U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

American Battlefield Protection Program 

Update to the

 Civil War Sites Advisory Commission

 Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields

State of Louisiana

Washington, DC 

October 2010
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 

Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields

State of Louisiana

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

American Battlefield Protection Program 

Washington, DC 

October 2010 

Authority 

The American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 1996, as amended by the Civil War Battlefield 

Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016, 17 December 2002), directs the 

Secretary of the Interior to update the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) Report on the 

Nation’s Civil War Battlefields. 

Acknowledgments 

NPS Project Team Paul Hawke, Project Leader; Kathleen Madigan, Survey Coordinator; 

Tanya Gossett and January Ruck, Reporting; Matthew Borders, Historian; Kristie Kendall, 

Program Assistant 

Battlefield Surveyor(s) Joseph E. Brent, Mudpuppy & Waterdog, Inc., and Kathleen 

Madigan and Matthew Borders, American Battlefield Protection Program, NPS 

Respondents Mike Fraering, Port Hudson State Historic Site; Henry V. Maggio 

(Natchitoches, LA); Steven M. Mayeux, Friends of Fort DeRussy, Inc.; Sarah McKee, Fort 

Jackson Park; Chris Pena, Nicholls State University; Duke Rivet, Louisiana Division of 

Archeology; Roland R. Stansbury, Young-Sanders Center for the Study of the War Between 

the States in Louisiana; Terrence Winschel, Vicksburg National Military Park 

Acknowledgements Scott Dearman, Mansfield State Historic Site; Patricia Duncan, 

Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation; Chip McGimsey, Ph.D., Louisiana Division of 

Archaeology; Dale Phillips, National Park Service 

Cover: Located at the center of the Baton Rouge battlefield, the Baton Rouge National 

Cemetery is the final resting place of Union soldiers and sailors who died at Baton Rouge 

and in other central Louisiana battles. Three Confederate soldiers lie here as well. 

Photograph by Joseph E. Brent, 2008. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 

Table of Contents 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3

SYNOPSIS ........................................................................................................................ 5

METHOD STATEMENT ..................................................................................................... 9

RESEARCH AND FIELD SURVEYS ...................................................................................................... 9 

QUESTIONNAIRES ....................................................................................................................... 12 

SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS OF LOUISIANA’S CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS .................. 14

QUANTIFIED LAND AREAS ........................................................................................................... 14 

CONDITION ASSESSMENTS ........................................................................................................... 15 

REGISTRATION ........................................................................................................................... 16

STEWARDSHIP ............................................................................................................................ 18 

PUBLIC ACCESS AND INTERPRETATION........................................................................................... 20 

LOCAL ADVOCACY ..................................................................................................................... 21

INDIVIDUAL BATTLEFIELD PROFILES.....................................................................23 

APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 91

APPENDIX A. CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION ACT OF 2002 ............................................... 91 

APPENDIX B. BATTLEFIELD QUESTIONNAIRE ................................................................................. 94 

APPENDIX C. CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD LAND ACQUISITION GRANTS ................................................ 97 

APPENDIX D. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM PLANNING GRANTS .......................... 98 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 3 

Introduction 

The information in this report fulfills, in part, the purposes of the Civil War Battlefield 

Preservation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016). Those purposes are: 

1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect nationally significant Civil 

War battlefields through conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of those 

battlefields from willing sellers; and 

2) to create partnerships among state and local governments, regional entities, and 

the private sector to preserve, conserve, and enhance nationally significant Civil 

War battlefields. 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 directs the Secretary of the Interior, 

acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) of the National Park 

Service, to update the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSAC) Report on the Nation’s 

Civil War Battlefields. The CWSAC was established by Congress in 1991 and published its 

report in 1993. Congress provided funding for this update in FY 2005 and FY 2007. 

Congress asked that the updated report reflect the following: 

• Preservation activities carried out at the 384 battlefields identified by the CWSAC 

during the period between 1993 and the update; 

• Changes in the condition of the battlefields during that period; and 

• Any other relevant developments relating to the battlefields during that period. 

In accordance with the legislation, this report presents information about Civil War 

battlefields in Louisiana for use by Congress, federal, state, and local government agencies, 

landowners, and other interest groups. Other state reports will be issued as surveys and 

analyses are completed.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 4 

Figure 1. CWSAC battlefields in Louisiana. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 5 

Synopsis 

There are 23 CWSAC battlefields in the State of Louisiana. Historically, these battlefields 

encompassed more than 190,000 acres.1

 Today, about 79,000 acres, or 41 percent, retain 

sufficient significance and integrity to make them worthy of preservation.2

 Only 6,100 

acres of these battlefields, however, are permanently protected by governments and 

private nonprofit organizations (see Table 8). 

While no battlefield remains completely unaltered since the Civil War, 15 of Louisiana’s 23 

battlefields have experienced relatively little or only moderate change to their terrain and 

aboveground battle features in nearly 150 years (see Table 6).3

 Despite this wealth of 

resources, only land at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Fort DeRussy, Mansfield, and 

Port Hudson has been permanently protected. All 15 sites should be the focus of 

national, state, and local preservation efforts during the next decade. 

Of the battlefield land already protected in Louisiana, almost all of it has been purchased 

in fee and placed in public ownership. Many other states provide tax credits for private 

property owners who donate conservation easements that will permanently protect 

historic land. Further exploration of this powerful preservation tool may be appropriate in 

Louisiana. 

Along Louisiana’s rivers and bayous, land is divided in long, narrow lots that stretch away 

from the waterways. Known as arpent land divisions,4

 these narrow parcels provide each 

owner with water access and arable land. Traditional settlement on these parcels has been 

housing and farm structures built close to the waterway and cultivation of the remaining 

inland portion of land. The resulting land use pattern is clustered development along the 

water and open land to either side. Many Civil War battles took place along rivers and 

bayous, the principle transportation routes at the time. Because of land use associated 

with the arpent system, battlefield integrity along the water is often impaired by 

development, but the landscape’s integrity beyond this ribbon of development is often 

excellent. That so many individual property owners hold slivers of the historic landscape 

also hinders protection efforts; advocates may have difficulty purchasing land or 

easements from enough willing sellers to create a critical mass of protected land. Longterm, creative solutions will be necessary to protect battlefields where the arpent system is 

in place. 

 

During its assessment, the CWSAC used a four-tiered priority system that combined historic 

significance, current condition, and level of threat to determine priorities for preservation 

among the battlefields. Nationwide, the CWSAC identified 50 first tier or top priority 

battlefields; one, Port Hudson, is in Louisiana. The CWSAC viewed these battlefields as 

the most historically significant of the war, the most endangered in 1993, and having a 

“critical need for action.” 

 

1

Using GIS software, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated that the Study Areas for the 23 battlefields in 

Louisiana represent 193,327.79acres (including land associated with Goodrich’s Landing and Milliken’s Bend in Mississippi). 2

Using GIS software, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated that the Potential National Register Boundaries for 

the 23 battlefields in Louisiana represent 79,450.03 acres (no land in Mississippi associated with Goodrich’s Landing or Milliken’s 

Bend retains integrity). 3

 The condition of archeological resources within the battlefields was not assessed. Future studies are needed to determine the

degree of archeological integrity associated with subsurface battle deposits. 4

 Derived from arpentage, the French term for land surveying, the arpent is a unit of measure used to describe both linear distance 

and area. In Louisiana, a linear arpent equals approximately 191.8 feet, and a square arpent equals approximately 0.8445 acre. Russ 

Rowlett, “A Dictionary of Units of Measurement,” University of North Carolina, http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictA.html 

(accessed June 30, 2010). 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 6 

The CWSAC assigned five more Louisiana battlefields to the second tier, those considered 

“opportunities for comprehensive preservation.” These were battlefields “in relatively 

good condition, [and] face few threats, but are relatively unprotected....” 

