederates in July 1863.

Camp Spiller
(1862), near Watson, Livingston Parish
A CSA (Company G, 9th Battalion Louisiana Volunteers) camp (May 1862) located northeast of town on Spiller's Creek near Spiller's Church, 21 miles from Baton Rouge.

Camp Turner
(1862), near Watson, Livingston Parish
A Confederate camp (3rd Louisiana Cavalry, March 1862) (9th Battalion Louisiana Partisan Rangers, July 1862) on the east bank of the Amite River about three miles south of Curtis' Ford, and below the mouth of Sandy Creek. Southeast of Indian Mound and east of Greenwell Springs. Located on or near the Henry Warnach property. Attacked and destroyed by the Union in July 1862.

Camp on Sandy Creek (3)
(1863), near Greenwell Springs
A CSA cavalry camp (May 1863) located on Sandy Creek at the Baton Rouge - Greensburg Road. Attacked by Union cavalry and destroyed.

Camp Cobb
(1855, 1861, 1862), Greenwell Springs
A Federal camp for the Baton Rouge garrison during a yellow fever outbreak in the autumn of 1855. Site was also used by CSA troops in May and again in July 1861, then known as Camp at Greenwell Springs. Confederate troops were also camped here in August 1862 prior to attacking Union forces in Baton Rouge.

Additional camp sites in the general vicinity used to escape yellow fever outbreaks were:
Camp Sandy Creek (2) (September-October 1830), likely located on Sandy Creek near the Amite River, about 20 miles from Baton Rouge, "on John Bartell's place".
Camp at Sandy Creek Springs (August 1822) was located about 20 miles east of Baton Rouge, near Greenwell Springs.
Camp near Amite River (date ?) unknown location.
Camp Laurance (August 1858), located 17 miles from Baton Rouge (unknown location).

Camp Pratt (2)
(1862), East Baton Rouge Parish
A CSA (9th Louisiana Partisan Rangers) camp (August 1862) located somewhere near Baton Rouge. Unknown location.

Camp on Comite River
(1862), near Comite
A Confederate camp located along the Comite River, probably on or near the Baton Rouge-Greenwell Springs Road, occupied before and during the Battle of Baton Rouge (August 1862). Possibly a different site than below.

Camp Breckinridge
(1862), near Comite
A Confederate camp located along the Comite River, probably on or near the Baton Rouge-Greenwell Springs Road, occupied after the Battle of Baton Rouge (August 1862). Possibly a different site than above.

Camp at Amite Springs
(1862), Denham Springs
A small Confederate infantry camp was here in March 1862.

Federal Army yellow fever camps may have also been located in this vicinity at various times.
Camp Sedgwick (July-November 1853 (or 1855 ?)), located near the Amite River about 14 miles east of Baton Rouge.
Camp Lytle (August-October 1878), located on the Amite River about 15 miles east of Baton Rouge.

Forks of the Amite Post
(1767), near Denham Springs
The land inside (north of) the junction of the Amite and Comite Rivers was reserved by the British for possible military use in 1767, but nothing was ever built here.

Camp at Benton's Ferry
(1862), near Denham Springs
A Confederate camp (June 1862) on the east side of the Amite River southwest of town, about where present-day US 190 crosses the river, below the Comite River junction.

