New Orleans' Fort St. Philip-- Part 2

On January 9, 1815, one day after Jackson stopped the British at Chalmette (The Battle of New Orleans), the British fleet attacked Fort St. Philip in a battle that lasted eight days before they had to withdraw. Had the navy been able to pass the fort and hooked up with British General Packenham's army, the Battle of New Orleans would have been significantly different.

The improve in the defense, Fort Jackson was built on the other side of the river after the war.

The fate of New Orleans was determined when Farragut passed these two forts.

Fort St. Philip was originally built by the Spanish in the 1790s to protect their territory. It was also used in the Spanish-AmericanWar and World War I when disappearing batteries were installed on the premises.

Since Farragut, the fort's major attackers have been hurricanes and time. Its moat is silted in badly. You can find it on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish, 5 miles below the end of the road. Obviously, it is hard to get to and has been on private property since the 1920s and has the reputation of being infested with water moccasins.

A Bit of "Lost" History. --Old B-Runner