The third tier included battlefields “that already have substantial historic land under 

protection and face limited threats,” but that needed “some additional land protection.” 

Two were in Louisiana. 

The CWSAC’s fourth and lowest tier was for “fragmented” battlefields. The CWSAC 

explained, “While some lost battlefields are truly obliterated, important remnants of 

others still exist....” Although these sites “to varying degrees no longer convey an 

authentic sense of the sweep and setting of the battle, they often remain important areas 

suitable for interpretation, museums, and commemoration.”5

 In 1993, the CWSAC 

determined that 12 Louisiana battlefields had been substantially compromised by post-war 

development. 

 Louisiana’s only top priority from 1993, Port Hudson, remains severely threatened. 

Although about 900 acres of the surviving historic landscape are protected by the state 

historic site, more than 5,000 acres are privately owned and under increasing development 

pressure. Land protection efforts need to continue to save this nationally significant 

landscape. 

Table 1. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – First Tier 

CWSAC Priority Battlefield Parish 

I Critical Need 

1 Battlefield

Port Hudson (LA010) East Baton Rouge, East 

Feliciana

Four of the five battlefields in the second tier, battlefields with “comprehensive 

preservation” opportunities in 1993, remain good preservation opportunities today. 

These four battlefields, Fort DeRussy, Irish Bend, Mansfield, and Mansura, are in good 

condition but development has spread onto each landscape. Most severely threatened 

are Mansfield and Mansura, the former by lignite mining activities and the latter by 

sprawl associated with the growth of Marksville. Both battlefields need immediate and 

coordinated attention from federal, state, and local preservation advocates. The fifth 

battlefield, LaFourche Crossing, has been severely affected by development; only the 

eastern quarter of the battlefield retains integrity. Undisturbed land in the eastern Core 

Area and along the railroad should be the target of preservation activities at this 

battlefield. 

Table 2. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – Second Tier 

CWSAC Priority Battlefield Parish 

II Comprehensive 

Preservation Possible 

5 Battlefields

Fort DeRussy (LA017)

Irish Bend (LA007) 

LaFourche Crossing (LA012) 

Mansfield (LA012) 

Mansura (LA022) 

Avoyelles 

St. Mary 

LaFourche, Assumption 

DeSoto

Avoyelles

 

 5Civil War Sites Advisory Commission, Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields, Washington, DC: National Park Service, U.S. 

Department of the Interior, 1993, 22- 23.
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Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 7 

The ABPP’s review of the third tier battlefields in Louisiana, Plains Store and Stirling’s 

Plantation, found that both survive in good condition but both remain completely 

unprotected. The ABPP believes these battlefields should be viewed as higher priorities for 

preservation. The northern portion of the Plains Store battlefield retains integrity, but 

continuing residential construction threatens to overtake it. Within commuting distance 

of Baton Rouge, the area is growing and already boasts a large golf course community just 

east of the battlefield. Further development may destroy the remaining historic 

landscape. Protection efforts are needed immediately. 

Stirling’s Plantation retains a high degree of integrity. Residential development and oil 

exploration represent potential, but not immediate, threats. Today, Stirling’s Plantation 

presents one of best opportunities for comprehensive battlefield landscape protection in 

Louisiana. 

Table 3. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – Third Tier 

CWSAC Priority Battlefield Parish 

III Additional Protection 

Needed 

2 Battlefields

Plains Store (LA009)

Stirling’s Plantation (LA016) 

East Baton Rouge

Point Coupee, St. Landy 

Twelve battlefields in Louisiana were placed in the fourth tier, severely fragmented or lost, 

in 1993. Of these, the ABPP confirmed that six retain greater amounts of integrity to 

varying degrees, one retains a more modest level of integrity, and the remaining five are 

beyond hope of meaningful preservation. 

Landscapes and historic features within the Study Areas of Fort Bisland, Forts Jackson 

and St. Philip, Georgia Landing, and Kock's Plantation retain integrity to varying 

degrees and face steady and accelerating threats. In the case of the Forts Jackson and 

St. Philip battlefield, the threats are chronic. Water and wind erosion continues to 

exacerbate hurricane damage at Fort Jackson, funds are lacking to abate the elements and 

repair the fort, and unchecked vegetative growth has overtaken the entire site of Fort St. 

Philip, which is in private ownership. The ABPP recommends all four of the above 

battlefields be viewed as higher priorities for preservation . 

The battlefields of Goodrich’s Landing and Yellow Bayou also retain good integrity, 

but are less threatened. Both battlefields offer opportunities for full protection of their 

remaining landscapes, some 16,000 acres in total. 

Milliken’s Bend, while having some integrity, does not retain as much as the previous six 

battlefields. The Mississippi River has altered its course since the time of battle, however, 

the land portion of the battlefield still has some integrity and offers opportunities for longterm preservation. 

The remaining five battlefields in Louisiana have changed dramatically since the Civil War. 

Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville I, Donaldsonville II, New Orleans, and Vermillion 

Bayou provide opportunities for commemoration, but few opportunities for cultural 

resource preservation beyond what has been saved and maintained. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 8 

Table 4. CWSAC Preservation Priorities from 1993 – Fourth Tier 

CWSAC Priority Battlefield Parish 

II Fragmented/ 

Destroyed 

12 Battlefields

Baton Rouge (LA003) 

Donaldsonville I (LA004)) 

Donaldsonville II (LA013) 

Fort Bisland (LA006) 

Forts Jackson and 

 St. Philip (LA001) 

Georgia Landing (LA005) 

Goodrich’s Landing (LA014) 

Kock’s Plantation (LA015) 

Milliken’s Bend (LA011) 

New Orleans (LA002) 

Vermillion Bayou (LA008) 

Yellow Bayou (LA023) 

East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge

Ascension 

Ascension

St. Mary, St. Martin 

Plaquemines 

Assumption, Lafourche

East Carroll; Isaquena County, MS 

Ascension, Assumption 

Madison; Warren County, MS 

St. Bernard, Orleans, 

Plaquemines, Jefferson 

Lafayette 

Avoyelles, Point Coupee

The CWSAC did not collect survey data for Blair’s Landing, Monett’s Ferry, or Pleasant 

Hill; therefore these battlefields did not receive Preservation Priority assignments in the 

1993 report. As part of the fieldwork undertaken for this update, the ABPP assessed 

conditions at each battlefield and assigned site boundaries. 

Pleasant Hill and Monett’s Ferry both retain a high degree of landscape integrity and 

face increasing development threats. Both of these Red River Campaign sites should be 

the focus of coordinated federal, state, and local efforts. Changes in the path of the 

Mississippi River have substantially altered portions of the historic landscape at Blair’s 

Landing. Other areas have been affected by residential and commercial development. 

Much of the battlefield’s Core Area retains integrity, however, and should be the focus of 

future protection efforts. 

See the Individual Battlefield Profiles for detailed condition assessments and preservation 

recommendations. The National Park Service will issue updated priorities after all CWSAC 

battlefields nationwide have been surveyed and all state reports have been completed. 

Figure 2: Rural farmland within 

the Kock’s Plantation

battlefield. Photograph by 

Joseph E. Brent, 2009.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 9 

Method Statement 

Congress instructed the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American Battlefield 

Protection Program (ABPP), to report on changes in the condition of the battlefields since 

1993 and on “preservation activities” and “other relevant developments” carried out at 

each battlefield since 1993. To fulfill those assignments, the ABPP 1) conducted a site 

survey of each battlefield, and 2) prepared and sent out questionnaires to battlefield 

managers and advocacy organizations (see Appendix B). 

