Washington Artillery Arsenals

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The Bricks and Mortar of the Washington Artillery

 Historic Jackson Barracks in the outskirts of New Orleans has always been the training ground for the Washington Artillery. Built in the 1830s and named after the famed commander of the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, the grounds served both federal and state troops. However over the centuries, the battalion also maintained an arsenal within the city proper.

The Cabildo

Architect Joseph A. Darkin's drawing of the arsenal at the Cabildo.

(courtesy Louisiana State Museum)

First Arsenal of the Washington Artillery

near the Cabildo

while serving under the Louisiana Legion

(photos circa 1930s)

  In February, 1821, the governor of Louisiana was authorized by the legislature to buy four 4-pounder cannon with carriages, for the use by New Orleans militia uniformed organizations. Each of these units were required by law to drill at least once per month. It was this same year that a new militia unit called the Louisiana Legion was organized. “Legion”* simply meant a military unit composed of four companies, each organized with infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The two artillery companies of the older Battalion of New Orleans Volunteers, one of which was known as the Washington Artillery, merged to become the fourth company of this new legion. This newly consolidated artillery company, the Washington Artillery, was housed in the rear of the Cabildo. The lattice ironwork of the balcony still displays the initials “L. L.” (Louisiana Legion) along with the flaming bomb, a symbol of artillery.  This was the earliest known armory of the Washington Artillery. In keeping with its status amongst the community, the Washington Artillery was given the honor of firing a cannon salute and forming the honor guard when the Marquis de Lafayette, fighting companion of George Washington in the American Revolution, visited New Orleans in 1825.

 (*Actually, the term “legion” dates back to Roman times when it designated a military unit of 1000 men, composed of landowners only, and was derived from the Latin word meaning “conscription”. As with its American counterpart, it was composed of “citizen soldiers” concerned with protecting their homeland and property.)

Girod Street

Girod Street Arsenal

(center of photo to the left of fire station.)

Built in 1858. Burned, confiscated, and sold in 1867.

Lithograph of Battalion Washington Artillery

in front of their Girod St. Arsenal-circa 1860

  In the 1840s the Washington Battalion was stationed in a former blacksmith shop on Girod Street, between St. Charles and Carondelet Streets, in New Orleans. It was gradually adapted for military purposes and named the Washington Battalion Arsenal. The Washington Artillery (then known as the Native American Artillery) moved from its arsenal in the Cabildo to the Girod Street location. After the Mexican War, the Native American Artillery was sent home with the gratitude of the federal government. In appreciation of their service, the State of Louisiana appropriated $30 a month to help maintain their armory and, in recognition of the organization’s services, the City of New Orleans donated the Girod Street building previously used by the group as an armory “as long as the Washington Artillery remains in possession of the city’s cannon.” William A. Freret, New Orleans architect and member of the artillery unit, designed plans for an upgrade of the old converted building. During its renovation, the arsenal was a scene for many a gala. The New Orleans Delta described a July 6, 1855 event,

  “After the review in Lafayette Square, the Continental Guards presented the Washington Artillery with a beautiful American flag, in presence of the entire brigade, which had formed in a square.  Captain Labuzan, in presenting the flag, made a very handsome address, which was eloquently responded to by Captain Hunting of the Washington Artillery.  The ceremony of presentation finished, the Artillery escorted the Continentals to the armory of the former company in Girod Street, where, stacking arms, they all marched together to the residence of General [E. L.] Tracy [former commander of the Washington Artillery now in charge of the state militia].
  Here the veteran General had prepared an excellent collation, which was partaken of sans ceremonie, with a hearty good will by what might not inappropriately be styled the hungry brigade—for the early hour at which the military were ordered out, prevented most of them from breakfasting.  Previous to the collation Capt. Labuzan, on behalf of the Continentals, presented Gen. Tracy with a service of plate as a token of their esteem.  The two companies then returned to the Washington Artillery Armory, where several huge bowls of champagne punch had been prepared, together with "something to eat."  Here, of course, all restraint was thrown off, a pleasant half hour was passed in soldierly social intercourse, about which we might write a column, but have neither time nor space.  The Artillery then escorted the Guards back to their own armory on Camp street, and here they separated; the best good feeling prevailing, which it is hoped will continue to prevail so long as these two companies maintain their present high position and reputation.” 

  By 1858, under the direction of Commander James Walton, the building was finally taking shape as a first class facility.  Its exterior military façade was finished, complete with two medallions of George Washington’s profile,  four cannon incorporated in its pediment and crossed cannon above a stack of round cannon balls. Its architect was the brilliant William A. Freret, son of the mayor, and member of the unit. Here the unit grew to a full company, splendidly uniformed and equipped at member expense. It drilled in infantry as well as artillery tactics. The arsenal housed both rifles and cannon, but continued to act as a site for many social events.

  In 1861 work was still progressing on the facility. But more important matters were at hand.   On May 26, 1861 the battalion, dressed in new militia uniforms of blue and with a fine band (Gessner’s Brass Band), marched into Lafayette Square, where it was mustered into Confederate service for the “duration of the war.” The Washington Artillery now consisted of four companies. Two companies were equipped as artillery and two as infantry. From there its members marched to Christ Episcopal Church on Canal Street where its rector, Dr. Leacock, proclaimed to them, “Our hearts will follow you, and our prayers will ascend for your safety and return.” The following day the battalion left their arsenal on Girod Street, the roof not yet put on, the floors torn up. It then paraded past City Hall where the Reverend Benjamin M. Palmer of the nearby First Presbyterian Church wished the unit “God speed.”

