| The military submarine USS LOUISIANA | | | | The second ship named LOUISIANA, a side |
| (SSBN 743) is the 4th United States | | | | wheel steamship, was commissioned in |
| Naval vessel to be named in honor of the | | | | August of 1861. It was originally posted |
| 18th state admitted to the union, and is | | | | to the Union's North Atlantic Blockading |
| the 18th and last of the Trident | | | | Squadron, and the LOUISIANA operated |
| Submarines to be commissioned into the | | | | along the Coast of Virginia against |
| United States Navy. | | | | Confederate blockades. The steamship |
| The first ship named LOUISIANA, a sloop | | | | LOUISIANA was integral in the defense of |
| built in the shipyards of New Orleans in | | | | Washington, D.C. in Dec. of 1862, where |
| 1812, played a key role in the defense | | | | Maj. Gen. John J. Foster noted in his |
| of the city of New Orleans during the | | | | cruise journal that LOUISIANA "had |
| War of 1812. From Dec. 23, 1814 to Jan. | | | | rendered most efficient aid, throwing |
| 8, 1815, the sloop ship LOUISIANA | | | | their shells with great precision, and |
| pounded the advancing redcoats, | | | | clearing the streets, through which her |
| providing essential naval gunfire for | | | | guns had range." The ship was later was |
| General Jackson's troops. When the | | | | involved in many engagements off the |
| British troops advanced far up river and | | | | coast and in the rivers of the State of |
| beyond the range of the very effective | | | | North Carolina. The second LOUISIANA was |
| cannon fire of the sloop LOUISIANA, the | | | | sacrificed to the sea on Christmas Eve, |
| ship's crew did not let the reduction of | | | | 1864, when she was towed, stripped of |
| wind slow down their support of their | | | | essentials, and packed with explosives, |
| fellow countrymen. Crew members went | | | | to the base of Ft. Fisher in Wilmington, |
| ashore with long mooring lines and | | | | North Carolina, and detonated in an |
| pulled their sloop up the river against | | | | effort to completely destroy the fort |
| the currents of the raging Mississippi | | | | without much loss of life. The huge |
| to re-engage the enemy. The LOUISIANA | | | | explosion had little effect, and it |
| was credited with playing a key role in | | | | required Union forces many more weeks to |
| the victory over the British and keeping | | | | capture this essential Confederate |
| the valuable seaport of New Orleans in | | | | stronghold. |
| American control. | | | | |