A forgotten chapter of Louisiana heritage
For almost two centuries, crucial details of the Revolutionary War in the South remained buried. Through meticulous research of original scaled drawings and geographic overlays, the story and precise location of Fort Baton Rouge have finally returned to light.
The march of Bernardo de Gálvez
During the American Revolutionary War, Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez mounted an extraordinary expedition against British forces. Gathering his troops from New Orleans, his force converged with Acadians and Atakapas Indians marching across the Atchafalaya Basin, supported by 2,000 head of cattle driven all the way from Texas. Their crucial staging ground formed at Bayou Goula, preparing the ground for an audacious assault on British territory.
The siege and victory at Fort Baton Rouge
When Gálvez launched his attack on Fort Baton Rouge in September 1779, cannon fire crisscrossed what are now modern city streets. Using deception and tactical precision, Gálvez positioned artillery batteries within lethal range of the British fortification. The fierce bombardment led to a decisive Spanish and allied victory, compelling the surrender of not only Fort Baton Rouge but also British outposts along the Mississippi River.
Rediscovering the fort 200 years later
Using two independent research methodologies, historical scaled drawings from the 18th century were analyzed alongside modern topography. This meticulous alignment revealed the exact footprint of the fort, where Gálvez and British cannons fired, and how the battle shaped the land. For historians, researchers, and descendants, an extensive 50-page collection of picture drawings, overlays, and scalings is available upon request by contacting kenneth.ramagost@gmail.com.
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