  After the fall of New Orleans in 1862 and while the Washington Artillery was in the service of the Confederate government, Union forces seized the arsenal.  Union General Benjamin Butler ordered federal soldiers to burn the building. The battalion's old records and early history, impossible to replace, went up in flames with the structure. All that survived was the front wall and its façade. After the war, the facade was moved to a park across from Jackson Square which was named Washington Artillery Park, in honor of the city's veteran artillery unit.

The facade of the Girod Street Arsenal as it looked in the 1970s

at the Washington Artillery Park across from Jackson Square.

The Washington Artillery Monument has one of the unit's original cannons.

Temporary Quarters

Washington Artillery veterans returned to the city after the Civil War to find their arsenal in shambles. Benjamin Butler had confiscated and destroyed the Girod Street structure by fire during his occupation in 1862. The federal military government in charge of the city during Reconstruction continued the insult by selling the remnants of the burned out armory “of the rebels” in 1866 and keeping the proceeds. Since Confederate veterans were not allowed to bear arms or form any military organization, Washington Artillery members were forced to meet wherever possible as the Washington Artillery Benevolent Association. Finally on May 25, 1870, the battalion was allowed to reorganize by order of the general of the state militia, ex-Confederate General James Longstreet. A new arsenal was needed. The Washington Artillery occupied temporary armories on Perdido, then Common Streets (opposite the Medical College), until it raised sufficient funds through subscription of its own members to purchase a new arsenal.

 Partial payment from the State of Louisiana to William Miller Owen dated July 3, 1872 for rent of the armory for the Second Brigade Louisiana Militia.

St. Charles Street

St. Charles Street Arsenal

 John B. Richardson, the Washington Artillery's then commander, found a splendid candidate for its new arsenal in 1878 in the massive building on St. Charles Street, previously built in 1865 and used as an exposition hall for the 1872 Grand Industrial Exposition held in New Orleans. This three storied structure, which faced St. Charles Street and ran all the way through to Carondelet Street (90 x 360 feet), was called Exposition Hall. It was bought in 1878 by the Washington Artillery, renamed Washington Artillery Hall, and used as their arsenal. Besides owning the property, the battalion managed to totally reequip itself with its own cannon, rifles, sabers, uniforms and ammunition. A shooting range was even constructed within the facility, a luxury for the time.

Stock issued to raise the funds needed to buy the Louisiana Exposition Hall and convert it to the Washington Artillery Armory, circa 1880s.

Color lithograph of the battalion in front of the St. Charles St. Arsenal

This litho was used in the center of the above noted stock-circa 1880s

St. Charles Street Arsenal

Battalion Washington Artillery parades in front of its St. Charles Street arsenal-circa 1890s

Stereoview albumen by S.T. Blessing of the St. Charles St. Arsenal

Interior of the arsenal as seen during the Louisiana Exposition in 1903.

 However, the hall’s huge second floor ballroom was also used for many social balls, including Carnival. (The grand hall had played host to the King of the Carnival’s first Reception Ball in 1873.) Although the facility was not adapted for tableaux and had a limited seating area, Washington Artillery Hall became renowned as the Carnival Palace of Rex and his royal consort from 1879 until 1906. In fact, several prominent ex-Confederate veterans and Washington Artillery families reigned as kings and queens in the great hall.  Philanthropists Charles T. Howard (1877) and Frank T. Howard (1895), the latter the founder of the Confederate Memorial Hall museum, were kings; Cora Slocomb (1881) and Bessie Behan (1891), a daughter and a wife of WA veterans respectively, were queens.

Mardi Gras balls were held within the arsenal.

 In 1882 the Washington Artillery started holding its annual reunions there. During its 1883 reunion, the battalion was presented with one of the three original prototype presentation battle flags of the Confederacy. Made by Jennie Carey for P.G.T. Beauregard, the old “Creole” himself, this flag was presented by Alfred Roman in lieu of a sick Beauregard. The flag was held in great esteem, kept in a case and removed on only two occasions, to cloak the coffins of Beauregard and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Washington Artillery Hall also served as the home for the celebrated, monumental 10 x 12 foot oil painting by Everett B. D. Julio, representing the last meeting of Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Chancellorsville [now owned by and exhibited at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.].

(courtesy Museum of the Confederacy)

 The magnificent hall was the scene for many more important events in the social, political, and military annals of New Orleans, including presentations associated with the Annual Meetings and Reunions of the United Confederate Veterans Conventions held in New Orleans in 1892 and 1903. The structure finally fell out of favor to more modern facilities in the 20^th century. The Washington Artillery moved its arsenal to its old practice grounds at Jackson Barracks in 1922, but continued to use the St. Charles Street property at times.    

 When the military unit returned from fighting in World War II as the 141^st Field Artillery, it decided to permanently reside at the larger Jackson Barracks location.  For a brief time (1968) the unit was stationed at the site of old Camp Nichols (the ex-Confederate veteran’s home) on Bayou St. John. Prior to the unit’s departure from the St. Charles arsenal, many of its artifacts, mainly post-Civil War, were transferred to the collection of the Louisiana State Museum, where they are still currently housed. Most of the unit's Civil War era artifacts were donated and housed at Confederate Memorial Hall, where they also remain today. The St. Charles Street arsenal was sold and became a car dealership but by the 1950s fell into disrepair and was finally demolished in 1952 to make way for an office building.

The St. Charles Street Arsenal

in the 1950s at the time of its demolition.

(1903 and 1950s B&W photos courtesy LOUISiana Digital Library)

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