2025 Field Trips
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June 7, 2025 Saturday
The Day the War Stopped
Grace Episcopal Church
11621 Ferdinand Street
St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775
Our June Field Trip is to a favorite destination, St. Francisville, to experience an annual reenactment of one of the most unique events of the entire American Civil War. In June of 1863 the siege of Port Hudson was a bloody conflict pitting 30,000 Union troops against 6,800 Confederate troops fighting for the control of navigation along the Mississippi River. The USS Albatross was a Union schooner fitted with guns and it was patrolling Bayou Sara near St. Francisville when Lt. Commander Hart contracted Yellow Fever. In the throes of a delusional fever, Lt. Commander Hart took his own life aboard the USS Albatross leaving the crew with the dilemma of providing a proper Masonic burial as desired by the decedent. The second in command, Theodore B. DuBois, went ashore and met with Confederate Captain William W. Leake who was also the Senior Warden of the Feliciana Lodge to discuss arrangements for a Masonic funeral for the fallen officer. In an act of true brotherly love, the war was put on hold so that Lt. Commander Hart could receive a Masonic burial.
This reenactment had been celebrated since the 1990’s in St. Francisville with the participation of the local Masons and the Masons from Schenectady, NY. In the true spirit of the Louisiana party culture, it is a citywide festival. It is tipped off with the National Anthem at 9:00 AM sharp signaling the start of a full day of fun and food. The most solemn and picturesque event is the reenactment at 10:00 AM. https://felicianalodge31.com/day-the-war-stopped
In order to get to St. Francisville in a timely manner, I would suggest meeting at Coffee Call on College Drive at 6:45 AM and leaving at 7:15 AM. The drive to St. Francisville is normally 45 minutes but I am not sure how much traffic we will encounter or if there will be adequate parking in the downtown area close to Grace Episcopal Church where they will lay Lt. Commander to rest.
I am looking forward to a big turn out for this unique Field Trip and carpooling should be considered.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Hart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Albatross_(1858)
Field Trip Show & Tell
Sunday, July 27, 2024
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Sunday, October 26, 2024
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Jones Creek Library
6222 Jones Creek Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
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Field trip dates may be subject to change depending on several factors, including – but not limited to – weather, illness, site closure, etc. The field trip coordinator will keep registrants apprised of any changes that occur. Please refer to the Newsletter, Calendar, and this page for reference.