Fort Fisher (New Hanover County, near Wilmington, North Carolina)
New Hanover County, near Wilmington · North Carolina · Civil War
History & Significance
Construction began in the spring of 1861, and the fort was expected to be battle ready by the end of September. Around September, the placement was formally christened 'Fort Fisher', after Col. Charles F. Fisher who was from the 6th NC Infantry and fell at the First Battle of Manassas.
Until the arrival of Col. William Lamb in July 1862, Fort Fisher was little more than several sand batteries mounting fewer than two dozen guns. Under Colonel Lamb's direction and design, which was greatly influenced by the Malakoff Tower (a Crimean War fortification) in Sebastopol, Russia, expansion of the fortress began.
After the improvements, Fort Fisher became the largest Confederate fort. Over time, more than a thousand individuals including Confederate soldiers and slaves, had toiled at the location.
The efforts had drawn more than 500 black slaves from nearby plantations. During the war, Wilmington was one of the most important points of entry for supplies for the Confederacy.
Its port traded cotton and tobacco in exchange for foreign goods, like munitions, clothing and foodstuffs. The Battle of Fort Fisher was the largest amphibious operation of the Civil War.
The Union navy, with a very large fleet, bombarded the fort on 24-25 Dec. 1864 and again on 13-15 Jan. 1865.
On 15 January, a Union landing force captured the beleaguered fort. A month later, a Union army under General John M. Schofield would move up the Cape Fear River and capture Wilmington.
The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961, the first in North Carolina. It is now part of Fort Fisher State Historic Site, belonging to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and includes the main fort complex, a museum and a visitor center.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Massive earthen ramparts and gun emplacements from the largest Confederate fort
- Civil War museum exhibits on the fort's role protecting Wilmington's port
- Original cannon positions and underground bunkers
- Cape Fear River views and coastal setting
- Sites of the January 1865 Union assault that sealed Confederate defeat
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Fisher
- https://www.ncpedia.org/fort-fisher
- https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/fort-fisher
- https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/civil-war/cw-operations-and-engagements/1864-civil-war/fort-fisher.html
- https://docsouth.unc.edu/highlights/ft_fisher.html
Other Forts in North Carolina
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