During the Battle of Jackson, the 2nd Vermont Battery fled south down East College Street in hopes of reaching Clinton Road, turning east, crossing Spring Branch, and rejoining the main body of retreating Federal troops. Its guide was shot during the retreat, and the resulting confusion led to a wrong turn at or near this intersection. The battery galloped several blocks west, where one gun was lost to pursuing Confederates, before the remaining crew and gun returned to East College Street and continued south. Meanwhile, the main body of Federals withdrew under fire through a long ravine about 100 yards ahead. At the time of the battle, a large two-story frame building built about 1828 by the College of Louisiana stood on the present site of the Republic of West Florida Museum, and the Louisiana Constitutional Convention held in Jackson from August 5 to 24, 1844, is believed to have met there. The nearby Lockridge Cottage, built about 1820-21, was the residence of George L. and Mildreth (Milburry) Waller McDonald in August 1863, when six children lived in the household, and Mrs. McDonald died at age thirty-nine on March 30, 1864.