Fort Beauregard, Confederate fort in Harrisonburg, United States
Fort Beauregard is an earthen fortification located on a hill above the Ouachita River in northeastern Louisiana. The structure features gun emplacements and defensive ditches designed to monitor river traffic and control military movements along the waterway.
The fort was built in 1862 as part of the southern defensive line along the Ouachita River and was one of four posts guarding that route. It was evacuated in 1863 when military conditions became difficult for Confederate forces.
The site shows how soldiers in the 1860s built river defenses and used strategic positioning to control waterways during conflict. Walking through the grounds reveals the practical thinking behind military fortification design.
The site sits about half a mile (800 m) north of Harrisonburg in Catahoula Parish and is accessible on foot. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and the open location offers little shade on sunny days.
In May 1863, the fort came under fire from four Union gunboats commanded by Commodore Selim E. Woodworth in a notable river engagement. This bombardment was part of Union efforts to break Confederate control over the waterway and demonstrated the growing naval superiority of the North.
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