Fort San Carlos (3) ?
(1720's ?, 1764 - 1768, 1778 - 1794, 1799 - 1819), Baton Rouge
The French may have built a small fort here as early as 1721 to subdue the local Indians, or even possibly after the November 1729 massacre at Natchez (MS), but it was the British who took control of the newly created West Florida Province in 1763 and built Fort New Richmond (a) (1764 - 1768). The British had named the new anglo settlment New Richmond. A six-pointed star-shaped earthwork fort (unnamed ?) was later built in August 1778 with an 18-foot wide and nine-foot deep moat, armed with 13 guns. It was located near present-day Boyd Ave. (Spanish Town Road) and Lafayette Street. American Patriot forces under Capt. James Willing may have briefly taken the fort in March 1778, but were soon captured by the British. There is apparently no official record that can be found regarding the name of the second British fort in 1778. Modern-day historians have chosen to call it Fort New Richmond (b) or Fort Richmond, in continuation of the previous 1764 work and/or the name of the town. However, it was apparently only simply called Fort (or Redoubt) at Baton Rouge at the time of surrender to the Spanish, according to British reports. The fort was strengthened in August 1779 with armaments transferred from British Fort Bute at Pass Manchac. The Spanish easily took the town and fort in September 1779 after only a three-hour bombardment. The fort was soon repaired, and by 1781 Spanish forces controlled all of West Florida to Pensacola (FL). The fort was then apparently left to decay, but was rebuilt again in 1799 as an elongated earthen 16-gun fort with two bastions, slightly east of the 1778 British earthwork fort (site now a parking lot along the west side of River Road), and was now known by this time as Fort San Carlos (3) (St. Charles (2)). The new stockade enclosed about three acres with several houses, and several barracks stood outside the fort proper. The local British and American settlers rebelled against the Spanish authorities in September 1810 and proclaimed the "West Florida Republic" (or "Baton Rouge Republic"). The U.S. Army took possession in December 1810, naming it Post at Baton Rouge. New quarters were built nearby as the Spanish barracks were deemed too small and in need of much repair. Demolished after the new Pentagon Barracks was completed nearby. The earthworks were removed and used as fill on the Pentagon Barracks grounds. The Spanish post cemetery was used for early burials of American troops. The Spanish Commandant's House (1788) was located about 100 yards south of the future Pentagon Barracks, and was still used as the American Commanding Officer's Quarters until damaged by a storm in September 1859. There are some concrete/brick walls and sidewalks around A.Z. Young Park and the Capitol Park Event Center (702 River Road) that partially outline the perimeter of the last Spanish fort (within the corner of North 3rd and Lafayette Streets).

Campo de Baton Rouge (September 1779) was the main Spanish seige camp for the troops under the direction of Governor General Bernardo de Gálvez. Undetermined location, but south of the fort. A Spanish gun battery was located on a small hill (or possibly an Indian mound ?) just south of the fort.

Baton Rouge Barracks
(1819 - 1879/1886), Baton Rouge
Also known as the Pentagon Barracks, it was built to house 1000 troops. Located just north of the site of the old Spanish fort, four barracks and a commissary/ordnance storehouse were built in the form of a pentagon. The commissary storehouse was demolished in 1821, and the adjacent ordnance storehouse was demolished in 1828. These buildings were found defective and poorly constructed, and were never rebuilt, leaving the "pentagon" thereafter with only four sides. The Confederates took control of the barracks in January 1861, but the Union regained control in May 1862. Union earthworks, which were named Fort Williams, surrounded both the barracks and the adjacent arsenal (see below) in August 1862, and completed by May 1863. Some traces still remain, including an old Indian burial mound (on the Arsenal grounds) that was incorporated into the defensive line. Two display guns remain on the mound. A second Indian mound on the grounds was levelled in 1850. Garrisoned during Reconstruction, troops were finally withdrawn in June 1879, and the post was left with a caretaker until 1886. The four brick barracks still stand, once used as the campus of Louisiana State University between 1886 - 1926. After the school moved to its new location, the barracks remained in use as dormitories until 1950. Used for state agency offices beginning in 1951. Renovated in 1966, the state lieutenant governor now resides here. Only the museum/gift shop is open to the general public.

During the summers of 1824 and 1825, an encampment was built nine miles from the city, known as Cantonment Robertson, to escape yellow fever outbreaks in the city. The report for 1825 apparently calls the same site Camp Robinson. These camps may have been located along the Comite River. Another summer encampment, Camp Harney (1850's), was located on the Comite River about eight miles east of town. Camp Harney was also used by two companies of Confederate cavalry in September 1861. Camp Meriam (August 1822) was another summer camp (location unknown).

Baton Rouge Arsenal
(Old Arsenal and Powder Magazine Museum)
(1825 - 1879), Baton Rouge
Built as a separate facility away from and just north of the Pentagon Barracks. An ordnance storehouse and powder magazine were originally built in the Pentagon Barracks complex in 1819. That original ordnance storehouse was demolished in 1828 as it was determined to be poorly built. The Arsenal became the largest ordnance depot in the South after the Mexican-American War. Most of the buildings east of the extension of Third Street belonged to the Ordnance Department. Captured by Confederates in January 1861, recaptured by the Union in May 1862. Much of the machinery had been transferred to Columbus, GA just prior to the Union occupation. The Arsenal was turned over to the Quartermaster Department in June 1871. Many of the buildings were later leased to Louisiana State University after 1886, which remained here until a new campus was built in 1926. The new state capitol building was built here beginning in 1930. The 1838 brick powder magazine became a state museum in 1956 (admission fee), now within Veteran's Memorial Park, east of the State Capitol Building. A second magazine (1850) was demolished in 1931. Also demolished in 1931 was a two-story brick Officers' Quarters (1829), which was long known to LSU students as "The Colony". An Indian burial mound on the complex grounds was once used as an officers' cemetery. A second Indian mound nearby was levelled in 1850. The Post Cemetery, also known as the American or Protestant Cemetery, was removed in 1931 for fill dirt for the new capitol building, although many (several hundred ?) unmarked graves are said to be still located here. See also Explore Southern History.com

