The first artillery batteries at Fort Fisher were supervised by Charles Pattison Bolles. These batteries retained his name. Gen. W.H.C. Whiting was Bolles' brother-in-law. Both of these men were involved with engineering and based out of Wilmington before the war.
Before the war, Bolles was involved with the US Coast Survey for Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. He resigned immediately after Fort Sumter and brought all his maps to the Confederacy, greatly enraging his former bosses.
He used them and his knowledge to begin the defenses of Wilmington.
He is buried in Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery. Born May 13, 1823 and died December 19. 1909. According to Find-a-Grave, he also constructed a large battery on Oak Island, south of Fort Caswell.
He was transferred to the Fayetteville Arsenal and while there produced bolts for the English Whitworth guns which had arrived without ammunition or projectiles.
One of the Little-Knowns of the War. --B-R'er
Not having to do with Bolles, but I wanted to enter this before I forget. There was a Camp Wyatt training facility north of Fort Fisher.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Bald Head Island's Fort Holmes-- Part 2
The fifth battery was the largest and called Battery Holmes which also had a bombproof magazine and was at the southernmost point of the island.
Construction began in September 1863 and continued into 1864. It guarded the east side of Old Inlet (Fort Caswell was on the west). The flagstaff was located on the Bald Head Promontory.
It was mostly destroyed when the Confederates evacuated after the fall of Fort Fisher.
GENERAL THEOPHILUS H. HOLMES
It was named for Confederate General T. H. Holmes who graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1829 and was a career soldier. Before the war, he commanded Fort Columbus on Governor's Island in New York Harbor.
He resigned his commission after secession and became a colonel in the Confederate Army and commanded coastal defenses in the Department of North Carolina, later becoming a brigadier and major general.
I was unable to find any mention as to how much of Fort Holmes is still standing.
The Fort on the Island. --Old B-Runner
Construction began in September 1863 and continued into 1864. It guarded the east side of Old Inlet (Fort Caswell was on the west). The flagstaff was located on the Bald Head Promontory.
It was mostly destroyed when the Confederates evacuated after the fall of Fort Fisher.
GENERAL THEOPHILUS H. HOLMES
It was named for Confederate General T. H. Holmes who graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1829 and was a career soldier. Before the war, he commanded Fort Columbus on Governor's Island in New York Harbor.
He resigned his commission after secession and became a colonel in the Confederate Army and commanded coastal defenses in the Department of North Carolina, later becoming a brigadier and major general.
I was unable to find any mention as to how much of Fort Holmes is still standing.
The Fort on the Island. --Old B-Runner
Bald Head Island's Fort Holmes-- Part 1
The remains of Fort Holmes are located on a very exclusive island called Bald Head at the mouth of the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, NC. I doubt that poor folk like us would even be allowed to visit.
The September 22nd Wilmington Star-News reports that beach nourishment is needed on the island to rebuild the beaches. Over 150 feet of beach has been lost. It is expected to cost $17 million and will involve 2 million cubic ponds of material and take four months.
Cars are not allowed and folks get around on modified golf carts.
The lighthouse is called "Old Baldy and is the oldest standing lighthouse in the country, built in 1817. During the American Revolution a British Fort Gregg was on the island. During the Civil War, the Confederates built Fort Holmes to protect the mouth of the river.
At one time, Bald Head Island was really an island, but since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, shoals have connected it.
Confederate Fort Holmes stretches from the lighthouse to the southwest tip of the island. It was made of earth reinforced with palmetto and oak logs. Guns were mounted in four batteries on the east side.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
The September 22nd Wilmington Star-News reports that beach nourishment is needed on the island to rebuild the beaches. Over 150 feet of beach has been lost. It is expected to cost $17 million and will involve 2 million cubic ponds of material and take four months.
Cars are not allowed and folks get around on modified golf carts.
The lighthouse is called "Old Baldy and is the oldest standing lighthouse in the country, built in 1817. During the American Revolution a British Fort Gregg was on the island. During the Civil War, the Confederates built Fort Holmes to protect the mouth of the river.
At one time, Bald Head Island was really an island, but since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, shoals have connected it.
