Mutiny at Fort Jackson:
Some Louisiana units that served in the Civil War have achieved almost legendary status. Two such units were the Washington Artillery Battalion of New Orleans, batteries of which served in the Eastern and Western Theaters, and the famed Wheat’s Louisiana Tigers, which served with great distinction in the Army of Northern Virginia. The men of both of these units fought well for the Confederacy. Other units, however, were not quite as distinguished. Mutiny at Fort Jackson is a ground-breaking study focusing not only on the mutiny of some troops in Fort Jackson, one of the two forts at the entrance to New Orleans, but on the strong Union sentiment that, according to the author, existed in that city. This is a blend of military and social history at its best. Two traditionally constructed masonry forts, Jackson and St. Phillip, guarded the entrance to New Orleans. Pierson does not review building the forts or discuss how they fought against Farragut’s fleet. Rather, he gives a chronicle of the fall of the forts and New Orleans, the second largest city in the Confederacy. Pierson develops an analysis of the troops that were billeted in Fort Jackson and why the predominantly German and Irish immigrants in certain units mutinied and eventually helped the Union cause. The majority of the text explores the social and cultural diversity unique to New Orleans, refuting some of the myths of the Ben Butler reign. Through his thorough research of Northern and Southern sources Pierson concludes there was a large bloc of Union sympathizers in the city that welcomed the arrival of Federal units. Michael Pierson makes use of a range of previously untapped primary sources to explore the complexities of New Orleans’ diverse society and the role played by urban immigrants and workers in challenging Confederate policy. This analysis has deeper implications for those studying Confederate society and the place played by certain immigrant groups. For example, why did Irish immigrants in the Louisiana Tigers fight so desperately, why others inside the walls of Fort Jackson not feel assimilated into Southern society? While some readers may not entirely agree with the author’s conclusions, they require thought and further research. Mutiny at Fort Jackson is an important addition, not only to Civil War studies, but also to labor and immigrant history. This is a well-written, soundly researched book. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the development of American studies of the 19th century. Reviewer: Michael Russert, a member of the North Shore Round Table of Long Island and the Company of Military Historians, has a MALS plus 60 hours in American Studies. He is Coordinator of The New York State Veteran Oral History Program.
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Illustrated, maps, endnotes, bibliography, index, pp. 250, 2008. University of North Carolina Press, 116 Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514. $30 plus shipping.