Baton Rouge Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1864), Baton Rouge
Union encampments:
Camp Banks (December 1862 - August 1863), located near the old horse racetrack near present-day Government and 18th Streets.
Camp Clark (August 1862), located at Bernard Road (present-day Government Street) and Perkins Road (present-day 17th or 18th Street).
Camp Indiana (1) (August 1862 - January 1863), located at Laurel and Dufrocq (now 19th) Streets.
Camp (William) Rodman (August 1863), located just outside the works around the Barracks and Arsenal.
Camp Grover (January-February 1863), a fortified camp located north of town between Bayou Grasse (now Capitol Lake) and the Daugherty Plantation.
Camp at Magnolia Grove (date ?), located three miles below the city, possibly at the Magnolia Mound Plantation.
Highland Stockade (1862 - 1864), built on the Highland Road seven miles south of town, near Benton Drive. Attacked by Confederate guerillas in July 1864. The old Highland Road School was built here in 1910. Some earthwork remains still exist. Now a B&B on site.
Highland Road Camp (date ?), a large cavalry camp was reportedly located on the Highland Road below present-day Sunset Blvd. near Spanish Lake. Now the Woodstone subdivision.

Confederate encampments:
Camp Bird (September 1862) (9th Battalion Louisiana Infantry), located three miles from town on the Bird Plantation, near present-day Greenwell Springs Road and North Foster Drive.
Camp Butler (1) (date ?), a Confederate camp of this name is thought to have existed in the area.
Camp Jordan (August 1862), a temporary (30th Louisiana Infantry) camp located near the city, after the Battle of Baton Rouge (August 1862).
Camp Pike (July 1861), a cavalry training camp for various units located on the eastern edge of the city, possibly near the city jail, and/or on the property of William Pike, a prominent local businessman at the time.

Fort at Manchac (1)
(1729 - 1731 ?), Bayou Manchac
A French stockaded "place of refuge" was probably built here after the November 1729 massacre near Natchez, MS.

Fort Bute
(1765 - 1768, 1778 - 1794), Bayou Manchac
A British six-gun star-shaped earthwork fort, also known as Fort at Manchac (2), located on the north side of the confluence of Bayou Manchac and the Mississippi River below Baton Rouge, about one-quarter mile from Point Iberville and about 100 yards from the Mississippi River. Land clearing was begun in October 1764, but construction of the fort did not actually begin until September 1765, and was completed about a year later in 1766. It was abandoned and partially destroyed in September 1768 as the garrison was transferred to Pensacola, FL. The site was seized by a small force of American Patriots under Capt. James Willing in March 1778, but were quickly repulsed by British Rangers (Loyal Refugees) under Col. John Stuart. The fort was rebuilt in April 1778 on a new site nearby, again with six guns, and was later captured by the Spanish in September 1779, although a large portion of the British troops and supplies were already evacuated to Baton Rouge in early August. The Spanish retained the original name of the fort until it was finally abandoned in November 1794.

Fort San Gabriel
(1767 - 1769, 1770 - 1779), Bayou Manchac
A Spanish stockaded ten-gun fort (only four guns were actually emplaced) built in April 1767 on the south side of Bayou Manchac to counter British Fort Bute across the river. Shortly after its abandonment in December 1769, Spanish authorities allowed six German Roman Catholic families to temporarily live here after resettlement from Maryland. Re-garrisoned in December 1770, but apparently not armed with any cannon. Also known as Fort at the Iberville (2). Briefly abandoned after a flood in March 1779. Abandoned in August 1779 after the British improved and strengthened Fort Bute. After the capture of Fort Bute by Spanish troops under Governor Bernardo Galvéz in September 1779, the Spanish garrison was later consolidated to that location.

Forks of the Iberville Post
(1722, 1767), near Port Vincent
An area of land at the inner angle of the junction of the Amite River and Bayou Manchac, within present-day East Baton Rouge Parish, was reserved by the French for military use as early as 1722, but nothing was known to have ever been built here. Bayou Manchac was once known as the Iberville River. The British also later reserved this land in February 1767 for military use, but only a boat landing was built. When Fort Bute was abandoned by the British in September 1768, the project here was most likely abandoned as well.