The 1993 significance rankings for each battlefield stand. Significance was assigned by the 

Civil War Sites Advisory Commission and the ABPP sustains the CWSAC’s opinions as to the 

relevant importance of each battle within the larger context of the war. 

Research and Field Surveys 

The ABPP conducted the field assessments of Louisiana battlefields in February 2008 and in 

September 2009. The surveys entailed additional historical research, on-the-ground 

documentation and assessment of site conditions, identification of impending threats to 

each site, and site mapping. Surveyors used a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to 

map historic features of each battlefield and used a Geographic Information System (GIS) 

program to draw site boundaries. The ABPP retains all final survey materials. Each 

battlefield survey file includes a survey form (field notes, list of defining features, list of 

documentary sources, and a photo log), photographs, spatial coordinates of significant 

features, and boundaries described on USGS topographic maps. The surveys did not 

include archeological investigations for reasons of time and expense. 

Study Areas and Core Areas 

The CWSAC identified a Study Area and a Core Area for each principal battlefield in 

Louisiana (see Figure 3 for definitions) except for Blair’s Landing, Monett’s Ferry, and 

Pleasant Hill. ) The CWSAC boundaries have proven invaluable as guides to local land 

and resource preservation efforts at Civil War battlefields. Since 1993, however, the 

National Park Service has refined its battlefield survey methodology, which include 

research, working with site stewards, identifying and documenting lines of approach and 

withdrawal used by opposing forces, and applying the concepts of military terrain analysis 

to all battlefield landscapes. The ABPP’s Battlefield Survey Manual explains the field 

methods employed during this study.6

 The surveys also incorporate the concepts 

recommended in the National Register of Historic Places’ Guidelines for Identifying, 

Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields, which was published in 1992 

after the CWSAC completed its original assessments of the battlefields.7

Using its refined methodology, the ABPP was able to validate or adjust the CWSAC’s Study 

Area and Core Area boundaries to reflect more accurately the full nature and original 

resources of the battlefields (see Table 5). For Blair’s Landing, Monett’s Ferry, and

Pleasant Hill, the ABPP researched and delineated new boundaries. For the other 

Louisiana battlefields, the refined methodology resulted in significant increases in the size 

of Study Areas, Core Areas, or both. It is important to note, however, that the Study Area 

and Core Area boundaries are simply historical boundaries that describe where the battle 

took place; neither indicates the current integrity of the battlefield landscape, so neither 

can be used on its own to identify surviving portions of battlefield land that may merit 

protection and preservation. 

 

6

 American Battlefield Protection Program, “Battlefield Survey Manual,” (Washington, DC: National Park Service, revised 2007). 7

 National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields, 1992 , Revised 

1999 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources Division).
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 10 

Figure 3: Boundary Definitions

The Study Area represents the historic extent 

of the battle as it unfolded across the 

landscape. The Study Area contains resources 

known to relate to or contribute to the battle 

event: where troops maneuvered and 

deployed, immediately before, during, and 

after combat, and where they fought during 

combat. Historic accounts, terrain analysis, 

and feature identification inform the 

delineation of the Study Area boundary. The 

Study Area indicates the extent to which 

historic and archeological resources associated 

with the battle (areas of combat, command, 

communications, logistics, medical services, 

etc.) may be found. Surveyors delineated 

Study Area boundaries for every battle site 

that was positively identified through research 

and field survey, regardless of its present 

integrity. 

The Core Area represents the areas of 

fighting on the battlefield. Positions that 

delivered or received fire, and the intervening 

space and terrain between them, fall within 

the Core Area. Frequently described as 

“hallowed ground,” land within the Core Area 

is often the first to be targeted for protection. 

There may be more than one Core Area on a 

battlefield, but all lie within the Study Area. 

Unlike the Study and Core Areas, which are 

based only upon the interpretation of historic 

events, the Potential National Register 

(PotNR) boundary represents ABPP’s 

assessment of a Study Area’s current integrity 

(the surviving landscape and features that 

convey the site’s historic sense of place). The 

PotNR boundary may include all or some of 

the Study Area, and all or some of the Core 

Area. Lands within PotNR boundaries should 

be considered worthy of further attention, 

although future evaluations may reveal more 

or less integrity than indicated by the ABPP 

surveys. 

Potential National Register Boundaries

To address the question of what part of the 

battlefield remains reasonably intact and 

warrants preservation, this study introduced 

a third boundary line that was not 

attempted by the CWSAC: the Potential 

National Register boundary (see Figure 3).

Looking at each Study Area, the surveyors 

assigned PotNR boundaries where they 

judged that the landscape retained enough 

integrity to convey the significance of the 

historic battle. In a few cases, the PotNR 

boundary encompasses the entire Study 

Area. In most cases, however, the PotNR 

boundary includes less land than identified in 

the full Study Area. 

In assigning PotNR boundaries, the ABPP 

followed National Register of Historic Places 

(NRHP) guidelines when identifying and 

mapping areas that retain integrity and 

cohesion within the Study Areas.8

 Because 

the ABPP focuses only on areas of battle, 

however, the Program did not evaluate lands 

adjacent to the Study Area that may 

contribute to a broader historical and 

chronological definition of “cultural 

landscape.” Lands outside of the Study Area 

associated with other historic events and 

cultural practices may need to be evaluated 

in preparation for a formal nomination of 

the cultural landscape. 

Most importantly, the PotNR boundary does 

not constitute a formal determination 

of eligibility by the Keeper of the 

National Register of Historic Places.

9

 The 

PotNR boundary is designed to be used as a 

planning tool for government agencies and 

the public. Like the Study and Core Area 

boundaries, the PotNR boundary places no 

restriction on private property use. 

The term integrity, as defined by the NRHP, is “the ability of a property to convey its 

significance.”10 While assessments of integrity are traditionally based on seven specific 

 

8

 For general guidance about integrity issues and National Register of Historic Places properties, see National Park Service, How to 

Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, revised 1997). The survey 

evaluations described above do not meet the more stringent integrity standards for National Historic Landmark designation. See

National Park Service, How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, 

1999), 36-37. 

9

 See 36 CFR 60.1- 14 for regulations about nominating a property to the National Register of Historic Places and 36 CFR 63 for 

regulations concerning Determinations of Eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. 10 National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, 1992, Revised 1999 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 11 

attributes – location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association – 

battlefields are unique cultural resources and require special evaluation.“ Generally, the 

most important aspects of integrity for battlefields are location, setting, feeling and 

association,” and the most basic test for determining the integrity of any battlefield is to 

assess “whether a participant in the battle would recognize the property as it exists 

today.”11 

Other conditions contribute to the degree of integrity a battlefield retains: 

• the quantity and quality of surviving battle-period resources (e.g., 

buildings, roads, fence lines, military structures, and archeological 

features); 

• the quantity and quality of the spatial relationships between and among 

those historic resources and the landscape that connects them; 

• the extent to which current battlefield land use is similar to battle-period 

land use; and 

• the extent to which a battlefield’s physical features and overall character 

visually communicate an authentic sense of the sweep and setting of the 

battle. 

The degree to which post-war development has altered and fragmented the historic 

landscape or destroyed historic features and viewsheds is critical when assessing integrity. 

Changes in traditional land use over time do not generally diminish a battlefield’s 

integrity. For example, landscapes that were farmland during the Civil War do not need to 

be in agricultural use today to be considered eligible for listing in the NRHP so long as the 

land retains its historic rural character. Similarly, natural changes in vegetation – woods 

growing out of historic farm fields, for example – do not necessarily lessen the landscape’s 

integrity. 

