Fort DeRussy

Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective December Issue: 1989 Twenty Years On: The End of Communism and the Fate of Eastern Europe eHistory Book Reviews November Review: 428 AD: An Ordinary Year at the End of the Roman Empire MultiMedia Histories Featured History: Excerpts from The Pittsburgh Survey

		THESE ARE ARCHIVED PAGES OF THE OLD EHISTORY SITE click here for the NEW eHistory site These pages are not actively maintained and may have errors in content and functionality


eHistory > American Civil War > Battles > Fort DeRussy	Search


Articles

Battles

Biographies

Books

Book Reviews

Civil War Daily

Essays & Papers

Glossary

HistoryLists

Images

Interactive

Letters & Diaries

Maps

Medicine

Newsletter

Official Records

Periodicals

Regimental Units

Timeline

Fort DeRussy (1864)

War:

American Civil War

Date(s):

14 Mar 1864

Location:

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, US

Outcome:

Union victory

Description:

Brig. Gen. A.J. Smith and Brig. Gen. Joseph Mower, USA
Lt. Col. William Byrd, CSA

The US sent an infantry division, the Confederate garrison was about 350 men.

US casualties were under 50; the Confederates lost about 270.

After removing various obstructions that the Rebels had placed in the river, the major impediment to the Union expedition was the formidable Fort DeRussy, an earthen fortification with a partly iron-plated battery designed to resist the fire of Union ironclads that might come up river. Union Brig. Gen. A.J. Smith’s command had embarked on transports at Vicksburg and then disembarked at Simsport, on the 12th, about thirty miles from Fort DeRussy. Smith sent out some troops on the morning of the 13th to determine if any enemy was in their path. This force dispersed and chased an enemy brigade, after which, Smith set his men in motion up the Fort DeRussy road. They did not proceed far before night. Early the next morning, the 14th, they continued the march, discovering that a Confederate division threatened their advance. Always mindful of this threat, Smith had to place part of his command in a position to intercept these Rebel forces if they attacked. Upon arriving at the fort, the enemy garrison of 350 men opened fire. Smith decided to use Mower’s division, XVI Army Corps, to take the fort and set about positioning it for the attack. Around 6:30 pm, Smith ordered a charge on the fort and about twenty minutes later, Mower’s men scaled the parapet, causing the enemy to surrender. Fort DeRussy, which some had said was impregnable, had fallen and the Red River to Alexandria was open.

Content provided by:
eHistory Staff

Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.

About | Contact