Jean Lafitte Historic Resource Study (Chalmette Unit)

D. Discussion and Archeological Potential

Despite gaps in the documentary record of the Chalmette Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, a fairly complete history of occupation of the area has resulted from this research effort. Three major periods are recognized: the early period, prior to ca. 1835, is characterized by an emphasis on plantation agriculture. Indigo plantations were typical of the area in the colonial period. With the beginning of the American period, sugar cultivation was rapidly adopted. The exception to this pattern is the Rodriguez tract, which, although referred to as a "plantation," was too small for monocrop agriculture.

The second period, ca. 1835-1900, postdates the breakup of all of the St. Amand plantation land included in the park holdings (which presumably occurred after Hilaire St. Amand's death in 1833). During this second period the area exhibited a surprisingly diverse range of occupations, including country estates (such as the R.T. Beauregard house and lot), "tract" housing (Fazendeville), commercial endeavors (the Old Battle Ground Store), and industrial development (the Battle Ground Saw Mill). During the third period (post 1900), the area was consolidated by the New Orleans Terminal Company, and later by the National Park Service.

Two major occupations can be identified during the Plantation period: the Chalmet plantation and related structures (Illustration 15) and the St. Amand plantation and related structures (Illustrations 16 and 24). Unfortunately, nothing is known about the structural improvements to the land during the colonial period. However, the kinds of remains likely to be recovered from plantation occupations can be inferred. Residential areas on plantations included the great house, the overseers house, and the slave quarters. These areas were not necessarily adjacent to each other; for example, a quarters area next to the great house would have housed domestics, while quarters for field hands would have been near the sugar mill. If viewed archeologically, these areas would consist primarily of structural remains and of habitation refuse such as ceramics, glass, faunal remains, etc. Areas of animal husbandry, such as stables and barns, might be recognized archeologically by tools, tack, and other hardware associated with stock, including remains of a blacksmithing activities. Industrial areas of the plantation would be associated with more massive structural remains, tools, machinery parts, and the by-products of manufacturing such as bagasse.

We may summarize the archeological potential of the park as follows:

1. It has been hypothesized that the Rodriguez house standing at the time of the Battle of New Orleans was damaged, and was later replaced with a second structure. [146] Nothing has been recovered in the documentary record to support this hypothesis. The similarity between the structures shown in the Latour 1815 plan (Illustration 15) and the Zimpel 1834 map (Illustration 16) suggest this was not the case. However, the later structure may have been constructed on the foundation of the earlier Rodriguez house. This was a common occurrence in the New Orleans area. [147] Also, the evidence tends to support this archeological hypothesis. [148]

2. Structural remains associated with the Chalmet plantation were located downriver from the National Military Cemetery, (Illustrations 15 and 20). Consequently, there is little possibility of recovering remains from this occupation within the park.

3. The St. Amand great house complex also was located downriver from the cemetery. The plantation quarters, lesser residential structures, and the industrial area of the site were located within the present Military Cemetery, the southern portion much of which has been lost as a result of a levee setback ca. 1982 (Illustrations 16, 24, 32, and 33). Therefore, the likelihood of recovery of remains from the St. Amand plantation within the park is not great.

4. Archeological remains associated with residential structures are anticipated between the Rodriguez canal and the Beauregard House. One structure, possibly dating from the 1830s, survived on Lot 1 until the early twentieth century (Illustrations 16, 17, 22, and 25).

5. Industrial remains associated with the Battle Ground Saw Mill would be expected to occur in the area between the Beauregard House and the St. Bernard Sewage Treatment Plant (Lots 3, 4, and 5) on (Illustration 24). These remains would be concentrated nearer to the Beauregard downriver property line, since Lots 3 and 4 were the first to be developed (Illustration 16). Late nineteenth century habitation refuse, including remains from the Rhodes occupation, also may occur within this area.

