Fort Elstner
In July 1864 after multiple threats since 1862 from the Confederacy and rebel groups, government officials began plans to build a system of 11 forts along a 10.25 mile arc around the southern and eastern perimeter of Louisville to protect all the roads leading into town and the Louisville and Portland Canal, the principal Union trade route across the Ohio River and for steamboat navigation on the Ohio. On August 1, 1864 construction began under the direction of Lt. Col. James H. Simpson of the Corps of Engineers, John R. Gilliss, Assistant US Engineer, a civilian, and a number of field supervisors, surveyors, and draftsmen.
The fort was dug-in, made of dirt and timber, surrounded by a ditch with a movable drawbridge at the entrance, 550-700 feet in length, with a minimum complement of 250 soldiers, an underground magazine to house 200 rounds of artillery shells, a well, and 4-6 guns. The fort was built by ditching the perimeter and using the earth for the parapets. A military road connected the 11 forts. The Journal on August 10, 1864 reported that over 200 laborers were at work on the 11 fortifications. On August 11, 1864, the Journal reported 200 Negroes - free, slave, and contraband – were turned over to Cpt. Hewitt to work on the fortifications. The work continued and within the next four months, 10 of the forts had been practically completed. The guns in the Louisville fortifications were probably never fired, except for salutes.
Fort Elstner was named for Lt. Col. George R. Elstner, 50th Ohio Infantry, killed in action near Utoy Creek, Georgia, August 8, 1864. It was located between Bellaire Ave. on the west, Vernon Ave. on the east, Emerald Ave. on the south, and Brownsboro Rd. on the north, and anchored the defenses on the upper side of Louisville close to where the Beargrass Creek cutoff emptied in the Ohio River. The troops who manned Fort Elstner were the 109th, 123rd, and 125th USCT (United States Colored Troops).
On April 3, 1865, Richmond, Virginia, the capital city of the Confederacy, fell to the advancing Union soldiers. The Mayor of Louisville recommended that all the houses in the city be lit up on the night of April 5 to celebrate the Union victory. That day the guns in the forts ringing the city, thundered out in salute. On April 9, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. On April 10, flags were raised all over Louisville and there was a 200-gun salute across the river. On April 14, Confederate General Joseph Johnston surrendered to Union General William T. Sherman, ending the Civil War.
The fort was dug-in, made of dirt and timber, surrounded by a ditch with a movable drawbridge at the entrance, 550-700 feet in length, with a minimum complement of 250 soldiers, an underground magazine to house 200 rounds of artillery shells, a well, and 4-6 guns. The fort was built by ditching the perimeter and using the earth for the parapets. A military road connected the 11 forts. The Journal on August 10, 1864 reported that over 200 laborers were at work on the 11 fortifications. On August 11, 1864, the Journal reported 200 Negroes - free, slave, and contraband – were turned over to Cpt. Hewitt to work on the fortifications. The work continued and within the next four months, 10 of the forts had been practically completed. The guns in the Louisville fortifications were probably never fired, except for salutes.
Fort Elstner was named for Lt. Col. George R. Elstner, 50th Ohio Infantry, killed in action near Utoy Creek, Georgia, August 8, 1864. It was located between Bellaire Ave. on the west, Vernon Ave. on the east, Emerald Ave. on the south, and Brownsboro Rd. on the north, and anchored the defenses on the upper side of Louisville close to where the Beargrass Creek cutoff emptied in the Ohio River. The troops who manned Fort Elstner were the 109th, 123rd, and 125th USCT (United States Colored Troops).
On April 3, 1865, Richmond, Virginia, the capital city of the Confederacy, fell to the advancing Union soldiers. The Mayor of Louisville recommended that all the houses in the city be lit up on the night of April 5 to celebrate the Union victory. That day the guns in the forts ringing the city, thundered out in salute. On April 9, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. On April 10, flags were raised all over Louisville and there was a 200-gun salute across the river. On April 14, Confederate General Joseph Johnston surrendered to Union General William T. Sherman, ending the Civil War.
References:
Johnson, Leland R. A History of the Louisville District Corps of Engineers United States Army. pp. 103–120
McDowell, Robert E. (1962). City of Conflict: Louisville in the Civil War, 1861–1865. Louisville, Kentucky: Louisville Civil War Roundtable. pp. 170-175, 197-198
Johnson, Leland R. A History of the Louisville District Corps of Engineers United States Army. pp. 103–120
McDowell, Robert E. (1962). City of Conflict: Louisville in the Civil War, 1861–1865. Louisville, Kentucky: Louisville Civil War Roundtable. pp. 170-175, 197-198
National Archives Catalog
Record Group 77: Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers. Series: Fortifications Map File Plans of Military Forts 1818-1941. File Unit: Drawer 132
Defences of Louisville, Fort Elstner. NAID: 350914060. Local ID: DR132SHT45. Architectural and Engineering Drawings
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/350914060
Record Group 77: Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers. Series: Fortifications Map File Plans of Military Forts 1818-1941. File Unit: Drawer 132
Defences of Louisville, Fort Elstner. NAID: 350914060. Local ID: DR132SHT45. Architectural and Engineering Drawings
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/350914060
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| city_of_conflict_louisville_in_the_civil_war_1861-1865_mcdowell.pdf |
| falls_city_engineers_a_history_of_the_louisville_district_corps_of_engineers_us_army_see_p107-114_.pdf |
| civil_war_fortifications-encyclopedia_of_louisville_p195-197.pdf |
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National Archives Catalog
Record Group 77: Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers
Series: Fortifications Map File Plans of Military Forts 1818-1941
File Unit: Drawer 132
Defences of Louisville, Fort Elstner and Vicinity
NAID: 350914104. Local ID: DR132SHT46.11. Architectural and Engineering Drawings
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/350914104
Record Group 77: Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers
Series: Fortifications Map File Plans of Military Forts 1818-1941
File Unit: Drawer 132
Defences of Louisville, Fort Elstner and Vicinity
NAID: 350914104. Local ID: DR132SHT46.11. Architectural and Engineering Drawings
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/350914104