Also known as: Fort Fisher.
| Location | Mouth of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Type | Large sand-and-earth fortification |
| Fell | January 1865, to naval bombardment and amphibious assault |
| Consequence | Closed the port of Wilmington |
Earthwork under naval fire
Fort Fisher protected the approaches to Wilmington, the Confederacy's last major open Atlantic port and a mainstay of blockade running. Built of sand and earth rather than masonry, it was designed to absorb heavy fire, and it mounted an array of heavy seacoast guns.
After a first Federal attempt failed late in 1864, a second expedition in January 1865 brought an immense fleet whose sustained bombardment overwhelmed the fort's guns and covered an amphibious assault that carried the works. Its fall sealed off Wilmington and the last reliable Confederate supply line by sea.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- U.S. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: GPO, 1880-1901.
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: fort and battlefield references, manuals, and reports.