Gustav’s “Visit” to Baton Rouge

LASN associate editor and ordinance columnist, Buck Abbey, ASLA of the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture at Louisiana State University, forwarded some images of tree damage when Hurricane Gustav blustered into Baton Rouge, La. on Labor Day September 1, 2008. Buck has his office in Baton Rouge and a weekend home in New Orleans.

Buck Abbey calls this photo "Fallen Heros." This large cherrybark oak has shaded the resting spots of soldiers from the Civil War and many wars since. Yankee soldiers from Michigan and Massachusetts as well as Confederate soldiers were interred here following the Battle of Baton Rouge on Aug. 5, 1862. Buck notes there is one man from parts unknown buried here on March 4, 1865 by the name of Albert J. Abbey and wonders if he is a relative. There are also combatants buried here who fought in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.