Port Hudson was one
of the most critical battles of the civil war, and was one of the most
devastating losses of the confederacy. It was located high on the bluffs
in an ideal location, overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River. It formed
the southern end of the Confederate defenses of the Mississippi while Vicksburg,
which was 150 miles north, was the northern end. The guns on these bluffs
were well placed and posed a distinct threat to ships of the United States
Navy, which had to navigate the river. Maintaining this control was crucial
to the confederacy The battle to retain this location was long and hard
and the confederate armies fought against tremendous odds.
This defeat was the beginning of the downfall of the confederacy.
On May 23, 1863, Port Hudson
was attacked by 30,000 Union troops under the command of Major General
Nathaniel P. Banks. There were 6,800 confederates under the command of
Major General Franklin Gardner. What followed was the longest battle and
some of the bloodiest fighting of the civil war.
The vastly outnumbered confederates
held their ground into July. When word of the Vicksburg defeat reached
General Gardner he realized that the situation was hopeless and nothing
could be gained by continuing the defense of Port Hudson. Surrender terms
were negotiated, and on July 3, 1863, the Union Army entered Port Hudson.
This was a final blow in a week of catastrophe for the confederacy and
it would never recover. Officers were captured and taken prisoners. The
enlisted men were paroled, and asked to sign an oath.
In 1974 the Port Hudson battlefield
was designated as a National Historic Landmark. The visitor center now
has a database containing the names of all the solders known to have been
present for the battle of Port Hudson. I found my ancestor and some of
his cousins:
Carter, A. E., Pvt.
E 9th Louisiana Battalion
Carter, Addison S., Pvt. 41st
Tennessee Infantry
Carter, B. J. Pvt., C 12th
Arkansas Infantry
Carter, C. M. Sgt., A 41st
Tennessee Infantry
Carter, C. L. Pvt., G 49th
Alabama Infantry
Carter, David W., Pvt. B 1st
Alabama Infantry
Carter, E. M., Pvt., K 12th
Arkansas Infantry
Carter, Elijah, Pvt., I 16th
Arkansas Infantry
Carter, G. W. Sgt., B. 10th
Regiment Arkansas
Carter, George W., Lt. H 23rd
Arkansas Infantry
Carter, H. Y. Pvt., K 39th
Mississippi Infantry
Carter, Hannibal, Private
I 4th Regiment Louisiana Volunteers
Carter, J. H., Pvt. Boones
Louisiana Infantry
Carter, James C., Pvt. B 18th
Arkansas Infantry
Carter, John E., Pvt. I 41st
Tennessee Infantry
Carter, L. Pvt., 4th Regiment
LA Volunteers
Carter, Thomas Pvt., C 1st
Alabama Infantry
Carter, Thomas, Pvt. E 9th
Louisiana Battalion
Carter, W. J. Pvt. C 12th
Arkansas Infantry
Carter, William P. Pvt. B
1st Alabama Infantry