Although the evidence of the site has nearly vanished, Port Hudson, Louisiana, holds a distinct place in Civil War History. Located just north of Baton Rouge, the village was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River and the site of the longest genuine siege in American military history. In Port Hudson, Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi, Lawrence Hewitt offers a compelling account of the Confederate occupation of Port Hudson in August, 1862, and the Union's efforts to capture the stronghold, culminating in a final unsuccessful assault in May, 1863. Throughout his study, Hewitt offers a colorful narrative account of daily life in the garrison, the commanders' strategies, and the importance of Port Hudson to the war.Wanting to strengthen their hold on Vicksburg, the Confederates begna constructing earthworks for a battery at Port Hudson in early April, 1862. By late summer, the first troops began arriving for duty. As thee soldiers fortified the bluff, they sought to avoid drawing fire from Union naval vessels already present in the area. Throughout their occupation of Port Hudson, the Confederate troops were able to hold their position tenaciously, fighting off Federal efforts to block supply ships by controlling the mouth of the Red River. The Union's failure to starve out the Confederates eventually led them to launch a direct assault on Port Hudson. This attack was unsuccessful and was followed by an equally disastrous siege. Consequently, Port Hudson did not surrender until after the capitulation of Vicksburg in 1863.Hewitt also discusses a unique outcome of this period of the war: the increased enlistment of black soldiers in northern units. According to the author, the newspaper coverage of the charge by black troops at Port Hudson proved to be vital in convincing the northern masses to accept the enlistment of nearly 180,000 black soldiers in the army before the end of the war. Port Hudson will generate renewed interest in and discussion of an important period in Civil War history among scholars and Civil War buffs alike.
Though Port Hudson may never receive the level of attention of Gettysburg or Vicksburg, this well-conceived collection stands as testament to the importance of that conflict and of the Civil War's photographic record itself.
But the Union forces were too much, for Vicksburg was taken on July 4, 1863 the day after Gettysburg and Port Hudson surrendered five days later, opening the Mississippi River to the Union.
The brigadier general was badly wounded when his horse fell on top of him. ... During the retreat, Union commander brigadier general Thomas Williams was killed, and the new commander, Colonel Thomas W. Cahill, replaced him.
The resulting dramatic story of Port Hudson, told with great clarity and verve, reveals the importance of that campaign to the course of the Civil War.
Louisianians in the Civil War brings to the forefront the suffering endured by Louisianians during and after the war--hardships more severe than those suffered by the majority of residents in...
Drawing on the letters and memoirs of soldiers and officers on both sides, this book chronicles the brutal struggle for Port Hudson, Louisiana, beginning with Admiral Farragut's costly naval attack by the Union fleet, through the furious ...
This is an instant classic!" --Robert I. Girardi, author of Campaigning with Uncle Billy: The Civil War Memoirs of Sgt.
"Covers the final, decisive campaigns for control of the Mississippi River Valley from May to July 1863, [arguing] that events west of the Mississippi were as important as those occurring on the eastern shore.
Including an extensive introduction that details Agee's years as a film reviewer, significant characteristics of his style and aesthetic, and his broad influence on later critics, this volume will encourage a fresh understanding of both a ...
This comprehensive collection recognizes Kentucky's pivotal role in the War between the States, imparting the histories of men who fought "brother against brother" more than any other set of military leaders.