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| Jackson Louisiana, the Museum |
| When I spoke of the "Past" being a cottage industry, I was reflecting on Jackson. The town is a museum which is so user friendly. These historical markers can be found all around town.Guides are found in the shops. Days could be spent exploring this place and learning its long past. Then there's the museum. In another article I mentioned how small museums in history rich environments often strayed from the central theme of their immediate history and included everything they could get their hands on. The museum at Jackson is such a place. It alone could use up a couple of days. |
| Notice, "Yankee" is used instead of the polite "Federal" designation for northern troops. I am surprised that "Yankee" is capitalized. I do, also, if in a charitable, conciliatory mood. |
| To be honest, I'm not a museum person. I find them just too much to assimulate at one time and while I reading some drawn out explanation by some guy who likes to look at his own words (oops), my wife calls me to go look at something else, totally breaking my tenative consentrative powers. I'd rather be out in the history amongst the ghost. Jackson has that in the form of a real steam train. The engine is a replica of something you'd imagine being used in the Civil War. Riding its course immediately brought forth images of General Forrest raiding a Federal supply train. It travels down gulleys which are perfect for an ambush. In fact, our engineer was killed in one of the CW reinactments which are played out in Jackson. To get this page started, let's take a ride on it. Put yourself back to 1862 or so.That is not hard to do here in Jackson. |
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| Located right behind the museum. Cost 7 bucks. What you get: extremely friendly people, a rolling history lesson narrated by a lady who has to be a member of the local historical club.. Excitement in the form whether the train will climb the big hill or not. And, "that feeling", if you are prone to it. The engineer and brakemen were dressed in "period" outfits. It just all worked. And, it is a real steam train, making all the right noises. I accept no less. |
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| I dont't think we hit the top speed of 25 miles per hour. General Forrest would have had no problem. |
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| Jackson, La. is the first town named for Andrew Jackson. He rested his troops at Big Thompson Cr., a short ways down the road on the way to save New Orleans and finish, for once and for all, the War of 1812. |
| Switching tracks, no not on a CD. |
| The Civil War had a major impact on this parish and the people residing here. In Jackson, there are historical markers recognizing Pvt. Joe Fluker C.S.A. who died as a 17 year old confederate soldier as he was pursuing members of the Union cavalry. He was the seventh son from the Fluker family, of Aspohodel Plantation, to die in the Civil War, as did his father. Another historical marker is positioned at the burial site of Confederate Lt. Col. John C. McKowen, who is recognized as the capturer of Union Brigadier General Neal Dow during the siege of Port Hudson. Prior to the encirclement of Port Hudson (12 miles west of Jackson) by Union troops, the Confederates utilized the Clinton-Port Hudson Railroad as their main artery for moving vital supplies, such as ammunition, and troops. During the siege of Port Hudson, it is reported in locally distributed literature that Yankee troops ran roughshod through Jackson and the surrounding area in quest of livestock and forage and to disperse Rebel cavalry. There were many large and minor skirmishes. Two major clashes occurred in Jackson, one at the Jackson Crossroads (La. 68 & 10), and another that began on the grounds of Centenary College, drifting across town to Graveyard Hill in front of the Asylum. Another large battle took place on the western outskirts of Clinton on Pretty Creek. In the battle of Graveyard Hill, Confederate troops charged across the creek at Centenary College, ascended the slopes beyond, and overran a Union artillery battery positioned at the top of the hill. In addition to the capture of 30 Union troops, another 100 were killed as well as 12 members of the Confederate army. Reportedly, the Union troops, which numbered between 350 and 500 men, were on an expedition to recruit Negroes for the Twelfth Corps d'Afrique. Union troops occupied Jackson for almost two years after the fall of Port Hudson. The Confederate forces used Centenary College facilities as a hospital until the railroad was cut by Union siege forces, and ultimately the college was used as a hospital by Union forces. Local literature indicates that "droves of blue-clad soldiers roamed the streets of Jackson." On the minute books of the college on October 7, 1861, was this notation: "Students have all gone to war. College suspended and God help the Right." Taken from HERE This is a great page, please read. |
| Unknown Civil War dead at Centenary College. The train stopped here for a moment.Though both sides occupied Centenary, only Confederates are buried there. |
| Info from Here |
| House passed by train. I know nothing about it. But, wait. |
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| As I re-read this article and did further research on what I've written, haha, I started to put things together, or rather, what was together becomes more apparent to me. Notice on the marker it says that Joe was the seventh son to die in the CW from the Fluker family of Asphodel Plantation. Ding goes the bell. Trying to find out more about William Kendrick, mentioned on the Greensburg page with his Historical Marker, I found that Benjamine Kendrick built Asphodel Plantation and the Fluker Family took it over through marriage. in 1832 I use to trail ride out of Chipola. One of the places we'd end up was called Fluker's Bluff. Life does "come round". Starting this page with emphasis on historicl matters after I told you I'd try not to, was unavoidable. In Jackson, the town is a museum. Click Here to go to the Asphodel Plantation Site. |