Fort DeRussy
National Register of Historic Places

Fort DeRussy

Marksville, Avoyelles County, Louisiana
Listed
September 22, 2016
Type
Site
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
16000669

About this property

Fort DeRussy, located south of Alexandria, Louisiana, and four miles (6 km) north of Marksville, was a Confederate earthwork stronghold during the American Civil War. It was built in 1862 to defend the lower Red River Valley in Louisiana. Located in Avoyelles Parish, the fort, cemetery and water batteries were designated as a state historic site in 1994. The fort and the water battery were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The fort was named for Colonel Lewis G. DeRussy, the oldest West Point graduate to serve in the Confederate Army. Born in New York City in 1795 to a French family who were refugees from revolutions in Saint-Domingue and France, DeRussy was educated at West Point Academy. He was a career officer in the US Army and engineer, first stationed in Louisiana in 1826, where he lived for nearly 40 years. DeRussy had become a prominent engineer in civilian life after his earlier military service with the US Army, including during the Mexican War. He also had a cotton plantation, and in the 1850s he served in the state house and state senate.

Location

379 Fort DeRussy Rd.
Marksville, Avoyelles County, Louisiana

Categories

MILITARY
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Fort DeRussy

This page lists Fort DeRussy. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Fort DeRussy report
Or see a real report first

Questions about this property

When was Fort DeRussy listed on the National Register?

Fort DeRussy was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 2016.

What type of historic resource is Fort DeRussy?

Fort DeRussy is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort DeRussy?

The period of significance for Fort DeRussy is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1862.

Can I research the history near Fort DeRussy?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort DeRussy will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Avoyelles County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Avoyelles County.

Explore AvoyellesCounty ›

More historic places in Louisiana

Browse all historic places in Louisiana.

View Louisianahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Louisiana history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Louisianahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Fort DeRussy will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report