Forts Massachusetts, Livingston and Proctor

Besides the fortifications on Lake Pontchartrain and on the Mississippi River, three other forts built to defend New Orleans are interesting, if not significant. These are Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, Fort Livingston on Barataria Island, and Fort Proctor on the southwest shore of Lake Borgne.

Fort Massachusetts was one of the last forts of this class to be built. Construction began shortly before the beginning of the Civil War. By the time the war started, it had not been completed. The Confederates occupied it for a while, before Union forces captured it. Construction continued during the war, and it served both as a prison for captured Confederate soldiers, and a training base for Union Colored Troops.

The significance of this fort is that it was built to protect New Orleans and the deep water on the western end of Ship Island, the staging site for two invasion forces attacking New Orleans - the British during the War of 1812, and Farragut's fleet in 1862.

Fort Massachusetts is located on the western end of Ship Island, one of several barrier islands that comprise the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It is located about a dozen miles south of Gulfport, Mississippi. Today the fort serves as a museum, and the island is a favorite destination for many who wish to use the beaches for swimming. Unless you have your own boat, access is only by charter companies who make regular runs to the island and back. It is a very long and hot boat ride, so dress accordingly.

Fort Livingston was built to defend New Orleans from forces attacking from Barataria, south of the city. It is on the very island used by Privateer Jean Lafitte for his headquarters prior to the Battle of New Orleans. Although a fort at that location had been planned since before the Battle of New Orleans, actual construction of the fort didn't begin until 1840.

Like so many other forts in the area, it never saw battle. Confederate forces occupied it for a while, and abandoned it after the fall of New Orleans. In a bit of irony, one of the officers assigned to this fort's construction was P.G.T. Beauregard, later to become a Confederate general.

Fort Livingston is another of the New Orleans fortifications that can only be accessed by boat. I haven't visited this fort, so, at the present time, I can offer no suggestions for a visit.

Fort Proctor is unique. It is located on the Shore of Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish, but is now completely surrounded by water, although it can be seen from the road at Shell Beach. Construction on Fort Proctor began in the 1850's, but the fort was never completed because of hurricane damage and the start of the Civil War.