Numerous slaves had escaped there to Union lines, and some fought with Union soldiers in the 1863 defense of Fort Butler. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After the war, freedmen left rural areas for Donaldsonville to gather in community and establish trades and businesses; it had the third-largest black population of any city in the state.
This location served as a haven for numerous escaped slaves who joined Union lines, and some even fought alongside Union soldiers during the 1863 defense of Fort Butler. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After the war, former slaves left rural areas to form communities in Donaldsonville, where they established businesses and occupations; it became a significant center for African Americans.