Amite River Post
(1778 - 1779), near Port Vincent
A British barracks post (16 men) on the east side of the Amite River at its junction with Bayou Manchac. It was surrendered to the Spanish in September 1779. Also referred to as Amite Barracks in some reports. This was a separate post from Fort Graham nearby.

A British post with barracks and a storehouse was proposed earlier in February 1767 but never built, probably due to Fort Bute later being abandoned in September 1768.

Fort Graham
(1779), near Port Vincent
A British stockade built in spring 1779 on the east side of the Amite River, just below its junction with Bayou Manchac, opposite Spanish Galveztown. The site was overflowed by the river in March, and a new site was selected in April, and then so-named. Garrisoned by 12 men. Captured by the Spanish in early September 1779, although it may have already been abandoned by the British in late August.

Fort at Gálveztown
(1778 - 1804, 1814), near Port Vincent
A Spanish fortified village about two and one-half miles west of present-day Port Vincent, on the south side of Bayou Manchac and the Amite River. Barracks were built in December 1778, and an irregular log and earth stockade with five bastions was begun in June 1779, with two 4-pounder guns. Six 2-pounder swivel guns were added in 1782 to deter Choctaw raiders. Ten guns were listed as the armament in 1793. A rectangular brick fort with three redans was planned in 1797, but never built. Still garrisoned by the Spanish (12 men) in February 1804. The Americans did not continue the post after the official transfer of Louisiana in April 1804. Most of the Spanish residents of the town were resettled in Baton Rouge (Spanish Town) by early 1805 in order to remain in Spanish territory after the Louisiana Purchase by the United States.

In December 1814 a small detachment of the 11th Regiment of Louisiana Militia, with two light guns, was posted here for a short period (until January 1815 ?) (Post at Gálveztown).

Stockade at Doyal's Plantation
(1864), near Acy ?, Ascension Parish
A Union (detachment 11th New York Cavalry) post (August 1864) near the New River, about 16 or 18 miles from Gálveztown. It was adjacent to "Mr. Minor's place". Attacked by Confederates in August 1864.

Camp at Montgomery's Ferry
(1861), Livingston Parish
A Confederate (Colyell Guards) camp (June 1861) located on the lower Amite River (undetermined location).

Post at Carthage
(1814), near Clio
A Louisiana state militia camp (December 1814) located on the Amite River, on the first high ground found ascending the river from Lake Maurepas, below O'Brien's Island. Exact location undetermined, probably near Carthage Bluff Landing.

Camp Manchac
(1861), Pass Manchac
A Confederate camp (July-August 1861) located at the railroad bridge over South Pass Manchac. Undetermined on which side of the pass, on the mainland (Galva) or on Jones Island (Akers).

Pass Manchac C.S. Batteries (2)
(1862), Jones Island
Confederate troops in January 1862 emplaced three two-gun batteries at the railroad bridges across Pass Manchac, one on the north side of South Pass (at Akers) (two 24-pounders), and the other at North Pass (two 32-pounders). Apparently five two-gun batteries were planned, but not carried out. The Union reportedly captured two batteries of six 32-pounders in June 1862. Union forces in September 1862 found two dismounted guns on the north side of South Pass.

Fort Stephens
(1863 - 1864), Galva
A Union eight-sided dirt and log work (begun April 1863) on the south bank of the west entrance to South Pass Manchac on Lake Maurepas, on the east side of the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroad track. Also spelled Fort Stevens in some reports.

Another Union battery was located north at the west entrance to North Pass Manchac on Jones Island.

Battery at Pass Manchac (1)
(1815), Jones Island
An American three-gun battery was begun in February 1815, but was left uncompleted and abandoned by March. Located on the east side of Jones Island at the split of the North and South Passes.

Post at Bayou De Sair
(1862, 1864), near Ruddock, St. John the Baptist Parish
A small Union redoubt (June 1864) located along the railroad line below Pass Manchac on the western shore of Lake Pontchartrain, about six miles north of Frenier Station. Union troops were first posted here in April 1864. One of the cannon from this battery (Union or Confederate ?) was found offshore in 1977 and is now on display in LaPlace at the St. John the Baptist Parish East Bank government office, at 1801 West Airline Highway.

A Confederate post (with a one-gun battery) was probably located here in January 1862.

NEED MORE INFO: French wooden stockade forts: Fort le Grand Bacoux, Fort le Grand Oviat, Fort le Petit Oviat (undetermined locations and dates).

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