Fort Louis

## Extra Information

### Government

French (1712 - 1765, 1770 - 1803), English (1765 - 1770), United States (1803 - 1861, 1865 - present), Confederate (1861 - 1865)

### Leader

General Duke “Saltwater” Boomhower (1861 - 1865)

### Planet

Earth

Fort Louis is an old stone fort built on the outskirts of Saltwater, LA. It was constructed on the formerly Spanish settlement after the region came under French control. The location was of some significant importance throughout history being home to 4 different armies through the ages from being constructed to being decommissioned.

It stands as a landmark in the city and is the icon of Saltwater’s Old Town district.

## History

The fort was built by the French in 1712 when they took the land formerly known as “San Phillipe”.

At the time the area only housed a small town but on the outskirts of the village at the edge of the bayou & the coast they built a fort made of coquina stones and named it “Fort Louis” following this, the settlement was also given the same name.

The land was taken by the British in 1765 who renamed it to “Fort George” in honour of their king.

After five years of English rule it was reclaimed by the French in 1770 with its name reverted to Fort Louis.

The territory became part of the United States in 1803 following the Louisiana purchase. The fort and town retained it’s French name.

In 1861, the southern states seceded from the union and became the confederacy. As part of Louisiana, Fort Louis was located amongst the first wave of states leaving before April 15th 1861.

Despite Fort Louis’ location, much of the area south-west of the city was lost to the north by 1862 and even more so by 1863. Throughout this time, Fort Louis remained a useful stronghold for the confederates while it was used as a secure landmark and barracks.

Despite it’s age, it held up as well as any other fort. The confederates managed to hold on to Fort Louis throughout the war with the famous “Battle of Saltwater” taking place in November 1864 being the final decisive Confederate victory of the war. General Duke ‘Saltwater’ Boomhower became famous for his initiative in the battle, successfully keeping hold of the city by ordering his troops to hide fully submerged in the bayou adjacent to the fort lying in wait to ambush the union forces. When the unions attempted to attack, they came across an empty and seemingly abandoned Fort Louis before they were swarmed by the Confederate troops from out of the water and easily defeated in the confusion.

This tactic worked effectively and ensured that the town would remain in Confederate control until the end of the war following the confederate surrender in 1865. (Despite the tactic being highly praised as a great success, some 40 Confederate soldiers were killed by Alligators while camping in the water)

General Boomhower gained his nickname “Saltwater” from his tactic of camouflaging in the salt water of the bayou, in his memory the town became renamed “Saltwater” while the fort the town was build around retained its name of Fort Louis.

The fort went out of commission at the end of the American Civil War but still stands today as a tourist attraction. The city of Saltwater has grown around it while the fort remains in the same condition it always has.