Artillery Ridge: This ridge was siezed by Federals early on May 27, 1863. They quickly brought up several batteries and distributed them along the crest. These guns supported the sttacks against Bennett's Redoubt and the Alabama/Arkansas Redoubt later that morning. Throughout the siege, Union cannons bombarded the Confederate earthworks from this position.
Fort Babcock: This position, slightly more than 100 yards from the Confederate earthworks, was the nearest point siezed and held by the Federals on May 27. It was named for Lt. Colonel Willoughby Babcock of the 75th New York Infantry Regiment.
Alabama/Arkansas Redoubt: This position was held by six companies of the 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment on May 27. The men were relieved several days after the attack by the 18th Arkansas Infantry Regiment for the remainder of the siege.
Mississippi Redoubt: This position was the right wing of that portion of the line occupied by the 39th Mississippi Infantry Regiment throughout the siege. The Union army never attacked this section of the Confederate lines. The left wing of the 39th Mississippi (just to the west of the park property) repulsed an attack by black Union soldiers on May 27. Of the earthworks on the State Commemorative Area, this one is nearest to the location of the Mississippi River in 1863. The river, which has moved southward almost two miles since the siege, cannot be seen from the commemorative area.
Commissary Hill: Commissary Hill was named for its proximity to the Confederate grainary and grist mill. On May 27 it was occupied by cannons without infantry support. Following the attack, a portion of the 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment constructed earthworks and helped defend the hill for the remainder of the siege.
Bennett's Redoubt: The 10th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and a section of Watson's Louisiana Battery occupied this position on May 27. The infantrymen were allowed several days rest following the attack before returning to this position, where their unit remained for the duration of the siege. Most Louisiana troops who served at Port Hudson fought in the southern portion of the battlefield.
Fort Desperate: This earthwork formed the northeast salient of the Confederate defensive perimeter and was located on a prominent and exposed ridge. It protected the main road to the garrison's arsenal and commissary buildings. The fort's defenders, members of the 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment were responsible for three-quarters of a mile out of the total 4.5 miles of Confederate earthworks. Union troops made unsuccessful assaults against Fort Desperate on May 27 and June 14. Federal siege operations after June 14 included a trench a point 30 yards outside the fort's ditch. The men of the 15th Arkansas constructed an exterior rifle pit and prepared land mines to slow the progress of the Union approach.