Some post-battle development is expected; slight or moderate change within the 

battlefield may not substantially diminish a battlefield’s integrity. A limited degree of 

residential, commercial, or industrial development is acceptable. These post-battle “noncontributing” elements are often included in the PotNR boundary in accordance with 

NRHP guidelines.12

Significant changes in land use since the Civil War do diminish the integrity of the 

battlefield landscape. Heavy residential, commercial, and industrial development; cellular 

tower and wind turbine installation; and large highway construction are common 

examples of such changes. Battlefield landscapes with these types of changes are 

generally considered as having little or no integrity. 

The PotNR boundaries therefore indicate which battlefields are likely eligible for future 

listing in the NRHP and likely deserving of future preservation efforts. If a surveyor 

 Division), http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/pdfs/NRB40.pdf. Archeological integrity was not examined during this 

study, but should be considered in future battlefield studies and formal nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. 11 National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, 1992, Revised 1999 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources 

Division). 

12 The ABPP looks only at the battle-related elements of a cultural landscape. Post-battle elements, while not contributing to the 

significance of the battlefield, may be eligible for separate listing in the National Register of Historic Places on their own merits.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 12 

determined that a battlefield was entirely compromised by land use incompatible with the 

preservation of historic features (i.e., it has little or no integrity), the ABPP did not assign a 

PotNR boundary.13 

In cases where a battlefield is already listed in the NRHP, surveyors reassessed the existing 

documentation based on current scholarship and resource integrity, and, when 

appropriate, provided new information and proposed new boundaries as part of the 

surveys. As a result, some PotNR boundaries will contain or share a boundary with lands 

already listed in the NRHP. In other cases, PotNR boundaries will exclude listed lands that 

have lost integrity (see Table 7 for boundary comparisons.)14

The data from which all three boundaries are drawn do not necessarily reflect the full 

research needed for a formal NRHP nomination. PotNR boundaries are based on an 

assessment of aboveground historic features associated with the cultural and natural 

landscape. The surveys did not include a professional archeological inventory or 

assessment of subsurface features or indications. In some cases, future archeological 

testing will help determine whether subsurface features remain, whether subsurface battle 

features convey important information about a battle or historic property, and whether 

that information may help to confirm, refine, or refute the boundaries previously 

determined by historic studies and terrain analysis. 

The ABPP survey information should be reassessed during future compliance processes 

such as the Section 106 process required by the National Historic Preservation Act 15 and 

Environmental Impact Statements/Environmental Assessments required by the National 

Environmental Policy Act.16 Likewise, more detailed research and assessments should take 

place when any battlefield is formally nominated to the NRHP or proposed for designation 

as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). New research and intensive-level surveys of these 

sites will enlighten future preservation and compliance work. Agencies should continue to 

consult local and state experts for up-to-date information about these battlefields. 

Four Louisiana battlefields—Baton Rouge, Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Mansfield, 

and Port Hudson—are already listed in the NRHP or are designated as National Historic 

Landmarks (see Table 7). The ABPP believes, however, that the Mansfield NRHP listing 

and the Port Hudson NHL designation should be reevaluated. The existing 

documentation for these two important battlefields does not express accurately their size 

or current integrity. In addition, the ABPP has identified 16 other battlefields in Louisiana 

that are likely eligible for listing in the NRHP. 

Questionnaires 

While the ABPP maintains data about its own program activities at Civil War battlefields, 

most preservation work occurs at the local level. Therefore, to answer Congress's directive 

for information about battlefield preservation activities, the ABPP sought input from local 

 

13 National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic 

Battlefields, 1992 , Revised 1999 (http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/pdfs/NRB40.pdf), offers recommendations 

regarding "Selecting Defensible Boundaries." While this document indicates that "generally, boundaries should not be drawn to 

include the portion of the route taken to the battlefield where there were no encounters," the Guidelines also state that "a basic 

principle is to include within the boundary all of the locations where opposing forces, either before, during or after the battle, took 

actions based on their assumption of being in the presence of the enemy." The ABPP interprets this latter guidance to mean all

military activities that influenced the battle. See the individual battlefield profiles for information about military actions taken along 

the routes included. In accordance with the methodology of this study, if routes included in the Study Area retain integrity, they are 

included within the Potential National Register boundary for the battlefield landscape. 14 The ABPP’s surveys and PotNR assessments do not constitute formal action on behalf of the office of the National Register of 

Historic Places. PotNR assessments are intended for planning purposes only; they do not carry the authority to add, change, or

remove an official listing. 

15 16 USC 470f. 

16 42 USC 4331-4332.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 13 

battlefield managers and advocacy organizations. The ABPP distributed questionnaires 

designed to gather information about the types of preservation activities that have taken 

place at the battlefields since 1993. The Questionnaire is reproduced in Appendix B. 

In Louisiana, representatives of seven organizations completed and returned 

questionnaires. Their responses, combined with the survey findings, allowed the ABPP to 

create a profile of conditions and activities at Louisiana’s Civil War battlefields. 

Figure 4. Natural threats endanger many battlefield features in Louisiana. Here, the parapet and 

bombproof at Fort Jackson are overgrown with mature trees. Root systems will slowly break apart 

the masonry and, if the trees blow over in a storm, dislodge chunks of parapet. Photograph by 

Joseph E. Brent, 2008. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 14 

Summary of Conditions of Louisiana’s Civil War Battlefields 

Quantified Land Areas 

Using Geographic Information Systems software, the ABPP calculated the amount of land 

historically associated with the battle (Study Area), the amount of land where forces were 

engaged (Core Area), and the amount of land that may retain enough integrity to be 

eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and that remains to be 

protected (Potential National Register boundary). 

As noted above, Study Areas and Core Areas have been revised in many cases. In 

particular, the original CWSAC surveys did not consistently include routes of approach and 

withdrawal or secondary actions that influenced the course or outcome of the battle. The 

revised boundaries take these movements and actions into account.17 In some instances, 

new or additional research has sharpened historical understanding of battle events. 

Therefore, the ABPP determined that additional lands belong appropriately in the Study 

and Core Areas because they lend additional understanding to the battle story. The 

individual battlefield profiles at the end of this report provide additional information 

about the extent of and reasons for any revisions to the CWSAC Study Area and Core Area 

boundaries. 

Table 5 lists the size of the three boundaries, as determined by the ABPP, for each 

battlefield. Because Civil War armies waged numerous battles in Louisiana over the same 

ground, the total number of battlefield acres in Louisiana is lower than a straight tally 

would indicate. Calculating for the overlapping areas of the battlefields, there are 

approximately 193,000 total Study Area acres (including 15,900 acres in Mississippi), 46,000 

total Core Area acres, and 79,000 total acres likely eligible for listing in the NRHP in 

Louisiana. 

