On August 5, 1862, Louisiana’s capital city bore witness to a vicious Civil War battle in which Union forces succeeded in pushing back Confederate attempts to capture the city. With soldiers stationed on land and on gunboats in the Comite and Mississippi Rivers, much of the action occurred around Florida Street, with the deadliest fighting taking place around Magnolia Cemetery. This cemetery is the site of the annual commemoration of the Battle of Baton Rouge—taking place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. this Friday, August 5 on the corner of Florida Boulevard and 19^th Street.

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana organized the commemoration, historian and author John Sykes will be speaking, and cemetery board member B.J. Lorio will serve as master of ceremonies.

Reenactors will recreate events from the battle on the cemetery grounds, with cannon firings and memorial rifle and artillery salutes from the Louisiana State Militia and the Battalion Washington Artillery, 5^th Company, commanded by Captain Glen Harrison. The Louisiana State Militia, 10^th Brigade and the War Between the States Reenactors, commanded by Captain Chip Landry, will present the colors and raise the flag.

For more information, contact the Foundation for Historical Louisiana at (225) 387-2464.