The Siege of Port Hudson:
"Forty Days and Nights in the Wilderness of Death"--Supplementary Resources
By looking at The Siege of Port Hudson: "Forty Days and Nights in the Wilderness of Death," students can get a better understanding of siege warfare and how it affected the soldiers mentally and physically. Those interested in learning more will find that the Internet offers a variety of materials.
The American Battlefield Protection Program
The American Battlefield Protection Program, a division of the National Park Service, provides detailed battle summaries of the 380 principal battles of the Civil War. Included on their web site is the siege of Port Hudson.
National Register of Historic Places: Port Hudson
The National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places with local partners created a travel itinerary called "Southeastern Louisiana." The itinerary features a description and photographs of Port Hudson.
Maritime Heritage Program
The National Park Service's Maritime Heritage Program works to advance awareness and understanding of the role of maritime affairs in the history of the United States by helping to interpret and preserve our maritime heritage. The program's Web pages include information on National Park Service maritime parks, historic ships, lighthouses, and life saving stations.
National Park Service Civil War Website
Visit the official National Park Service Civil War Web Site. Offering the current generation of Americans an opportunity to know, discuss, and commemorate this country's greatest national crisis, while at the same time exploring its enduring relevance in the present, the website includes a variety of helpful features and links such as the About the Civil War page that offers a timeline and stories from various perspectives. Also included are links to Civil War Parks, NPS education programs, and much more.
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System
The National Park Service's Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System is a recently created database containing facts about Civil War servicemen, lists of Civil War regiments, and descriptions of significant Civil War battles. Also on this site is a descriptive history of African-Americans in the Civil War.
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration offers a wealth of information about the Civil War as well as the siege at Port Hudson. Using their search engine, research the siege at Port Hudson. Included in the results is a link to a special collection of photographs covering many aspects of the Civil War. Another interesting search on "Civil War records" provides comprehensive Union and Confederate records.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress created a selected Civil War photographic history in their "American Memory" collection. Included on the site is a photographic time line of the Civil War covering major events for each year of the war.
The United States Civil War Center
Louisiana State University maintains a Civil War Center that locates, indexes, and makes available all appropriate private and public data on the internet regarding the Civil War. The site features over 4,500 links that promote the study of the Civil War from all perspectives.
Port Hudson State Historic Site
Port Hudson State Historic Site is a unit of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. The State Parks Home Page makes available on their web page a history of the park and visitor information.
Louisiana State Museum
The Louisiana State Museum web page offers a thorough account of Louisiana and its role in the Civil War. "Search" the museums web site for descriptions of Louisiana's key role in the war, histories on Port Hudson, and African-Americans soldiers in gray and blue. Also available is a Louisiana State Museum Map Database that has several maps of Port Hudson and its defences during the siege.
The Valley of the Shadow
For a valuable resource on the Civil War, visit the University of Virginia's Valley of the Shadow Project. The site offers a unique perspective of two communities, one Northern and one Southern, and their experiences during the American Civil War. Students can explore primary sources such as newspapers, letters, diaries, photographs, maps, military records, and much more.
African American History
Academic Info: African American History is an annotated directory of Internet resources on black history and culture. Each subject guide is a listing of general Internet sites in the field, as well as a gateway to more advanced research tools. Sources vary from online publications, language and study aids, and reference materials, to databases, archives, virtual libraries, and tutorials.
The Louisiana Native Guards
For more information on the Louisiana Native Guards, visit their web page to learn more about their history, origins, and officers. The web site also offers an abundance of historic photographs, as well as a history of the Louisiana Native Guards' attack at Port Hudson.
For Further Reading
Students (or educators) wishing to learn more about Port Hudson and the Louisiana Native Guards may want to read the following: James G. Hollandsworth, Jr., The Louisiana Native Guards: The Black Military Experience During the Civil War (Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1995).
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