Table 5. Battlefield Area Statistics

Battlefield Study Area Core Area PotNR 

Boundary 

Baton Rouge (LA003) 15,564.21 5,187.80 0.00 

Blair's Landing (LA020) 2,547.77 995.07 1,237.97 

Donaldsonville I (LA004) 3,610.11 456.54 3,272.14 

Donaldsonville II (LA013) 4,980.91 1,338.27 0.00 

Fort Bisland (LA006) 9,895.80 2,648.92 2,487.84 

Fort DeRussy (LA017) 1,475.19 575.52 813.16 

Forts Jackson and St. Philip (LA001) 14,619.32 5,005.22 13,693.59 

Georgia Landing (LA005) 3,140.48 582.14 469.32 

Goodrich's Landing (LA014)* 29,203.48 1,241.11 12,795.73 

Irish Bend (LA007) 7,772.88 2,787.41 4,990.88 

Kock's Plantation (LA015) 4,270.76 1,984.17 1,402.34 

 

17 National Register Bulletin 40, Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating, and Registering America’s Historic Battlefields 

(http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/pdfs/NRB40.pdf), offers recommendations regarding “Selecting Defensible 

Boundaries.” While this document indicates that “generally, boundaries should not be drawn to include the portion of the route

taken to the battlefield where there were no encounters,” the guidelines also state that “a basic principle is to include within the 

boundary all of the locations where opposing forces, either before, during or after the battle, took actions based on their assumption 

of being in the presence of the enemy.” The ABPP interprets this latter guidance to mean all military activities that influenced the 

battle. See the individual battlefield profiles for information about military actions taken along the routes included. In accordance 

with the methodology of this study, if routes included in the Study Area retain integrity, they are included within the Potential 

National Register boundary for the battlefield landscape. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 15 

LaFourche Crossing (LA012) 3,572.68 412.87 864.64 

Mansfield (LA018) 10,960.15 4,105.58 9,347.42 

Mansura (LA022) 7,402.21 4,350.24 2,887.09 

Milliken's Bend (LA011)** 17,395.21 1,538.96 2,037.71 

Monett's Ferry (LA021) 7,293.24 2,979.55 6,819.62 

New Orleans (LA002) 24,610.77 534.16 0.00 

Plains Store (LA009) 3,718.62 1,158.52 1,307.60 

Pleasant Hill (LA019) 4,180.28 1,711.34 4,038.41 

Port Hudson (LA010) 11,949.48 4,275.56 6,315.21 

Stirling's Plantation (LA016) 3,732.69 1,311.22 3,292.29 

Vermillion Bayou (LA008) 2,480.76 289.34 0.00 

Yellow Bayou (LA023) 5,067.51 1,318.55 3,240.31 

*The Goodrich’s Landing Study Area includes 8,263.91 acres in Mississippi. 

** The Milliken’s Bend Study Area includes 7,644.83 acres in Mississippi. 

Condition Assessments 

Using field survey data, the ABPP assessed the overall condition of each battlefield’s Study 

Area. While no battlefield remains completely unaltered since the Civil War, 15 of 

Louisiana’s 23 battlefields have experienced relatively little or only moderate change to 

their terrain and aboveground battle features in nearly 150 years.18

The 15 sites in the best condition should be the focus of sustained and coordinated 

national, state, and local preservation efforts (see Table 6). Most of these places remain 

rural and relatively unscathed. The topography, viewsheds, and character defining 

features of these landscapes convey the significance of the battles that unfolded across 

them. 

Several other battlefields have been altered to varying degrees, but each still presents 

opportunities for land and resource protection. Changes in the course of the Mississippi 

River have wiped away swathes of the Blair’s Landing and Milliken’s Bend landscapes, 

but in areas where the topography remains unaltered, the land is rural and open. At 

LaFourche Crossing, the growth of the City of Thibodaux has destroyed all but the 

easternmost portion of the battlefield. 

The remaining five battlefields have lost integrity, overwhelmed by development of 

various kinds. Within these now-urban battlefields—Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville I, 

Donaldsonville II, New Orleans, and Vermillion Bayou—archeological investigations 

may uncover important subsurface battle features, and protected but isolated features 

such as Forts Pike and Macon in New Orleans will continue to need care, but the 

opportunity to save the landscapes of battle is gone. 

 

18 The condition of archeological resources within the battlefields was not assessed. Future studies are needed to determine the

degree of archeological integrity associated with subsurface battle deposits. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 16 

Table 6: Battlefield Condition Summary 

Condition Battlefield 

Land use and terrain is little 

changed (3)

Irish Bend, Pleasant Hill, Stirling’s Plantation

Portions of landscape have been 

altered, but most essential features 

remain (12)

Fort Bisland, Fort DeRussy, Forts Jackson and St. 

Philip, Georgia Landing, Goodrich’s Landing, 

Kock’s Plantation, Mansfield, Mansura, Monett’s 

Ferry, Plains Store, Port Hudson, Yellow Bayou 

Much of the landscape has been 

altered and fragmented, leaving 

some essential features (5)

Blair’s Landing, LaFourche Crossing, Milliken’s 

Bend, New Orleans, Donaldsonville I* 

Landscape and terrain have been 

altered beyond recognition (3)

Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville II, Vermillion 

Bayou 

 

*Only water features retain integrity at Donaldsonville I. 

Registration 

The nation’s official method for recognizing historic properties worthy of preservation is 

listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or designation as a National 

Historic Landmark (NHL). As of June 2010, more than 6,100 acres at four Louisiana Civil 

War battlefields have been listed in the NRHP.19 Of those 6,100 acres, approximately 5,900 

reflect a single listing, Port Hudson’s National Historic Landmark boundary. 

The ABPP believes the Port Hudson designation and the Mansfield NRHP listing, both of 

which are based on documentation from the early 1970s, should be reevaluated. The 

existing documentation does not express accurately the size or current integrity of these 

two important battlefields. (For a comparison of the listed land and the ABPP’s 

recommended boundaries, see the maps in the Individual Battlefield Profiles for 

Mansfield and Port Hudson.) 

In addition, the ABPP also found that portions of 16 other battlefields, encompassing 

nearly 52,000 acres, may also be eligible for listing in the NRHP. 

Registered battlefields meet national standards for documentation, physical integrity, and 

demonstrable significance to the history of our nation. Federal, state, and local agencies 

use information from the NRHP as a planning tool to identify and make decisions about 

cultural resources. Federal and state laws, most notably Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act of 1966, require agencies to account for the effects their projects 

(roads, wetland permits, quarrying, cell towers, etc.) may have on listed and eligible 

historic properties, such as battlefields. Listing allows project designers to quickly identify 

the battlefield and avoid or minimize impacts to the landscape. 

Properties listed in the NRHP may also be eligible for federal and state historic 

preservation grant programs. Recognition as an NRHP listed battlefield can advance public 

 

19 National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, Washington, DC. The exact sum of listed lands is 6,140.83 

acres. Note that some National Register of Historic Places lands may have lost integrity since they were listed.
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 17 

understanding of and appreciation for the battlefield, and may encourage advocacy for its 

preservation.20 

Table 7 compares the number of acres already listed in the NRHP with the number of acres 

that are likely to meet the same criteria, but are not currently part of an existing NRHP 

boundary. As noted earlier, several Louisiana battlefields overlap in land area. Therefore, 

the total amount of intact land potentially eligible for listing in the NRHP, about 79,000 

acres, is lower than a simple tally of the numbers in the table.21 

Table 7: Acres Registered Compared with Acres Potentially 

Eligible to be Registered

Battlefield Designation 

ABPP 

PotNR Acres

Existing 

Registered Acres

Acres 

Potentially 

Eligible to be 

Registerted

Baton Rouge (LA003) NRHP 0.00 18.29 0.00 

Blair's Landing (LA020) 1,237.97 0.00 1,237.97 

Donaldsonville I (LA004)* 3,272.14 0.00 3,272.14 

Donaldsonville II (LA013)** 0.00 1.00 0.00 

Fort Bisland (LA006) 2,487.84 0.00 2,487.84 

Fort DeRussy (LA017) 813.16 0.00 813.16 

Forts Jackson and St. Philip (LA001) NHL 13,693.59 116.35 13,577.24 

Georgia Landing (LA005) 469.32 0.00 469.32 

Goodrich's Landing (LA014) 12,795.73 0.00 12,795.73 

Irish Bend (LA007) 4,990.88 0.00 4,990.88 

Kock's Plantation (LA015) 1,402.34 0.00 1,402.34 

LaFourche Crossing (LA012) 864.64 0.00 864.64 

Mansfield (LA018) NRHP 9,347.42 44.61 9,302.81 

Mansura (LA022) 2,887.09 0.00 2,887.09 

Milliken's Bend (LA011) 2,037.71 0.00 2,037.71 

Monett's Ferry (LA021) 6,819.62 0.00 6,819.62 

New Orleans (LA002) 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Plains Store (LA009) 1,307.60 0.00 1,307.60 

Pleasant Hill (LA019) 4,038.41 0.00 4,038.41 

Port Hudson (LA010) NHL 6,315.21 5,990.24 324.97 

Stirling's Plantation (LA016) 3,292.29 0.00 3,292.29 

Vermillion Bayou (LA008) 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Yellow Bayou (LA023) 3,240.31 0.00 3,240.31 

*Only water features retain integrity at Donaldsonville I. 

