Fort St. Philip

 (1792-1922) - A Coastal Fort first established in 1792 by the Spanish as Fort San Felipe and taken over in 1808 by American Troops as a part of the Louisiana Purchase Territory (1803-1804) and renamed Fort St. Philip. Located on the Mississippi River at Plaguemines Bend, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Abandoned in 1922.

Spanish Period
The Spanish Governor of Louisiana began construction of Fort San Felipe at the strategic Plaquemines Bend in the Mississippi River in 1792 and completed it in 1795.

Louisiana Territory
The Louisiana Purchase became effective in 1804 giving the United States control over a vast territory that included all of Louisiana. American forces occupied the Spanish fort and, in February 1808, began to improve the post. Over two million bricks were ordered for the construction around the old fortification. The construction was essentially completed by 30 Jun 1810.

War of 1812 (1812-1814)
The fort was involved in the British invasion of New Orleans during the War of 1812 and was bombarded by five British ships for nine days in January 1815. The fort withstood the bombardment and the British ships did not pass. Over 1000 shells were fired at the fort but the 366 man garrison suffered only two dead and seven wounded. Construction of Fort Jackson (2) across the river was begun in 1814 to strengthen the defense of the river.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Construction began in 1895 on the first of six Endicott Period gun batteries and continued until the last one was complete in 1907. All of the new batteries were constructed outside of the old fort but within an area between a river levee and a seawall. During the same time period, two additional gun batteries were being built across the river at Fort Jackson (2).

Endicott Period post construction at Fort St. Philip started in 1900 with a minimum number of essential buildings, NCO quarters and a single 60 man barracks. Considering that Fort Jackson (2) was a sub-post of Fort St. Philip and had no quarters of its own, this represented support for only a detachment. In 1908, additional construction expanded the post to a company and a half size by adding a 120 man barracks, four sets of officers quarters, a post exchange/gymnasium and other support buildings.

In 1913 Battery Ridgely became the first Endicott Period battery on Fort St. Philip to be deactivated. Both of the guns and carriages were removed and shipped to Fort Ruger in Honolulu, Hawaii, 24 Jul 1913. Battery Ridgely's magazines were later converted into a Post Telephone and Fire Control switchboard.



World War I (1917-1918)
World War I saw the deactivation of two more Endicott Period gun batteries and the reduction of a third. Disappearing gun Battery Pike and Battery Forse were deactivated during the war and two of the four 6" guns of Battery Merrill were removed. By the end of the war, only two 6" guns and four 3" guns remained at the fort.

Use of Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson (2) for coast defense purposes was discontinued 11 Mar 1920 as a part of the postwar disarmament program. The remaining gun batteries were disarmed and the guns shipped out over the next year and by 1922 both posts were abandoned.

In 1960 Fort Jackson (2) and Fort St. Philip were designated National Historic Landmarks.

Current Status
Private property, access by boat with permission, in very dangerous condition. No period guns or carriages in place.

See Also:
 * Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip

Sources:
 * , page 352-353

Links:
 * First Bombardment of Fort St. Philips
 * Second Bombardment of Fort St. Philip
 * North American Forts - Fort St. Philip
 * Wikipedia - Fort St. Philip
 * NPS - Fort St. Philip