Mutiny at Fort Jackson

The Untold Story of the Fall of New Orleans

By Michael D. Pierson | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

New Orleans was the largest city — and one of the richest — in the Confederacy, protected in part by Fort Jackson, which was just sixty-five miles down the Mississippi River. On April 27, 1862, Confederate soldiers at Fort Jackson rose up in mutiny against their commanding officers. New Orleans fell to Union forces soon thereafter. Although the Fort Jackson mutiny marked a critical turning point in the Union’s campaign to regain control of this vital Confederate financial and industrial center, it has received surprisingly little attention from historians. Michael Pierson examines newly uncovered archival sources to determine why the soldiers rebelled at such a decisive moment.

The mutineers were soldiers primarily recruited from New Orleans’s large German and Irish immigrant populations. Pierson shows that the new nation had done nothing to encourage poor white men to feel they had a place of honor in the southern republic. He argues that the mutineers actively sought to help the Union cause. In a major reassessment of the Union administration of New Orleans that followed, Pierson demonstrates that Benjamin “Beast” Butler enjoyed the support of many white Unionists in the city.

Pierson adds an urban working-class element to debates over the effects of white Unionists in Confederate states. With the personal stories of soldiers appearing throughout, Mutiny at Fort Jackson presents the Civil War from a new perspective, revealing the complexities of New Orleans society and the Confederate experience.

Editions of Mutiny at Fort Jackson

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807832288
Paperback
ISBN 9781469629117
EBook
ISBN 9781469606187
EBook
ISBN 9780807887028
EBook
ISBN 9798893133233
PDF
ISBN 9798890883117

Read an Excerpt

New Orleans was the largest city — and one of the richest — in the Confederacy, protected in part by Fort Jackson, which was just sixty-five miles down the Mississippi River. On April 27, 1862, Confederate soldiers at Fort Jackson rose up in mutiny against their commanding officers. New Orleans fell to Union forces soon thereafter. Although the Fort Jackson mutiny marked a critical turning point in the Union’s campaign to regain control of this vital Confederate financial and industrial center, it has received surprisingly little attention from historians. Michael Pierson examines newly uncovered archival sources to determine why the soldiers rebelled at such a decisive moment.

The mutineers were soldiers primarily recruited from New Orleans’s large German and Irish immigrant populations. Pierson shows that the new nation had done nothing to encourage poor white men to feel they had a place of honor in the southern republic. He argues that the mutineers actively sought to help the Union cause. In a major reassessment of the Union administration of New Orleans that followed, Pierson demonstrates that Benjamin “Beast” Butler enjoyed the support of many white Unionists in the city.

Pierson adds an urban working-class element to debates over the effects of white Unionists in Confederate states. With the personal stories of soldiers appearing throughout, Mutiny at Fort Jackson presents the Civil War from a new perspective, revealing the complexities of New Orleans society and the Confederate experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mutiny at Fort Jackson about?

New Orleans was the largest city — and one of the richest — in the Confederacy, protected in part by Fort Jackson, which was just sixty-five miles down the Mississippi River. On April 27, 1862, Confederate soldiers at Fort Jackson rose up in mutiny against their commanding officers. New Orleans fell to Union forces soon thereafter. Although the Fort Jackson mutiny marked a critical turning point in the Union’s campaign to regain control of this vital Confederate financial and industrial center, it has received surprisingly little attention from historians. Michael Pierson examines newly uncovered archival sources to determine why the soldiers rebelled at such a decisive moment.

The mutineers were soldiers primarily recruited from New Orleans’s large German and Irish immigrant populations. Pierson shows that the new nation had done nothing to encourage poor white men to feel they had a place of honor in the southern republic. He argues that the mutineers actively sought to help the Union cause. In a major reassessment of the Union administration of New Orleans that followed, Pierson demonstrates that Benjamin “Beast” Butler enjoyed the support of many white Unionists in the city.

Pierson adds an urban working-class element to debates over the effects of white Unionists in Confederate states. With the personal stories of soldiers appearing throughout, Mutiny at Fort Jackson presents the Civil War from a new perspective, revealing the complexities of New Orleans society and the Confederate experience.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Mutiny at Fort Jackson?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of Mutiny at Fort Jackson?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807832288

How long is Mutiny at Fort Jackson and how many pages does it have?

Mutiny at Fort Jackson has 264 page(s)

Is Mutiny at Fort Jackson part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Civil War America

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Mutiny at Fort Jackson?

Michael D. Pierson

Who is the Publisher of the book Mutiny at Fort Jackson?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Mutiny at Fort Jackson is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807832288) and paperback(ISBN 9781469629117) and ebook(ISBN 9781469606187) and ebook(ISBN 9780807887028) and ebook(ISBN 9798893133233) and pdf(ISBN 9798890883117)

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Where can I buy Mutiny at Fort Jackson?