Lots of living history at the site. For a bit of background the twin Forts Randolph and Buhlow were built after the disastrous Union Red River Campaign. After sacking Alexandria and being defeated near Mansfield to the north, the Union Army, under command of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks retreated along the Red Red River toward Simmesport, burning and looting every building they passed along the way. To ensure the LA capitol at Shreveport was protected against another invasion the Forts near Alexandria were constructed to stop Union Naval forces from advancing. Each fort had large artillery pieces emplaced with a commanding view of the Red River. These heavy guns could stop any boats sent up river by Union Naval forces. To protect the forts from a direct infantry assault, two regiments of cavalry were assigned to the forts. Confederate forces between the two garrisons totaled just over 800 soldiers. After the Red River Campaign and construction of the forts, no further invasions of the Red River Valley occurred. The forts were either quite a deterrent or a waste of badly needed cavalry and artillery forces. Either way the ruined Red River Valley did not face occupation until the Department of Louisiana surrendered a few weeks after Lees surrender at Appomattox. The Soldiers at the forts were among the last in the Confederacy to surrender.
Given the nature of cavalry and artillery units, shorter weapons, such as this Enfield musketoon would have been a common sight at the forts. Although many Confederate cavalrymen were rather fond of sawed off double barreled shotguns. At this stage of the war though southern troops were thrilled to have any kind of weapon that went bang.
