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Fort Jesup State Historic Site
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-- Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, Fort
Jesup is scheduled to close 7/26/10 --
Zachary Taylor Tames No-man's
Territory at Fort Jesup
Fort Jesup is a reminder of
a young nation's growing pains and a relic
of Louisiana's rich international heritage.
When the Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803
failed to define clearly the western boundary
of Louisiana, which was also the western
border of the country at that time, the United
States claimed eastern Texas and Spain claimed
western Louisiana. The ensuing dispute gave
rise to the "Neutral Ground'', an area
where the laws of neither nation were enforced.
Soldiers and settlers were kept out and rogues
of various stripes ruled the region. After
the territorial boundary was finally fixed
at the Sabine River by the Florida Purchase
Treaty of 1819, the United States built Fort
Jesup in 1822. Lieutenant Colonel Zachary
Taylor established and commanded the garrison,
which was originally called Cantonment Jesup
in honor of Taylor's good friend, Brigadier
General Thomas Sidney Jesup. Taylor's troops
managed to establish law and order in the
Neutral Ground and Fort Jesup remained an
important military post for nearly 25 years. |
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| In addition to history, Fort Jesup
offers 22 acres of beautiful grounds where
you can stroll, picnic, or even fish in the
two quiet little ponds. |
The museum, built in 1960, offers interesting
exhibits |
History
During its life, Fort
Jesup served the area in many ways.
At various times soldiers were sent out
to clear the Sabine River, to serve as
Indian agents, or to help plantation owners
along the Red River prevent slave insurrections.
In addition, the post helped settlers feel
secure against Indian raids. In 1845 Fort
Jesup saw its most important duty. Lt.
served as a staging area for troops preparing
to enter Texas at the beginning of the
Mexican War. The fort was abandoned in
1846 when it was no longer needed as a
border outpost. In 1961, Fort Jesup was
designated as a National Historic Landmark
by the U.S. Department of the Interior
and, as such, joined a select group of
properties which have been recognized for
their importance in American History.
Located on the historic San Antonio
Road, the fort was once a large complex
of 82 structures. Four companies of
the Seventh Louisiana Infantry made
up the first garrison of Fort Jesup.
There were 141 officers and men. Another
51 soldiers manned Cantonment Taylor,
a nearby temporary post established in 1823.
Together they made this area the most
securely garrisoned outpost in Louisiana.
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| The historic kitchen building is
the only remaining original structure. One
of 6 kitchens originally at the fort, it served
50 people. |
The Kitchen-Mess Hall
One small kitchen is the
only historic structure remaining from
the large compound that once spread across
the 22-acre site. It stands behind
the ruins of high stone pillars
which once supported the main floor
of one of the soldiers quarters.
The kitchen serviced the 20 to
25 men who were housed in the adjacent
quarters. Cooking was always done
in a detached building on plantations
and military posts to reduce the danger of
fire to people and property and
also to keep heat and cooking odors
away from the living areas.
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| Food was prepared and served in
each of the kitchen / mess buildings for two
meals daily. |
Map to Ft. Jesup |
One of the museum exhibits |
This one-story kitchen structure, restored to its original
appearance, is constructed of squared timbers laid
atop one another with "waterproof" or
slanted interlocking joints at the corners. The
fireplace is made of stone and has a 71/2 foot
opening in the hearth. The interior of this combination
kitchen-mess hall has been furnished as it would
have been in the 1840's. Sturdy benches and tables
made of native cypress, storage bins, plate rocks,
washing and serving tables--all would have been
built by the post carpenter. Iron and pewter utensils
would have been purchased by the quartermaster
in New Orleans and shipped up river to the fort.
An old butcher block and a few other original articles
have survived the years and have been returned
to the kitchen. The ancient rustic structure stands
as a tribute to the men who felled the timber and
with broad ax and adze built this outpost in the
Louisiana wilderness.
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| Museum exhibits |
Officers' Quarters
The reconstructed officers' quarters
houses a museum, meeting room and information
center. There were originally four officers'
quarters buildings, which were built
in the 1830's and were located across
the parade ground. Historians of the
Quartermaster General's Office and the
National Trust for Historic Preservation
assisted in the reconstruction effort.
Museum
The story of Fort Jesup is told
in the museum with the use of maps,
documents, illustrations and military
artifacts. A diorama shows the
fort under construction in
the 1830's. In the main building,
the Commanding Officer's bedroom
is furnished as it would have
appeared when General Taylor occupied
it in 1845.
Fort Jesup provides a unique glimpse
of life when Louisiana was still
part of the nation's frontier.
Today the pleasant noises of picnickers
beside the ponds have replaced
the sounds of horses and the cadences
of marching drills. What was once
an important part of our nation's
system of defense is now a site
for everyone to learn about and
enjoy . . . Fort Jesup State Commemorative
Area.
Programs at Ft. Jesup: Ft. Jesup regularly
presents programs of historical interest.
Check the Area
Calendar of Events to see what is coming
up.
DIRECTIONS:
FROM MANY, LA - Take Highway 6 East for about 6 miles to the old San Antonio Road - Highway 3118. Turn onto Highway 3118 (it makes a loop and both ends of it connect to Highway 6) and proceed to Fort Jesup.
Fort
Jesup State Commemorative Area
32 Geoghagan Road
Many, LA 71449
Phone: (318) 256-4117
1 (888) 677-5378 toll free
photos
by Frank Dutton - Toledo-Bend.Com
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