Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Rodriguez Canal
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Built as a mill race that provided water to power a sawmill, by 1815 the Rodriguez Canal had long been abandoned. With its collapsed banks and grass-covered bottom, the canal resembled a ditch more than a waterway, but it provided a perfect defensive position for Major General Andrew Jackson's men. American troops and slaves from area plantations dug out the canal and used its soil to build a rampart stretching from the Mississippi River to the cypress swamp. When the rampart was completed and the canal filled with water, it formed an imposing line of defense.
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Benson Lossing's Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812 showed what remained of the canal in 1861. The tower in the background is the still unfinished Chalmette Monument.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1815.
Location. 29° 56.505′ N, 89° 59.654′ W. Marker is in Chalmette, Louisiana, in St. Bernard Parish. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Battlefield Road and Tour Loop Road. Marker can be reached from Battlefield Road within the Chalmette Battlefield portion of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chalmette LA 70043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Rodriguez Canal (a few steps from this marker); Batteries 2 and 3 (within shouting distance of this marker); Rodriguez Plantation and Macarty House (within shouting distance of this marker); 7th U.S. Infantry - 44th U.S. Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Chalmette Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Marines (within shouting distance of this marker); Choctaw Nation (within shouting distance of this marker); Chalmet Plantation (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chalmette.
Also see . . . Chalmette Battlefield. NPS Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve website entry (Submitted on August 22, 2016, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2016, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2016, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 3. submitted on August 23, 2016, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.