Port Hudson in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Union Trench
July 30, 2016
1. Union Trench Marker
"...he [attacking Union troops] moved...up to my ditch again, and by digging a small place, or bank that intervened between the head of the ravine and the said ditch [the exterior ditch surrounding Fort Desperate]. which was not more than one foot thickness, file into the same [ditch] with however a much smaller force than before, most of whom were however were either killed or wounded in attempting to storm my works and afterwards in attempting to effect his retreat."
Colonel Benjamin W. Johnson
15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Commander of Fort Desperate
During the June 14th assault, Union troops dug a trench connecting the ravine with Fort Desperate's exterior ditch. The trench provided a safe entrance from the ravine to the ditch, from which the Federals tried to scale the fort's parapet [dirt wall]. The location of the Union trench is believed to be the cut into the ditch in front of you.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 30° 41.298′ N, 91° 16.561′ W. Marker is in Port Hudson, Louisiana, in East Feliciana Parish. Marker can be reached from U.S. 61, one mile north of Plains/Port Hudson Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located about 1 mile
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Union Sap (a few steps from this marker); Confederate Tunnel (a few steps from this marker); Exterior Rifle Pit (a few steps from this marker); Sharpshooter Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Desperate Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Desperate (within shouting distance of this marker); Subterranean Torpedoes (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Batteries 7 and 8 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Hudson.
July 30, 2016
2. Union Trench Marker
July 30, 2016
3. Entrance to Port Hudson Site
Located on US Highway 61
Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2016, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 682 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 26, 2016.