**The one-acre archeological site of Fort Butler is listed in the NRHP, but the battlefield itself 

 Is not.

 

20 There are three levels of federal recognition for historic properties: Congressional designations such as national park units, 

National Historic Landmarks, and listings in the National Register of Historic Places. Congress creates national park units. The 

Secretary of the Interior designates National Historic Landmarks (NHL) – nationally significant historic sites – for their exceptional 

value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is 

the nation’s official list of cultural sites significant at the national, state, or local level and worthy of preservation. Historic units of 

the National Park System and NHLs are also listed in the NRHP. 21 Using GIS, and accounting for overlapping areas, the ABPP calculated that the Potential National Register Boundaries (inclusive of 

existing listings) for the Civil War battlefields in Louisiana represent 79,450.03 acres. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 18 

Stewardship 

For the purposes of this update, public lands managed as historic sites in order to preserve 

battlefield resources are protected. Other public land, not managed for the preservation 

of the battlefield landscape, still has potential for damaging threats. The land is subject to 

state and federal preservation law, preventing private development, but its primary use 

may not be compatible with preservation of the battlefield landscape. It may also be 

threatened by natural processes. 

Less than eight percent of Louisiana’s surviving Civil War battlefield acreage is 

permanently protected. Most of the protected land is owned by the State. Since 1921, the 

State has purchased more than 4,500 acres of battlefield land for different purposes—

historic preservation, wildlife management, and forest management. The Louisiana 

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Office of State Parks, and the Agricultural 

Finance Authority are the agencies responsible for resource stewardship at seven 

battlefields. 

Federal stewardship of Civil War battlefields in Louisiana is limited. Only about 1,500 acres 

are protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. 

The ABPP was able to identify only one local government that has stepped in to protect 

Louisiana’s Civil War past. Plaquemines Parish owns and manages the 82-acre site of Fort 

Jackson. The hurricane-damaged masonry fort requires repair and restoration funds 

beyond what the parish can make available. Due to safety concerns, the parish has kept 

the fort closed to the public since 2005. 

The ABPP found no nonprofit organizations that owned land or easements on Louisiana 

battlefields. This finding is surprising given the active role nonprofits play in protecting 

historic battlefields in other states. Nonprofits can step in to preserve historic sites when 

public funding and management for historic preservation are absent. When public 

funding is available, nonprofits can serve as vital partners in public-private preservation 

efforts, acting as conduits for public funds, raising critical private matching funds, keeping 

history and preservation in the public eye, and working with landowners to find ways to 

protect battlefield parcels. More work is needed to focus the attention of existing 

nonprofits on battlefield protection in Louisiana, and to develop grassroots organizations 

that can advocate for the battlefields at the local level. 

Table 8: Summary of Battlefield Stewardship in Louisiana

Steward Battlefield at Which Land or 

Development Rights are Owned 

Total Acres 

Protected 

Federal Government Monett’s Ferry, New Orleans, Port Hudson 1,519.57

State Government Fort Bisland, Fort DeRussy, Forts Jackson and 

St. Philip, Irish Bend, Mansfield, Monett’s 

Ferry, and Port Hudson 

4,530.71 

Local Governments Forts Jackson and St. Philip 82.00

Nonprofit Organizations None 0.00

Total 6,132.28
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 19 

Landscape preservation efforts in other states have benefited greatly from the purchase of 

development rights in the form of conservation easements. Used in conjunction with or 

instead of a traditional fee simple purchase, conservation easements are one of the most 

successful preservation and stewardship tools available for protecting battlefields. This 

type of easement allows private property owners to keep their land while receiving tax 

benefits for donating the easement, and is becoming increasingly popular with 

landowners who want to restrict future development of their property. The federal 

government provides income tax credits to private property owners who donate 

conservation easements that permanently protect historic land. Preservation advocates 

need to work with land trusts and willing sellers to apply this powerful tool at Civil War 

battlefields in Louisiana. 

The majority of remaining intact battlefield terrain in the state—more than 73,000 acres—

is still held in private, unprotected ownership. 

Through the development of collaborative partnerships among federal, state, and local 

governments, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals, significant protective 

measures can be effective in Louisiana. Such partnerships are especially necessary in 

association with the seven Red River Campaign battlefields - Blair's Landing, Fort De 

Russy, Mansfield, Mansura, Monett's Ferry , Pleasant Hill, and Yellow Bayou. The 

landscapes associated with the 1864 campaign cover more than 30,000 acres, but only 

1,600 acres are permanently protected. 

For each battlefield, Table 9 compares the amount of land permanently protected from 

development against the total amount of land that has integrity but remains 

unprotected.22 This information may serve planners and preservation advocates as a tool 

for prioritizing future preservation initiatives. 

Table 9: Protective Stewardship of Intact Battlefield Land

Battlefield Permanently 

Protected Acres 

ABPP PotNR 

Acres 

Unprotected, Intact 

Acres Remaining 

Baton Rouge (LA003) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Blair's Landing (LA020) 0.00 1,237.97 1,237.97

Donaldsonville I (LA004) 0.00 3,272.14 3,272.14

Donaldsonville II (LA013) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Fort Bisland (LA006) 253.85 2,487.84 2,233.99

Fort DeRussy (LA017) 75.00 813.16 738.16

Forts Jackson and St. Philip (LA001) 269.36 13,693.59 13,424.23

Georgia Landing (LA005) 0.00 469.32 469.32

Goodrich's Landing (LA014) 0.00 12,795.73 12,795.73

Irish Bend (LA007) 2,846.57 4,990.88 2,144.31

Kock's Plantation (LA015) 0.00 1,402.34 1,402.34

LaFourche Crossing (LA012) 0.00 864.64 864.64

Mansfield (LA018) 178.05 9,347.42 9,169.37

Mansura (LA022) 0.00 2,887.09 2,887.09

Milliken's Bend (LA011) 0.00 2,037.71 2,037.71

Monett's Ferry (LA021) 1,363.13 6,819.62 5,456.49

New Orleans (LA002) 159.70 0.00 0.00

Plains Store (LA009) 0.00 1,307.60 1,307.60

Pleasant Hill (LA019) 0.00 4,038.41 4,038.41

Port Hudson (LA010) 986.62 6,315.21 5,328.59

Stirling's Plantation (LA016) 0.00 3,292.29 3,292.29

Vermillion Bayou (LA008) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Yellow Bayou (LA023) 0.00 3,240.31 3,240.31

 

22 The ABPP culled information about permanently protected lands from questionnaire respondents and numerous partner 

organizations. The data is not necessarily complete but provides an approximate idea of the amount of land protected at each 

battlefield as of 2010. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 20 

Public Access and Interpretation

In its questionnaire (see Appendix B), the ABPP asked battlefield stewards about the types 

of public access and interpretation available at their battlefield. The ABPP did not collect 

information about the purpose or intent of the interpretation and access, such as whether 

a wayside exhibit was developed for purely educational reasons, to promote heritage 

tourism, or to boost local economic development. 

