[4] Fort Beauregard, located on a bluff in the northern corner of the village, was a Confederate stronghold during the American Civil War.

[6] The Confederates lost eight significant artillery pieces although two large 32 pound cannons were preserved.

[7] On March 1 through the 4, 1864 the town was again attacked by Union gunboats, but the falling river level prevented the advance on Monroe.

The Harrisonburg Road ran through the area as it crossed Louisiana between Mississippi's Natchez Trace and Texas' El Camino Real.

Harrisonburg was considered for the new site of the Louisiana state capital when the legislature decided to move it from New Orleans after the Civil War.

[9] Harrisonburg is located in northern Catahoula Parish at 31°46′20″N 91°49′39″W / 31.77222°N 91.82750°W / 31.77222; -91.82750 (31.772177, -91.827403),[10] on the west bank of the Ouachita River.

Louisiana State Highway 8 passes through the village, leading northeast across the Ouachita to Sicily Island, and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to U.S. Route 84 near Catahoula Lake.

Jonesville, the largest town in Catahoula Parish, is 10 miles (16 km) south of Harrisonburg via Highway 124.