Port Hudson State Historic Site 236 Hwy 61 Jackson., La. 70748

Local: 225-654-3775 Toll: 1-888-677-3400 Fax: 225-654-4413 Email: porthudson@crt.state.la.us

PLEASE NOTE:

ALL PROPER1Y ALONG THIS TOUR,

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE

NATIONAL CEMETERY, IS

PRIVATELY OWNED.

PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND

OBSERVE THE OWNERS' PRIVACY. Ex­

TREME CAUTION SHOULD BE USED

ALONG THE TOUT ROUTE. THE ROADS

ARE NARROW AND CROOKED AND

THERE ARE NO PULL OVER POINTS..

l.The Priest Cap was the focal point of the June 14th Union assault. The federals suffered over 2000 casualties making it the bloodiest battle per 1000 men engaged in the Civil War. 2. Seven-tenths of a mile from Port Hudson SHSs ' front gates is the location where the ClintonIPort Hudson Railroad intersected what is today Hwy 61. The railroad was founded in 1839 so that Clinton would have access to a Mississippi river port. 3. The Port Hudson-Plains Rd. intersects Hwy 61 one mile south of Port Hudson SHS. This road was present during the 1863 siege and was the route of one of the major Union assaults on May 27th. 4. Approximately six-tenths of a mile west of Hwy 61 is the site a-nee used as a Confederate field hospital. Just right of the Port Hud­son-Plains Rd. is a ravine described by a captured Union officer as being the hospitals location. 5.The mound directly across from the intersection of Port Hickey Rd.lPort Hudson-Plains Rd. is what remains of a post-siege Union earthwork. Approximately 100 yards out is the site of the old rail­road depot and the hotel used by confederate general Gardner as hi s headquarters. Nearby stood a house which served the same purpose for General W.N.R. Beall. 6.The left fork of the three pronged, gravel road is the last remaining road of the town of Port Hudson. To the North is the old town site. At the dead end, one tenth of a mile from the fork, is the only re­maining structure of old Port Hudson. This home is privately owned. 7. The Confederate cemetery is located just north of what was once the bend in the river. Unfortunately, it is currently on private prop­erty and is no longer accessible to visitors. 8. Two tenths of a mile form the intersection is the approximate location of the Confederate surrender site. After the fall of Vicks­burg, the window adjoining the east and west of the Confederacy was no longer open. This rendered. the defense of Port Hudson point­less. Upon receiving word of Vicksburg's surrender, General Gard­ner informed General Banks that he was no longer bound by duty to defend his position. He surrendered port Hudson on July 9, 1863. 9. Approximately one mile from Port HickeylPort Hudson-Plains Rd. intersection to the east is the Port Hickey Plantation. It ' s a red brick house with a white picket fence . Prior to the siege, it was used to house Confederate engineers during the construction of the earth­works. Some 300 yards to the southwest is the former site of the Citadel. The Confederate stronghold was an important point during the siege but has since washed away. 10. One mile north of the Port Hudson national Cemetery is Slaugh­ter 's field. Prior to the · siege, a Confederate officer was reported to have asked one of his men the field 's name. When told, his reply was that he expected it to become just that. The prophecy became true during the bloody assault of May 27th, 1863. 11. The Port Hudson National Cemetery was established in 1867. At that time, Federal soldiers were taken from shallow battlefield graves and reinterred here. Today the cemetery is the final resting place of veterans ranging from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf War. 12. The old Plains Store battlefield is 3.5 miles east ofhwy 61 on the port Hudson-Plains Rd. Pictures of the original store are on display at the present day Plains Store. The fight here was a prelude to the siege.

PORT HUDSON

STATE HISTORIC SITE

LONGEST TRUE SIEGE IN

AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY

'\f:fJJ f~::> p ' 'C/ ~, Prepared by the Interpretive Staff at Port &fi~i'~ \~ Hudson State Historic Site i~

NATIONA L HISTOR IC LANDMARK

SA lTLEFIELD FEATURES

1- - The Priest Cap

2- -ClintonfPort Hudson Railroad

3- -Port Hudson-Plains Road

4 - - Confederate Hospital Site

5 - - Port Hickey Road

6- -Old Port Hudson Road

7 - - Confederate Cemetery

8 - - Confederate Surrender Site

9 - - The Citadel

10--Slaughter's Field

ll--Port Hudson National Cemetery

12 --Plains Store

LEGEND

- Bluffs

D Current Mississippi River

D Siege Location of Mississippi River

000 River Batteries

..... . ... Trenches

Mus

MJuls8~ppl Redoubt

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t '."" ~"'~ ,j 1

"Port 1Jlldson ' i Alabw.·Arh[(u.~ ~ f 1 C$1hi\,el1 ... I 1. i~doubt t: ""':1.;;.'

" , Piieal C&P '~ l CommLm.ry Rlll'

Devll's' Elbow

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3;5 mUM to rri\ Pltlns store ~

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