Fort Gaines (Dauphin Island, Alabama)
Dauphin Island · Alabama · Civil War
History & Significance
Named for Edmund Pendleton Gaines, the fort was established in 1821 for defense of Mobile Bay. Construction began in 1821, but because of its location near the water, tides often flooded the foundation and funding ran out on multiple occasions; the fort was not fully completed until 1861.
Designed as part of a coastal defense network, the Confederate Army improved the defenses of Mobile Bay by strengthening Fort Gaines during the Civil War. On August 3, 1864, 1,500 men were landed approximately 15 miles west of the fort in preparation for siege, consisting of infantry detachments from the 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 34th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 96th Ohio Infantry, and 3rd Maryland Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, with General Gordon Granger as commander.
In a combined offensive, Farragut's ships and Granger's artillery bombarded Fort Gaines, and on August 8 at 9:30 a.m., Col. Charles Anderson surrendered the fort, with the U.S. Army taking possession of 800 prisoners. Post-Civil War modifications include disappearing guns and bunker systems constructed during the Spanish American War.
The fort is considered one of the nation's best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts and has been nominated for listing as a National Historic Landmark. The Civil War Preservation Trust placed Fort Gaines on its History Under Siege listing on March 18, 2009, and it was placed on the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2011, due to ongoing coastal erosion.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Masonry fort with Civil War battle history and Admiral Farragut connection
- Original cannons and Civil War artifacts on display
- Pre-Civil War era buildings preserved on-site
- Historical reenactment events throughout the year
- Waterfront setting on Dauphin Island
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Gaines_(Alabama)
- https://www.battlefields.org/visit/heritage-sites/fort-gaines-historic-site
- https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/mobile-bay
- https://www.townofdauphinisland.org/fort-gaines
- https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/battle-of-mobile-bay/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mobile_Bay
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=39393