Fort Bourbon, 1793 (CP No. 16) and Fort Jackson., 1822 (CP No. 33) & 1898 (CP No. 54) N29.35697 W89.45554

Cannon still stand guard over the Mississippi River at Fort Jackson.

Located seventy-five miles below New Orleans is Plaquemine Bend.  Early on this particular spot in the river was recognized as being strategic as any invading force would have to deal with river currents and changing winds in order to negotiate the large bend.  Both banks of the river would each house a battery, a design made to catch an invading force in a crossfire.

The moat at Fort Jackson remains filled with water.

The first fort, erected in 1793 on the west bank, was Fort Bourbon.  So named for the ruling house of Spain and planned by Governor of the Louisiana and West Florida colonies, Francisco Luis Hector, baron de Carondelet.  Parkerson notes that the original structure was "a mud and timber redoubt with a battery of seven cannons." which was destroyed by a hurricane in 1795.

The site was rebuilt in 1796, this time as a log guard house with a brick chimney; the site would undergo a major restoration after 1822.  With the War Departement expanding its coastal defense system, Fort Jackson becam the Vauban style brick fort we know today.  The fort would again be re-fitted in preparation of a Union Naval assault during the Civil War but would eventually capitulate to the forces of the North following a ten day bombardment.  Across the river, Fort. St. Phillip would suffer the same fate.  According to Parkerson, it was reported that "18,000 mortar shells were fired on the fort.".  The city of New Orleans would fall a few days later.

Axel and Mike inspect the terreplein along the outer west wall.

Post-reconstruction, Fort Jackson would twice more be garrisoned:  First during the Spanish-American War, when concrete bunkers were installed along with new eight inch "disappearing" rifles and then again, during WWI, when the site was used as a training center.

The more modern concrete bunkers that housed  the Disappearing Rifles

Today, Fort Jackson is the furthest southen site that can be reached by automobile.  My visit was via the "alternate" route - the route it was designed to protect - the Mississippi River.  We were a trio of PWCers, launching out of Empire, LA and skiing ten miles downriver to Plaquemine Bend.  The fort is in fair shape and is home to the annual Plaquemine Parish Orange Festival, which actually coincided with our visit.

As this was our first of the three planned sites to visit, we arrived early and were greeted by a light attendance.

A electric - hydraulic pump for operating the Disappearing Rifles.

The site really is a blend of two eras:  it has retained it's brick construction along with the moat and outer parapet.  The inside grounds, however, are commanded by the more modern concrete bunkers which housed the disappearing guns. While the guns gave been long removed, an electric and hydraulic engine still remains which allowed the guns retract and disappear behind the wall in order to be reloaded.

A stroll along the top of the wall shows were the guns were set and many of the their bases remain today. To say Fort Jackson was well armed would be an understatement - by the time the constructin was completed, the fort could house ninety-seven guns.  While Parkerson notes that the materials used to build the fort were shipped to the site, our investigation actually found that fill material for the brick wall on the glacis appeared to be oyster and rangia clam shells.

A view from the inside shows the brick casemates.

An embrasure in the outer wall provided a protected area for firing a cannon.