The ABPP asked respondents to indicate the type of interpretation available at or about 

the battlefield since 1993. The categories included brochures, driving tours, living history 

demonstrations, maintained historic features or areas, walking tours and trails, wayside 

exhibits, websites, and other specialized programs. The results, summarized in Table 10, 

indicate that only 6 of Louisiana’s 23 Civil War battlefields have been providing public 

interpretation and educational opportunities since 1993. 

Table 10: Types of Interpretation at Louisiana Battlefields

On-site Interpretation Since 1993* Battlefield 

Battlefields with public interpretation, 

including visitors center (4) 

Fort DeRussy, Forts Jackson and St. Philip,* 

Mansfield, Port Hudson 

Battlefields with public interpretation, 

but no visitors center (2) 

Blair’s Landing, Goodrich’s Landing 

Battlefields with no public interpretation (17) Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville I, Donaldsonville 

II, Fort Bisland, Georgia Landing, Irish Bend, 

Kock’s Plantation, LaFourche Crossing, 

Mansura, Milliken’s Bend, Monett’s Ferry, 

New Orleans, Plains Store, Pleasant Hill, 

Stirling’s Plantation, Vermillion Bayou, Yellow 

Bayou 

*The Fort Jackson visitor center has been closed since 2005 due to unsafe conditions following hurricanes 

 Katrina and Rita. 

Of the 79,000 acres of Civil War battlefield landscapes in Louisiana, only 6,200 acres (a little 

less than 8 percent) at nine sites are formally accessible to the public. There are state park 

holdings at Fort DeRussy, Mansfield, and Port Hudson. The Parish of Plaquemines 

owns Fort Jackson, which is usually open to the public but has been closed for the past 

five years due to hurricane damage. The public may access portions of the battlefields of 

Fort Bisland and Irish Bend by boat in the Attakapas Island WMA (major public launches 

are available). At Baton Rouge, the battlefield is an urban landscape, but the Magnolia 

Cemetery offers ten acres at the heart of the battlefield where visitors may find 

interpretation about the battle and see Confederate monuments and graves. In New 

Orleans, the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park interprets the history of the city and 

many of the buildings associated with the 1862 battle. At Monett’s Ferry, the public land 

within the Red River National Wildlife Refuge and the Natchitoches Forest Management 

Area allow physical access to the battlefield but do not provide interpretation. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 21 

Local Advocacy 

Nonprofit organizations play important roles in protecting historic battlefields. These 

organizations step in to preserve historic sites when public funding and management for 

historic preservation are absent. When public funding is available, nonprofits serve as vital 

partners in public-private preservation efforts, acting as conduits for public funds, raising 

critical private matching funds, keeping history and preservation in the public eye, and 

working with landowners to find ways to protect battlefield parcels. 

Louisiana battlefields have received little attention from national and state nonprofit 

organizations, and only three local battlefield groups are active in the state: the 

Plaquemines Historic Association, the Friends of Fort DeRussy, and the Friends of the 

Mansfield Battlefield. All three groups were established after the CWSAC issued its report 

in 1993. Similar local organizations are needed to speak for the battlefields that remain in 

good condition, are unprotected, and are “unclaimed” by their communities. 

Table 11: Active Battlefield Friends Groups 

Battlefield Friends Group Year 

Founded 

Baton Rouge (LA003) None 

Blair's Landing (LA020) None 

Donaldsonville I (LA004) None 

Donaldsonville II (LA013) None 

Fort Bisland (LA006) None 

Fort DeRussy (LA017) Friends of Fort DeRussy 1994 

Forts Jackson and St. Philip (LA001) Plaquemines Historic Association 1996 

Georgia Landing (LA005) None 

Goodrich's Landing (LA014) None 

Irish Bend (LA007) None 

Kock's Plantation (LA015) None 

LaFourche Crossing (LA012) None 

Mansfield (LA018) Friends of the Mansfield Battlefield 2003 

Mansura (LA022) None 

Milliken's Bend (LA011) None 

Monett's Ferry (LA021) None 

New Orleans (LA002) None 

Plains Store (LA009) None 

Pleasant Hill (LA019) None 

Port Hudson (LA010) None 

Stirling's Plantation (LA016) None 

Vermillion Bayou (LA008) None 

Yellow Bayou (LA023) None 

 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 22 

Figure 5: Within the boundaries of Port Hudson State Historic Site , the State of Louisiana preserves 

Federal earthworks constructed during the 48-day Siege of Port Hudson. The last Confederate 

stronghold on the Mississippi River, the fall of Port Hudson opened the river to Union navigation 

and control. Photograph by Joseph E. Brent, 2008. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 91 

Appendices

Appendix A. Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 

Public Law 107-359, 111 Stat. 3016, 17 December 2002 

Amends the American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 469k) 

An Act 

 

To amend the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 

to establish a battlefield acquisition grant program. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ``Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002''. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

 (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following 

 (1) Civil War battlefields provide a means for the people of 

 the United States to understand a tragic period in the history 

 of the United States. 

 (2) According to the Report on the Nation's Civil War 

 Battlefields, prepared by the Civil War Sites Advisory 

 Commission, and dated July 1993, of the 384 principal Civil War 

 battlefields-- 

 (A) almost 20 percent are lost or fragmented; 

 (B) 17 percent are in poor condition; and 

 (C) 60 percent have been lost or are in imminent 

 danger of being fragmented by development and lost as 

 coherent historic sites. 

 (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- 

 (1) to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect 

 nationally significant Civil War battlefields through 

 conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of those 

 battlefields from willing sellers; and 

 (2) to create partnerships among State and local 

 governments, regional entities, and the private sector to 

 preserve, conserve, and enhance nationally significant Civil War 

 battlefields. 

SEC. 3. BATTLEFIELD ACQUISITION GRANT PROGRAM. 

The American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 469k) is amended-- 

 (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as paragraph (3) of 

 subsection (c), and indenting appropriately; 

 (2) in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) (as redesignated by 

 paragraph (1))-- 

 (A) by striking ``Appropriations'' and inserting 

 ``appropriations''; and 

 (B) by striking ``section'' and inserting 

 ``subsection''; 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 92 

 (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 

 ``(d) Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program.-- 

 ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection 

 ``(A) Battlefield report.--The term `Battlefield 

 Report' means the document entitled `Report on the 

 Nation's Civil War Battlefields', prepared by the Civil 

 War Sites Advisory Commission, and dated July 1993. 

 ``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 

 means a State or local government. 

 ``(C) Eligible site.--The term `eligible site' means 

 a site-- 

 ``(i) that is not within the exterior 

 boundaries of a unit of the National Park System; 

 and 

 ``(ii) that is identified in the Battlefield 

 Report. 

 ``(D) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 

 Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American 

 Battlefield Protection Program. 

 ``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 

 battlefield acquisition grant program under which the Secretary 

 may provide grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share 

 of the cost of acquiring interests in eligible sites for the 

 preservation and protection of those eligible sites. 

 ``(3) Nonprofit partners.--An eligible entity may acquire an 

 interest in an eligible site using a grant under this subsection 

 in partnership with a nonprofit organization. 

 ``(4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the total 

 cost of acquiring an interest in an eligible site under this 

 subsection shall be not less than 50 percent. 

 ``(5) Limitation on land use.--An interest in an eligible 

 site acquired under this subsection shall be subject to section 

 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 

 U.S.C. 460l-8(f)(3)). 

 ``(6) Reports.-- 

 ``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the 

 date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the 

 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 

 activities carried out under this subsection. 

