Old U.S. Mint - New Orleans, LA (From Fort to Fed)

400 Esplanade Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.961401,-90.057825

            Money: it’s what makes the world go round. They say money cannot buy happiness but I sure as hell would like to test out that hypothesis! Along with millions of other Americans stuck in this purgatory we like to call middle-class, I make just enough to pay the bills and not much to do anything else. I really hate it when I am grocery shopping and I have to buy all the off-brand items such as Dr. Thunder instead of Dr. Pepper and Skillet Partner instead of Hamburger Helper. Don’t you just love those cheesy imitation names? As I stand in the checkout line, meticulously adding up my expenses to make sure I stay within my budget, I look on and see a pregnant twenty year old who already has three kids and is gleefully checking out two carts full of name brand products. Instead of paying, she simply swipes her food stamp card. Sure, there are many people that legitimately need assistance but I think we can all agree that many take advantage of it. I cannot tell you how much this makes my blood boil. This, my friends, is the true fleecing of America! As I’ve always said, “If you can’t feed them, don’t breed them!” Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
            Apparently, we are not alone, as money shortage was also felt by the government in the early 1800’s. With a rapidly growing nation, the amount of coins grew smaller and smaller. To try and alleviate this problem, President Andrew Jackson signed a bill on March 3, 1835 that would authorize the United States Treasury to establish a mint in Louisiana. It was decided that the mint be constructed in New Orleans so a prime piece of land was needed.

Fort Pike - New Orleans, LA (Well Armed and Never Harmed)

27100 Chef Menteur Highway

New Orleans, LA 70129

30.166251,-89.737122 

            One thing that we have learned so far is that the waters surrounding New Orleans have been the target of many military attacks throughout the years. After the United States barely survived the Battle of 1812 against the British, President James Monroe ordered that a massive fortification of the southern waterways and coasts be erected. Construction of what would be known as the Third System fortifications began in 1816 and was officially complete in 1867. These forts consisted of several brick and masonry structures built along the coastal region and were able to protect New Orleans and the Mississippi River from any potential air or sea attacks.

Fort Derussy Battlefield - Marksville, LA (Home of the Headless Soldier)

31.176164,-92.060612

www.fortderussy.org  

            Adjacent to my hometown, lays the small city of Marksville. During my teenage years I would hear of numerous haunted stories coming from a small nook of Marksville known as the Fort Derussy Battlefield and Cemetery. The informative antique 1945 book, Gumbo Ya-Ya, vaguely refers to the area as, “the haunted woods near Marksville where the local people refuse to go after dark.” Normally, I would lump the two locations into one story but the cemetery holds such a special place in my heart that I must differentiate it from the historic battlefield. For now though, we will focus on what the area is primarily known for; a Civil War fort.
            The fort received its name from Colonel Louis G. Derussy, commander of the 2^nd Louisiana Regiment of volunteers during the Civil War. As we have learned with our other locations, the Red River Campaign was becoming a large military movement. As this was beginning to form, Union troops began to establish their positions by moving up from Simmesport via the Atchafalaya River. Colonel Derussey was aware of this and he knew that his primary goal was to build a defense along this anticipated path.
            The presumptions were correct, as Union troops approached Fort Derusssy in May of 1863. As they approached, they immediately began attacking several Confederate gunboats; the Cotton and the Grand Duke. Despite the Confederate losses, the Union retreated down the river, only after destroying part of the fort. The Confederacy rebuilt and, a year later on March 14, 1864, led by Colonel William F. Lynch and Colonel William T. Shaw, the Union troops returned, this time, with a fight on their minds.