Bill Taylor and the Jolly Fisherman

On Saturday, April 12th, 2003, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Flotilla 4-10 members Cleve Chandler, Tom McKinstry, Cheryl McKinstry, Ken Munson and Bill Taylor were tasked with a unique request and mission.

Fellow flotilla member, Richard Gist, asked us to perform a safety patrol at the 142nd anniversary reenactment of the Civil War naval battle at Fort Jackson, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Auxiliarist Gist, a civil war re-enactor, was participating in the event as a Confederate soldier.

"Our mission was to provide a security and a protective zone around a 'Northern' schooner from Mobile Bay, Alabama. Although we were told that we would be the only boat on patrol in the Mississippi River, we were joined by four other vessels including a Coast Guard 41 footer from Station Venice. Crew members of the Auxiliary facility, WellCraft, performed the safety patrol around the perimeter of Plaquemines Bend near Buras, Louisiana. "All boats were needed as the schooner continued to run an elliptical pattern while 'firing' cannons and muskets at the troops at Fort Jackson," said Cleve Chandler, coxswain on the safety patrol.

We witnessed the 'Northern' schooner, Jolly Fisherman, manned with Union soldiers, as she participated in a high excitement navel battle. From ship to shore, and back, she exchanged both cannon and mortar fire with the Confederate Civil War soldiers re-enactors defending Fort Jackson.

Cannon fire upon the Jolly Fisherman from Fort Jackson

"Although amiable in acting out the scene, the patrols and watch were serious. The river pattern traffic was slow but all crews had to be ever watchful as a vessel could run through if we relaxed our watch. "Not only did we do the service, but we learned history at the same time," reflected coxswain Chandler.

"I've never experienced a Civil War re-enactment. Not only was this a land based battle it also involved a nautical battle. It's almost like you were sent back in a time machine to witness these events first hand. The era uniforms looked to be authentic, and the participants took this re-enactment very seriously. We were thanked by several of the people for our participation as a safety patrol. I was privileged to have been a part of the event, "expressed crew member Ken Munson.

Boat crew member, Tom McKinstry, a transplant from New York and the only 'Yankee' aboard the patrol boat pondered, "After witnessing the land battle, I was curious if we all read the same history books. The Union soldiers took Fort Jackson, a turning point of the Civil War. A thought kept crossing my mind...why after 141 times would you want to reenact a battle with the same outcome...I guess the South is still trying to get it right. Overall, it was interesting to see the period costumes and artillery re-enactment."

"The Battle of Fort Jackson is also known as 'The Night the War Was Lost at the Mouth of the Mississippi,' and it was a very important part of Louisiana and the South's history. I was very proud to have the Coast Guard Auxiliary participate in this historic event," said Richard Gist.

Ken Munson and Cleve Chandler preparing for the safety patrol

Coast Guard patrol boat from Station Venice visits with the Jolly Fisherman after the battle.

Confederate ladies visiting prior to the battle.