Civil War History at Ft Fisher, North Carolina

It was unseasonably warm the day my granddaughter and I visited Fort Fisher, a Confederate fort during the American Civil War and Site of Civil War’s largest Amphibious (Land and Water) Battle.

From 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865, Fort Fisher protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina.
Our first stop is the visitor center. During an audiovisual program, we learned about the battle and its significance.
Located on one of Cape Fear River’s two outlets to the Atlantic Ocean, it was known as the Southern Gibraltar.

Until the last few months of the Civil War, Fort Fisher kept North Carolina’s port of Wilmington open to blockade runners supplying necessary goods to Confederate armies inland. By 1865, the supply line through Wilmington was the last remaining supply route open to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy.
The battle was the most decisive battle of the Civil War in North Carolina.

Before exploring the fort, we looked at several Civil War exhibits and artifacts recovered from sunken ships. We followed a trail that loops around the remainder of the fort, complete with a restored gun emplacement and cannons.

The historical site is worth visiting for anyone interested in Civil War history. It is also beautiful. Walking past the river as it empties into the Pacific Ocean and under mature trees is a pleasant experience.

Click here for more information about the fort and all the beaches, attractions, accommodations and restaurants in the Wilmington area.

Share the Post:

Comments

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Featured Destination

recommended by TravelGumbo

Gumbo's Pic of the Day

Posts by the Same Author