Battery Bienvenue

Thanks to funding from SEA’s 2019 Elsaesser Fellowship, my Expedition continues...

 Battery Bienvenue 

Battery Bienvenue is a coastal gun battery lying in ruins in the marsh offshore St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. The battery was constructed as part of the harbor defense system for the city of New Orleans following events of the war of 1812. The battery is located at a strategic junction where Bayou Bienvenue and Bayou Villeré join together in a direct approach to downtown New Orleans, as seen in the distance in several of the images.
Southeast Battery Corner

Bayou Bienvenue, as accessed through Lake Borgne, was the route of attack used by the British in 1814 to breach the city.

from "The Battle of New Orleans" Zachary Smith, 1904

The battery was built in 1815 and improved several times over the years. Initial armament was planned for one 24pound and two 18pound cannons. The plan was expanded to twenty-four 32-pound cannon and two 13-inch mortars with a garrison of one artillery company.

View North of eastern battery wall and armory


Looking south over the battery, and armory
Eventually, four buildings occupied the parade ground which was to include a barracks, guardhouse, officers quarters, and an artillery magazine. The battery was approximately 600 feet wide, with the guns pointed outward towards Lake Borgne and was surrounded by a moat.  The battery was abandoned in 1872 following the Civil War.


Remnants of the Warf for Battery Bienvenue

Remnants of the Warf for Battery Bienvenue

Northwest East Corner of Battery Wall

 East Battery Wall

 East Battery Wall

 East Battery Wall

 East Battery Wall and Armory Building

Looking south into Lake Borgne


Marsh along southeast wall

Marsh along southeast wall


Northeast Corner of the Battery






Southeast Corner of battery wall

Northeast corner of battery wall

Jimmy and Robin Lamy again providing small boat support.
Raw Overflight Footage can be Viewed at: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn8dL120TVg

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fort Pike

Image
SEA Elsaesser Fellowship 2019 Fort Pike Fort Pike, which was decommissioned in the 19th-century, was named after Brigadier General Zebulon Pike. The fortification, part of the third system, was built following the War of 1812 to guard the Rigolets pass in Louisiana . The fortification was established in 1819 to protect New Orleans and the Gulf Coast against British or other invasions of the United States. Fort Pike Looking East over Rigolets Pass Before Hurricane Katrina, the fort's structural integrity was already in decline. The storm surge of Katrina severely exacerbated the problems. Temporarily submerging the entire fort and destroying the adjacent state park buildings. The site briefly reopened in 2008, but, due to damage caused by Hurricane Gustav in 2008, the park was closed again but was scheduled to undergo extensive repairs and restoration work, however, following Hurricane Isaac in 2012, the fort was closed indefinitely pending repairs and debris cleanup.
Read more

Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine, Florida "America's Oldest City" ca.1513

Image
We traveled to St Augustine on a whim to finish the initial part of the Elsaesser Fellowship Project. Though St Augustine is on the Atlantic coast and well away from the historic fortifications of the Gulf, it felt like a shame to leave out the oldest city and fortification complex in the country.  St Augustine was originally discovered and setteled by the Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513.  Founded as a Spanish City in 1565 and fully fortified by 1627. The original Spanish brick and masonry fortification is cited as being important in the design of the much later American fortifications built as part of the second and third system coastal defense networks. The Spanish troop garrisoned at the Castillo de San Marcos later brought their families and established the city outside the walls of the fort in 1565. Construction plan of the Castillo de San Marcos from 1677 Military engineer in the Spanish Army 1677 - http://www.nps.gov/history/history/onli
Read more
Image
12/11/2018     And so It begins...AGAIN!  Today, I was awarded the 2019 Elsaesser Fellowship from the Sea Education Association. The  project is summarized as follows:  I have had the opportunity to travel the world by sea. A rare chance to see the world as our ancestors have experienced it, from a perspective very few in today’s society get an opportunity to experience. I have seen the islands of the Pacific and the related fortifications and remnants of conflict around the world. I have explored the British, Dutch and French fortifications, residences and lighthouses of the Caribbean and even the fortifications, lighthouses and abandoned research stations and shipwrecks of the Southern Ocean.  Traveling the world gave me a unique vision of the maritime history of the world, but my own country, I have minimal experience with.  The Gulf Islands National Seashore tells a unique story of the coastal history of the United States. The annexation of the territories of the Gul
Read more