Storm history
As mentioned above, a Category 2 hurricane was first detected about 150 miles west-northwest of the Dry Tortugas near the Florida Keys, moving W. As with most systems in the 1800s, the complete history of this hurricane is not known. It is possible that the system moved in from the Bahamas and south Florida, but this presents a problem: why was such an impact not recorded, even during those technologically scarce times? The only possible explanation to this is that the system was only a tropical depression or tropical storm whilst traversing these regions, and it did not intensify significantly until it reached the eastern Gulf of Mexico. At that point though, rapid intensification would have had to have occurred in order for the storm to go from a tropical depression/storm to a Category 2 hurricane within the span of just a day or so. Another possibility is that the system was moving northward from the western Caribbean, across western Cuba, and then into the Gulf of Mexico before a ridge built back in to the north. However, this would be a rather atypical motion for the middle of September, and in fact, more typical of the middle of October.
Regardless of its origin, the hurricane continued generally westward as a Category 2 until the morning of September 12, at which point it turned to the west-northwest as the subtropical ridge to the north weakened somewhat, likely due to the approach of a mid-latitude trough from the west. The hurricane turned to the northwest late on the afternoon of September 13 as it encountered a further weakness in the aforementioned ridge. Around 24 hours later, the hurricane turned northward, now well-embedded within the southerly flow along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge, and the aforementioned trough and its associated cold front to the west. The hurricane made landfall across lower Plaquemines Parish at 0600 GMT September 15, then turned further poleward, to the north-northeast, at around 1200 GMT that same day. At this time, the hurricane is still estimated to have been a Category 2, located just offshore the southwestern coast of Mississippi. The hurricane quickly made a second landfall near Bay St. Louis, still a Category 2.
The hurricane continued north-northeastward under the influence from the trough, and ultimately dissipated somewhere over the eastern United States. It was last identified as a 45 kt (50 mph) tropical storm at 0600 GMT near 33.0°N 88.0°W, still moving quickly north-northeastward under the influence of the climatological mid-latitude westerlies.
Figure 1. Track of the hurricane.
Louisiana
Gale force winds were reported for around 20 hours across extreme southeast Louisiana as the hurricane ravaged the area. Additionally, and quite rare in a tropical cyclone, hail was reported. The only other tropical cyclone I can think of that has produced hail (though there were undoubtedly others as well) is 1995's Hurricane Marilyn.
Every building in Balize, an old settlement located about five miles from Pillottown, (the latter of which is located along extreme lower Plaquemines Parish, on the southeast side facing the Gulf), was destroyed by the hurricane, and the third Bayou St. John lighthouse was damaged beyond repair.
A storm surge in excess of several feet was reported across lower Plaquemines Parish, which inundated the area and killed several people. The tied was reported as being six feet above the high tide. All wharves along the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain were destroyed.
Mississippi
Across Mississippi, where the hurricane's second landfall occurred, a lighthouse in the area, along with a hotel, were swept away by the storm surge.
Total damages from the hurricane exceeded $1 million.
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