6. The late nineteenth and twentieth century habitation remains of Fazendeville would be on the east side of Fazendeville Road, north of the St. Bernard Sewage Treatment Plant. To the west of Fazendeville Road would be the twentieth century remains of Harry Colomb's residence.

7. Two structures stood on the Old Battle Ground Store lot at least as early as 1833 (Illustration 16). These survived throughout the nineteenth century (Illustration 17). Their location would have been immediately downriver from the eastern property line of the Fazendeville tract. The site of these structures is likely to contain the only surviving remains of the St. Amand plantation occupation (Illustrations 16 and 24). It also is expected to contain later nineteenth century habitation refuse, and the remains of the Old Battle Ground Store.

8. Military remains are expected from the lot immediately to the west of the present cemetery. Two as of yet undefined structures from the late nineteenth century were also located in this area; it is suggested that these were also martial in nature. There is a possibility of recovering remains from the St. Amand plantation along the eastern boundary of this lot as result of its proximity to the plantation quarters, lesser residential complex, and industrial center.

Thus, the park property potentially includes a variety of different archeological remains. It is unfortunate that probably the most significant archeological remains, those from the St. Amand slave/overseer residential and industrial complexes have little potential for recovery due to their location within the Military Cemetery property, part of which has already been impacted by a levee setback. Virtually nothing is known about the material culture of Louisiana's free people of color. The St. Amand plantation, because of the circumstances of its history, would have provided the remains of an ante-bellum plantation owned and operated solely by free blacks. Examination of the remains of the slave residential area could have provided information on the diet and material culture provided to slaves of black masters. However, the possibility of recovering such material should not be entirely excluded, since some areas within the cemetery as it exists today have not been disturbed by burials. [149] There also may be remains just beyond the western wall of the cemetery in the adjacent lot.

Similarly, the remains on the Old Battle Ground Store lot also would be significant, since the only other structures from the St. Amand plantation within the park itself were located here (Illustrations 16, 22, and 24). These probably were residential structures for either slaves or a watchman, positioned to enable the overseeing of the upriver plantation lands. Again, this area should provide information on life on a black owned plantation. Less important late nineteenth century residential and commercial remains would also be recovered.

It has been suggested above that the former property of the City of New Orleans, immediately west of the present cemetery may include remains from the St. Amand plantation. This area also is significant as it was the site of military activity after the Battle of New Orleans, as evidence by the powder magazine. This structure may date to the Civil War, and other military activity from this period may be revealed on this site. Also, the black military cemetery potentially could provide forensic data for an interesting comparison to remains of black slaves that have been recovered, such as those recently unearthed in the Vieux Carre in New Orleans. Finally, the documentary history for this area was scantier than for any other area within the park. Archeological investigation here would supplement our limited knowledge of land use in this area.

The Fazendeville area, north of the St. Bernard Sewage Treatment Plant, is potentially significant because of its unusual history. It was a black community begun during the reconstruction period by a free man of color. Material and dietary remains would provide an interesting contrast to both those from ante-bellum slaves and Reconstruction period whites. Development of the community could be examined diachronically, and at the present time, it would still be possible to collect oral history on the area.

Finally, the remains of the Battle Ground Saw Mill are interesting since they potentially can provide information on the ante-bellum industrialization of the suburban New Orleans area. The potential for further documentary research on this area is also good, as many of the city's noted architects patronized the mill.

The documentary record of the property which today is the Chalmette Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, demonstrates that the area had a wide variety of land uses since its initial settlement. Originally a colonial plantation, it became one of the larger plantations owned by free men of color during the early nineteenth century. Recognition of the area's historic significance as the site of the Battle of New Orleans occurred during the mid-nineteenth century, when the Rodriguez Plantation was purchased as the site for the monument, and the Military Cemetery was established. The remainder of present park land continued in use for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes until the early twentieth century. While much of this history is important in a state or local context, the cultural resources of national significance at Chalmette remain those connected with the Battle of New Orleans.