Port Hudson Battlefield Park: A Guide to its Civil War Sites

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Baton Rouge, Louisiana audio tour: Port Hudson Battlefield Park: A Guide to its Civil War Sites

This is a 2.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 150 mins to complete.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The United States

$9.99

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About the Tour

In May of 1863, the woods and ravines around the tiny river town of Port Hudson, Louisiana became the site of the longest siege in American military history.

On this walking tour through Port Hudson State Historic Site, you’ll get a chance to relive scenes from the final battle, during the Union’s campaign to open the Mississippi River through the neighboring town of Vicksburg. While walking through this scenic forested area, once the Port Hudson battlefield, you’ll discover why the Union’s top military objective was ultimately a misguided one.

Led by an expert Civil War historian, this tour explores trails throughout the battlefield that are protected by the State Historic Site, giving you a deeper understanding of the Civil War. You’ll follow the action surrounding the 48-day siege chronologically, beginning with the intense 3-day fight as Union forces slowly pushed the Confederates into their defensive positions. Along the way, you’ll also see some of the most important sites linked to the battles and Siege of Port Hudson, including:

Fort Desperate, described as the “most lethal” of the Confederate embankments
Commissary Hill, where a battery was located during the war
Alabama Arkansas Redoubt, a temporary fortification created by the Confederacy
Fort Babcock, the closest position to the Confederate line that Union troops were able to hold
Various avenues of approach, trenches and rifle pits

Join us on this 2.5-hour walk where you can enjoy one of Louisiana’s most beautiful hiking trails while learning about one of the most significant battles in American history.

Tour Producer

Blue, Gray & Bayous

1 tour

Louisiana's premier tour company dedicated to the study and interpretation of Civil War history in the State.

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Preview Location

Location 5

Duryea's Battery

The cleared area on your left was the location of Union Battery position No. 6.

During the May 27 assault, this was the site of Battery F, 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment, under the command of Captain Richard C. Duryea. The battery consisted of six 12-pounder Napoleon guns fir... The cleared area on your left was the location of Union Battery position No. 6.

During the May 27 assault, this was the site of Battery F, 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment, under the command of Captain Richard C. Duryea. The battery consisted of six 12-pounder Napoleon guns firing at Confederate cannons located at Fort Desperate which is ahead of you as you view the sign and at Commissary Hill, which is off to your right.

Colonel Halbert Paine wrote about the fighting on the 27th:

"With admirable celebrity the pioneers opened up the roads and Capt. Duryea brought up the division artillery and within fifteen minutes after driving (the Confederate skirmishers) in, our batteries were answering his guns from two commanding points, which positions were retained until the surrender."

Please continue down the trail.

As you walk, you are surrounded by the fighting during the assault on the morning of May 27th. Banks’ attack plan was simple, first thing in the morning all units would attack simultaneously along the entire line. Pioneers would follow the infantry and clear a route for the artillery. But his orders were poorly worded and confusing. Several of his commanders did not even know what was in front of their troops. Banks should have waited a day or two so his men could have reconnoitered. But he went ahead and ordered the assault for the morning of May 27th.

Unfortunately for the Union troops taking part in the assault, Banks did not specify a time for the simultaneous assault. He instead instructed his commanders "to take instant advantage of any favorable opportunity…afford mutual aid and avoid mistakes...and commence at the earliest hour practicable." None of his commanders would attack at the same time.

About 5:30 a.m. Federal land batteries began a one-hour bombardment followed at about 7 by the fleet, firing for an additional hour. Brigadier General Godfrey Weitzel then ordered his men to the assault. Three regiments under the command of Colonel Jacob Van Zandt in the lead, supported by four regiments under Col. Steven Thomas. Next followed by Col. Hawkes Fearing's four regiments in front and Col. Oliver Gooding's three in the rear. The attack would come from your right, onto and over the ridge where you are now, continuing down toward Little Sandy Creek in your front.

Weitzel began his advance about 6 a.m. His fourteen regiments contained between 6,000 and 7,000 soldiers. For the first hour the fighting was relentlessness as Van Zandt’s men slowly, and at great cost, pushed the Confederates back through the forest and ravines all around you. The terrain and Confederate defense took such an awful toll on the federal officers and men that it is impossible to know with certainty the exact location of each of the Union regiment’s assaults that morning. We have a much better idea where they ended up as they struck the Confederate lines across the creek. However, the whole area around you, and through which you are traveling, is the ground over which the Union troops attacked and the Confederate troops defended. Severe fighting took place all around you.

Please continue following the trail. You will soon come to a trail intersection, take the trail to the left toward the long footbridge over Little sandy Creek. Remember, the trail to the left. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Fort Desperate
Commissary Hill
Fort Babcock
Alabama/Arkansas Redoubt

Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
236 US-61, Jackson, LA 70748, USA
Total distance

5km
Final location
30.69292757, -91.2745804
Distance back to start location

158.73m

Directions to Starting Point

Start: Port Hudson State Historic Site, 236 US-61, Jackson, LA 70748, United States,

The tour begins at the visitor center parking lot at the Port Hudson State Historic Site. Please pay any applicable admission fees prior to beginning the tour.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The multiple forts on the tour.

Best time of day

The Park is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Easter and New Years Day. The gates are locked at 5:00pm. You must complete the tour and exit the park by 5:00pm.

Precautions

There is a half mile section of paved trail, however, the majority of the trail is well marked but primitive so stout hiking shoes or boots are recommended. Also, there are no water or other accommodations available along the trails so bringing water is strongly advised and you also want to be aware of, and take precautions against, the possibility of insects, particularly in warmer months. Please stay on the trails and be mindful of wildlife. Finally, the wooden footbridges and boardwalks can be slippery in wet weather, caution when crossing is advised.

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