Fort New Richmond — British Baton Rouge

After France ceded Louisiana east of the Mississippi in 1763, the British built Fort New Richmond on the Baton Rouge bluff and governed the territory for sixteen years — long enough to establish the first Protestant settlers and English common law in the region. Their tenure ended in 25 minutes. In September 1779, Spanish governor Bernardo de Gálvez attacked with 1,400 soldiers during a thunderstorm, overwhelmed the garrison before it could respond, and raised the Spanish flag over a fort the British had considered impregnable.

Quick facts

·After France ceded Louisiana east of the Mississippi in 1763, the British built Fort New Richmond on the Baton Rouge bluff.
·The British governed for 16 years — establishing the first Protestant settlers and English common law in the region.
·Spanish governor Bernardo de Gálvez attacked with 1,400 soldiers during a thunderstorm in September 1779.
·The British garrison fell in 25 minutes; the Spanish flag rose over a fort the British had considered impregnable.
·No physical remains of the fort survive; the site is near the current State Capitol grounds.