Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism
Louisiana Archaeological Survey and Antiquities Commission
Anthropological Study No. 8
BAILEY’S DAM
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Porter’s fleet passing the dam at Alexandria. From Harper’s Pictorial History of theCivil War, May 1864. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Edwin W. Edwards
Governor
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, RECREATION AND TOURISM
Noelle LeBlanc
Secretary
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND ANTIQUITIES COMMISSION
Ex-Officio Members
| Dr. Kathleen Byrd | State Archaeologist |
| Mr. Robert B. DeBlieux | Assistant Secretary, Office of Cultural Development |
| Mr. B. Jim Porter | Secretary, Department of Natural Resources |
| Mrs. Dorothy M. Taylor | Secretary, Department of Urban and Community Affairs |
Appointed Members
Dr. Charles E. Orser, Jr.
Mr. Brian J. Duhe
Mr. Marc Dupuy, Jr.
Dr. Lorraine Heartfield
Dr. J. Richard Shenkel
Mrs. Lanier Simmons
Dr. Clarence H. Webb
Published March 1986
This public document was published at a total cost of $3,995.00. Ninety-fivehundred copies of this public document were published in this first printingat a cost of $3,995.00. The total cost of all printings of this document includingreprints is $3,995.00. This document was published for the Division ofArchaeology by Bourque Printing, Inc., P.O. Box 45070, Baton Rouge, LA70895-4070 to make available to the citizens of Louisiana informationabout prehistoric and historic archaeology under authorization of La. R.S.41:1601-1613. This material was printed in accordance with standards forprinting by state agencies established pursuant to R.S. 43:31. Printing ofthis material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 ofthe Louisiana Revised Statutes. This publication has been funded entirelyby the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Vicksburg District.
BAILEY’S DAM
Steven D. Smith
Division of Archaeology
George J. Castille III
Coastal Environments, Inc.
I trust some future historian will treat this matter as it deserves to betreated, because it is a subject in which the whole country should feel aninterest, and the noble men who succeeded so admirably in this arduoustask should not lose one atom of credit so justly due them.
—Rear Admiral David D. PorterMay 16, 1864Letter to Hon. Gideon Welles
STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST’S NOTE
Louisiana has a rich cultural heritage dating back over 12,000years. During these 12,000 years, many different peoples have lived andworked in the state. Archaeologists, who stu