New Orleans, Louisiana
April 16–28, 1862

In the spring of 1862, the Union navy launched an offensive to capture New Orleans, one of the South's busiest seaports and a key to unlocking Confederate control of the Mississippi River. To prevent its capture, the historic town was protected by a series of forts. Two of the greatest obstacles to a naval assault were Forts Jackson and St. Philip, situated on opposing banks of the Mississippi River 70 miles south of New Orleans.

The two garrisons were able to hold Adm. David Farragut's flotilla at bay for a week before the Union gunboats broke through. Although this major line of defense was broken, Confederate forces continued to harass the fleet as it progressed northward. But the capture of New Orleans was now inevitable. The city and forts surrendered separately on April 28.

Threat: In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina did immense damage to many historical treasures along the Gulf Coast. Eighteen months later, though the initial cleanup has been completed, important questions remain about the future of the forts that once defended New Orleans.

Thanks to its positioning between levees, Fort Jackson sat submerged in eight feet of water for six weeks, seriously undermining its structural integrity. The cost of repairs and improvements necessary for its long-term preservation are staggering—far higher than the devastated Plaquemines Parish government, which has maintained the site as a park since 1962, can afford. Fort Pike, just outside New Orleans, also suffered immense damage, with gaping cracks appearing in its outer walls and heavy items from inside the fort washing up as far away as Ship Island, Miss., some 40 miles east. Although both forts are eligible for federal funding to help with restoration efforts, it is unclear whether all necessary work can be completed before the damage is irreparable.

Priority: CWSAC classified the forts around New Orleans as Priority IV, Class A and Class B sites.

Please note that no attempt is made to rank the sites within History Under Siege— instead, the battlefields are listed in alphabetical order.