Fort Livingston

 fortification, historic landmark, American Civil War 1861-1865

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Ft. Livingston was built on the west end of Grand Terre Island on the site of a large Indian shell midden beginning in 1833.
As of 1851, it was intended to be armed with twenty-eight 24-pounder guns, six 12-pounder guns, three field pieces, nine flank howitzers, five 8" heavy seacoast howizters and one 10" heavy mortar, for a total of 52 guns.
Construction of the fort was halted with the start of the Civil War, and was never resumed. The fort was never fully completed. The fort was briefly occupied by Confederate forces during the American Civil War, but never saw combat. It was used by the Confederates to protect blockade runners coming into and out of Barataria Pass while en route to New Orleans. The Confederate garrison of Fort Livingston was under the command of General Lovell. The garrison consisted of four companies, totalling 300 men. The fort was equipped with 15 guns, including a 32-pounder, an 8-inch columbiad, seven 24-pounders, four 12-pounders, and two howitzers. Confederate forces abandoned the fort after the fall of New Orleans. Following the Civil War, the fort was occupied by a lone Ordnance Seregant, beginning in 1866. The fort was permanently abandoned after a hurricane destroyed most of the structure in 1872. Most of the guns were removed in 1889. The fort's last Ordnance Sergeant removed all of the fort's remaining ammunition on February 16, 1889. A commercial shrimp cannery which produced the first canning of shrimp was opened adjacent to the fort in 1867. In 1923, the U.S. Government gave control of the fort and the island to the State of Louisiana.
One side of the fort was destroyed by a hurricane in 1913.
It can be seen from the eastern end of Grand Isle but is only accessible via boat. Grand Terre Island belongs to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. In 1977 Ft. Livingston was added to the National Register of Historical Places. It is in a state of disrepair and coastal erosion has not helped. A rock wave barrier was built to protect against future decay.