(3-96)  Fort Buhlow. Site Marker: Fort Buhlow and Fort Randolph were earthwork/moat fortifications constructed beginning October 1864, by Confederate forces anticipating a repetition of Union Gen. Nathaniel Banks' Summer 1864 Red River Expedition. Construction, completed by March 1865, was under the command of Capt. C. M. Randolph and supervised by a military engineer, Lieut. A. Buhlow, for who the forts are named. The work was performed by about 1500 soldiers and civilian workers and 500 black slaves. A third and larger fort, planned for the Alexandria side of the river, was never built. There was a Confederate troop buildup in the Alexandria area in March 1865, and the Confederate ironclad Missouri was anchored in the river opposite Fort Randolph, but the anticipated attack never came and no fighting over took place. On May 26, Gen. Simon Buckner surrendered all Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi area, and Union forces under Gen. Philip Sheridan occupied Buhlow and Randolph on June 2, 1865. Fort Buhlow is located approximately 60 yards upstream (north) of the O. K. Allen Bridge on U. S. Highway 71. Fort Randolph is located approximately 600 yards downstream (south) from the bridge

(3-96)  Southwest corner of Fort Buhlow

(3-17-2008)  Enlarge The Fort Buhlow monument is in the glacis with the fort in the background. Note condition of monument
 
Photo by William Bozic

(3-17-2008)  Enlarge This photo was taken from behind the monument and looking toward the O.K. Allen Bridge. Through the trees you may be able to get an idea of where the Red River is located and the strategic location of the fort. When this photo was taken on March 17, 2007 the monument was in poor shape and the site was in bad condition. Tourist brochures mentioned plans to improve the location and create a museum to interpret N. P. Banks' Red River Campaign of Spring 1864

(3-17-2008)  Enlarge Historical marker for Fort Buhlow and Fort Randolph

(3-17-2008)  Enlarge Although the glacis was fairly well mowed/kept, the fort was completely overgrown and access was impossible. This photo and the next one are typical

(3-17-2008)  Enlarge The wood posts in the foreground are modern. The wooded, overgrown area in the background is where the fort is located

The photo is taken from the East looking to the West, so you see the Eastern side of Fort Buhlow