Primary Sources — Louisville & Fort Duffield

This archive brings together original documents, maps, military reports, soldier accounts,
and engineering records related to Fort Duffield and Louisville’s Civil War defenses.
These sources form the foundation of our research and interpretive work.

Louisville Defences 1864 map showing the 10½‑mile arc of Civil War forts built to protect the city.

Fort Duffield Documents

Primary Documents

Interpretive References

  • Overview of Fort Duffield’s 1861 construction from the “Construction of the Fort” page.
  • Insights into daily life at the fort from the “Garrison Life” page.
  • Interpretive discussion of Fort Duffield’s role in protecting the L&N Railroad and river landings from the History section.
  • Context on veterans’ memory and commemoration from the reunion letter and G.A.R. encampment programme.

Related Pages

Louisville Defensive Line (1864–65)

Primary Documents

Interpretive References

  • Overview of Louisville’s 10½‑mile defensive arc from the Research overview and Walking Tour introduction.
  • Descriptions of each fort’s role and location from the “Walking & Driving Tour of Louisville’s Lost Civil War Forts” page.
  • Context on the feared Confederate attack and Louisville’s strategic importance from the History section.
  • Interpretive notes on USCT service and labor along the defensive line from Research and interpretive text.

Related Pages

Maps & Surveys

Primary Documents

Interpretive References

  • Overview of how the 1864 map illustrates the full defensive arc around Louisville from the Research section.
  • Discussion of Fort Duffield’s position relative to the river and rail lines from the History and Research pages.
  • Interpretive notes on West Point’s role as a supply and river landing hub from Points of Interest and History pages.
  • Summary of archaeological and survey findings from the Archaeological Investigations and GPR discussions.

Related Pages

Soldier Accounts & Diaries

Engineering & Logistics

Primary Documents

Interpretive References

  • Overview of how engineering doctrine shaped the design of Fort Duffield and nearby defenses from the History and Research sections.
  • Context on military roads, bridges, and supply routes supporting Louisville and West Point from the Research and Points of Interest pages.
  • Interpretive notes on quartermaster operations, provisioning, and logistics in the Louisville District from related History content.
  • Summary of how archaeological and engineering evidence together inform our understanding of the fort’s construction and use.

Related Pages