In the spring of 1862, Forts Jackson and St. Philip, staggered on opposing
banks of the Mississippi River 70 miles south of New
Orleans, were the only obstacles standing between a powerful
Union fleet and its goal. The capture of New Orleans by the U.S. Navy
was the cornerstone of a plan to cut off Southern ports to all trade,
causing the Confederacy to suffer economically and forcing it into surrender.
The two garrisons were able to hold Admiral David Farragut's flotilla at bay for a week before the Union gunboats broke through. Although the major line of defense was broken, Confederate forces continued to harass the fleet as it progressed northward. But the capture of New Orleans was inevitable. The city surrendered on April 24, the two forts four days later.
Threat: Hurricane Katrina did immense damage to many historical treasures along the Gulf Coast. Situated between two levees, the area surrounding Fort Jackson filled like a soup bowl when confronted with a 35-foot storm surge. Even though the levees saved the fort from total destruction by breaking the 200-mile per hour winds, they also made drainage more difficult. The fort stayed under water for weeks before it could be pumped out. Such prolonged submersion has made the structure's integrity uncertain, and many cracks have appeared in the fort's outer wall. The fort's small museum was also heavily damaged.
Other forts in the New Orleans area also received heavy damage. Fort Pike, immediately outside the city, was so badly battered that it will remain closed indefinitely. Fort St. Philip remains completely isolated from the mainland and is only accessible via boat or helicopter.
CWSAC classified Forts Jackson and St. Philip as Priority IV, Class A sites.