 ``(B) Update of battlefield report.--Not later than 

 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 

 subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 

 report that updates the Battlefield Report to reflect-- 

 ``(i) preservation activities carried out at 

 the 384 battlefields during the period between 

 publication of the Battlefield Report and the 

 update; 

 ``(ii) changes in the condition of the 

 battlefields during that period; and 

 ``(iii) any other relevant developments 

 relating to the battlefields during that period. 

 ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.-- 

 ``(A) In general.--There are authorized to be 

 appropriated to the Secretary from the Land and Water 

 Conservation Fund to provide grants under this 

 subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 

 through 2008. 
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields 

Final DRAFT – State of Louisiana 93 

 ``(B) Update of battlefield report.--There are 

 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

 out paragraph (6)(B), $500,000.''; and 

 (4) in subsection (e)-- 

 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``as of'' and all 

 that follows through the period and inserting ``on 

 September 30, 2008.''; and 

 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and provide 

 battlefield acquisition grants'' after ``studies''. 

-end- 
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Appendix B. Battlefield Questionnaire 

State 

Battlefield 

Person Completing Form 

Date of completion 

I. Protected Lands of the Battlefield (“Protected lands” are these “owned” for historic 

preservation or conservation purposes. Please provide information on land protected since 1993.) 

1) Identify protected lands by parcel since 1993. Then answer these questions about each parcel, 

following example in the chart below. What is the acreage of each parcel? Is parcel owned fee 

simple, by whom? Is there is an easement, if so name easement holder? Was the land purchased or 

the easement conveyed after 1993? What was cost of purchase or easement? What was source of 

funding and the amount that source contributed? Choose from these possible sources: Coin money, 

LWCF, Farm Bill, State Government, Local Government, Private Owner, Private Non-Profit (provide 

name), or Other (describe). 

Parcel Acres Owner Easement Year Cost Source 

Joe Smith Farm 194 Private SHPO 1995 $500,000 LWCF/$250,000 

 Private/$250,000 

Sue Jones Tract 16 Battlefield Friends, Inc. No 2002 $41,000 State/$20,000 

 BFI/$21,000 

2) Other public or non-profit lands within the battlefield? (Y/N) 

• If yes, describe 

• Name of public or non-profit owner or easement holder 

• Number of Acres owned/held 

3) Is the information in a GIS? (Y/N) 

 If yes, may NPS obtain a copy of the data? (Y/N) 
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II. Preservation Groups

1) Is there a formal interested entity (friends group, etc) associated with the battlefield? (Y/N)

 If yes 

 Name 

 Address 

 Phone 

 Fax 

 E-mail 

 Web site? (Y/N) 

• If yes, what is the URL? 

• Does the web site have a preservation message? (Y/N) 

• What year did the group form? 

III. Public Access and Interpretation

1) Does the site have designated Public Access? (Y/N) (Count public roads if there are designated 

interpretive signs or pull-offs) 

If yes, what entity provides the public access (Access may occur on lands owned in fee or under 

easement to the above entities) 

F Federal government 

F State government 

F Local government 

F Private Nonprofit organization 

F Private owner 

F Other 

Name of entity (if applicable) 

Number of Acres Accessible to the Public (size of the area in which the public may physically 

visit without trespassing. Do not include viewsheds.) 

2) Does the site have interpretation? (Y/N) 

If yes, what type of interpretation is available? 

F Visitor Center 

F Brochure(s) 

F Wayside exhibits 

F Driving Tour 

F Walking Tour 

F Audio tour tapes 

F Maintained historic features/areas 

F Living History 

F Website 

F Other 

IV. Registration 

Applies only to the battlefield landscape, not to individual contributing features of a battlefield 

(i.e., the individually listed Dunker Church property of .2 acres does not represent the Antietam 

battlefield for the purposes of this exercise) 

1) Is the site a designated National Historic Landmark? (Y/N) 

 If yes, NHL and ID Number 

2) Is the site listed in the National Register? (Y/N)

 If yes, NRHP Name and ID Number 

3) Is the site listed in the State Register? (Y/N) 

 If yes, State Register Name and ID Number 
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4) Is the site in the State Inventory? (Y/N) 

 If yes, State Inventory Name and ID Number 

5) Is the site designated as a local landmark or historic site? (Y/N) 

 Type of Designation/Listing 

V. Program Activities

What types of preservation program activities have occurred at the battlefield? Provide final 

product name and date if applicable (e.g., Phase I Archeological Survey Report on the Piper Farm, 

1994 and Antietam Preservation Plan, 2001, etc.) 

1) Research and Documentation 

2) Cultural Resource surveys and inventories (building/structure and landscape inventories, 

archeological surveys, landscape surveys, etc.) 

 

3) Planning Projects (preservation plans, site management plans, cultural landscape reports, etc.) 

 

4) Interpretation Projects (also includes education) 

5) Advocacy (any project meant to engage the public in a way that would benefit the preservation 

of the site, e.g. PR, lobbying, public outreach, petitioning for action, etc.) 

6) Legislation (any local, state, or federal legislation designed to encourage preservation of the 

battlefield individually or together with other similar sites) 

7) Fundraising 

 To support program activities? 

 To support land acquisition/easements? 

8) Other 
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Appendix C. Civil War Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants 

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (PL 107-359) amended the American 

Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 (16 USC 469k) to authorize a matching grant program to 

assist States and local communities in acquiring significant Civil War battlefield lands for 

permanent protection. Most recently, Congress showed its continued support for these 

grants through its reauthorization of this program within the Omnibus Public Land 

Management Act of 2009 (PL 111-11). 

Eligible battlefields are those listed in the 1993 Report on the Nation’s Civil War 

Battlefields prepared by the Congressionally-chartered Civil War Sites Advisory Commission 

(CWSAC). Eligible acquisition projects may be for fee interest in land or for a protective 

interest such as a perpetual easement. 

Since 1998, Congress has appropriated a total of $38.9 million for this Civil War Battlefield 

Land Acquisition Grants (CWBLAG) Program. These grants have assisted in the permanent 

protection of more than 16,600 acres at 67 Civil War battlefields in 14 states. To date, only 

one Louisiana battlefield, Fort DeRussy, has received funding through this program. 

While all of the battlefields listed in this update are eligible for future CWBLAG funding, 

applications to protect land that retains integrity (within PotNR boundaries) will be the 

most competitive. 

Battlefield 

CWSAC 

Priority 

Total 

Acres 

Acquired

Total

CWBLAG

Total 

Non-Federal 

Leveraged 

Funds 

Total 

Acquisition

Costs

Fort DeRussy II 54.56 $70,000.00 $144,334.94 $214,334.94

 
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Appendix D. American Battlefield Protection Program Planning Grants 

Since 1992, the ABPP has offered annual planning grants to nonprofit organizations, 

academic institutions, and local, regional, state, and tribal governments to help protect 

battlefields located on American soil. The ABPP encourages applicants to work with 

partner organizations and government agencies in order to integrate their efforts into a 

comprehensive landscape protection strategy. Louisiana battlefields have received 

$101,000 in planning grants. 

Grantee 

 

Year Project Title Award 

Northwestern State 

University

2010 Archeaological Survey of Deloach's 

Bluff Battlefield 

$41,000.00 

Friends of the Vicksburg 

Campaign and Historic Trail 

2003 Guide to the Vicksburg Campaign $25,000.00 

Northwestern State 

University 

2000 Pleasant Hill Battlefield Survey $15,000.00 

Louisiana Department of 

Culture, Recreation and 

Tourism 

1996 Inventory and NHL Study of Sites 

Associated with the Red River 

Campaign 

$20,000.00 

Total ABPP Planning Grants as of FY2010 $101,000.00