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Southeast view of northeast corner from the observation tower. 1994 Port Hudson SCA
Tour Guide: Determination and heroism aided by the natural terrain
of Fort Desperate helped the Confederates maintain a strong defensive
against Union troops. Official reports indicate that the area "Fort
Desperate" was named by the Confederate soldiers who fought from
within its stronghold. The name was probably coined to reflect the dire
and hopeless situation in which these men found themselves. Some 292
officers and men under the command of Confederate Colonel Benjamin W.
Johnson worked night and day under artillery and rifle fire to construct
earthworks and secure Fort Desperate's three-quarter mile long front in
preparation for the first general assault. A tower view from above the
fort today shows the problems Union soldiers encountered during the
siege. Due to the layout of the works, which formed a large
"U" with its base facing toward the northeast, there was
rarely a time when the Confederates were more than 150 yards from any
point within their works. Confederate soldiers were able to concentrate
on danger areas within a short time and assure that attacking troops received
a maximum of small arms fire at virtually any point along the line. The
courage, determination and extraordinary heroism on the part of Fort
Desperate soldiers will long be remembered as a classic episode in Civil
War history |