American Historical Ephemera and Photography

A group of 6 stereoviews taken following the Siege of Port Hudson, including: Rebel works & "rat holes," which provides a view of "gopher holes" of Battery 11, known as the Citadel, the southernmost battery at Port Hudson. -- View of some of the "rat holes" where the rebels took shelter from battery fire. -- View of Port Hudson bluffs, looking downriver. Battery 11 can be seen in the upper left side of the image. -- Confederate forts that held the steep river banks at Port Hudson. -- Rebel ordnance storehouse damaged by Union guns. -- "View of a Section of Central Gap, Port Hudson, La." (period inscription on verso).

Together, 6 stereoviews. Although lacking studio imprints, many of the images were almost certainly taken by McPherson & Oliver of Baton Rouge, LA. Condition generally good, with some toning, light occasional spotting.

The Siege of Port Hudson, which lasted from 22 May - 9 July 1863, was the final engagement in the Union campaign to recapture the Mississippi River. When Confederate forces surrendered the garrison on 9 July, the entire Mississippi River was under Federal control, and the Confederacy was cut in two. 

Provenance: Acquired from the great grandson of Union General Edward Griffin Beckwith (1818-1881) (consignor relates). Beckwith commanded the defenses of New Orleans from August 1863 - January 1864, after the fall of New Orleans in 1862.