Confederate Fort Holmes stretches from the lighthouse to the southwest tip of the island. It was made of earth reinforced with palmetto and oak logs. Guns were mounted in four batteries on the east side.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Site of Civil War Fight Near Joplin Dedicated
The Nov. 12th Joplin (Mo) Globe reports that a little-known Civil War site near that city has been dedicated at the intersection of Peace and Fountain roads north of town. (I might have driven by it when I got lost following Route 66 from Carthage to Joplin and got hopelessly lost because of poor signage.)
I didn't know about it, but, according to the article, neither do many in Joplin. The five acre county park is the first of a series of steps being taken to bring back the knowledge of this little-known engagement.
Five acres have been purchased at what used to be the Rader farm near a town that used to be called Sherwood, but is no longer in existence because of this battle.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
I didn't know about it, but, according to the article, neither do many in Joplin. The five acre county park is the first of a series of steps being taken to bring back the knowledge of this little-known engagement.
Five acres have been purchased at what used to be the Rader farm near a town that used to be called Sherwood, but is no longer in existence because of this battle.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Friday, November 13, 2009
Oregon's Civil War Graves Project
From the Lebanon (Or) Express
Hundreds of Union veterans are buried in Oregon's cemeteries, many unfortunately in unmarked graves. This hopefully will change soon because the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, receiving help from the Lebanon Genealogists, have intentions to identify and mark every grave.
Thousands of Union veterans came to Oregon after the war as well as many ex-Confederates.
Union General Thomas Thorpe is buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Corvallis. His marker just read "Old Soldier." There is also the grave of a Confederate soldier Jeremy Bell who became Thorpe's prisoner at the Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864. They became good friends and both ended up moving to Oregon.
The Oregon Chapter of the SUVCW is completing a complete registry of graves, which will include the state's last living veteran of the war, James W. Smith who is buried in Lebanon FOOF cemetery. He was in the 1st Oregon Cavalry and died in 1951. He presently also is in an unmarked grave.
Important Work for the Sons on Both Sides. --B-R
Hundreds of Union veterans are buried in Oregon's cemeteries, many unfortunately in unmarked graves. This hopefully will change soon because the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, receiving help from the Lebanon Genealogists, have intentions to identify and mark every grave.
Thousands of Union veterans came to Oregon after the war as well as many ex-Confederates.
Union General Thomas Thorpe is buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Corvallis. His marker just read "Old Soldier." There is also the grave of a Confederate soldier Jeremy Bell who became Thorpe's prisoner at the Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864. They became good friends and both ended up moving to Oregon.
The Oregon Chapter of the SUVCW is completing a complete registry of graves, which will include the state's last living veteran of the war, James W. Smith who is buried in Lebanon FOOF cemetery. He was in the 1st Oregon Cavalry and died in 1951. He presently also is in an unmarked grave.
Important Work for the Sons on Both Sides. --B-R
Camp Parapet, New Orleans
I'll have to put this one in the list of Confederate forts I didn't know about.
The Nov. 12th New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the Third Annual Camp Parapet Day will be tomorrow and visitors will be allowed a rare visit into the Civil War magazine.
It was part of the Confederate fortifications built in 1861 to protect the city, and these specifically to guard the northern approach along the Mississippi River. The zig-zag earthen embankments run from the river to Lake Pontchartrain, roughly parallel to the current Causeway Boulevard about a mile upriver from the city's present day boundary.
It didn't helped the Confederacy at all as the city was taken from the south, but after occupation, Union troops manned and expanded the works.
One I Didn't Know About. --B-R'er
The Nov. 12th New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the Third Annual Camp Parapet Day will be tomorrow and visitors will be allowed a rare visit into the Civil War magazine.
It was part of the Confederate fortifications built in 1861 to protect the city, and these specifically to guard the northern approach along the Mississippi River. The zig-zag earthen embankments run from the river to Lake Pontchartrain, roughly parallel to the current Causeway Boulevard about a mile upriver from the city's present day boundary.
It didn't helped the Confederacy at all as the city was taken from the south, but after occupation, Union troops manned and expanded the works.
One I Didn't Know About. --B-R'er
New York's Civil War Defenses
The Castle Williams I mentioned yesterday as a US fort design that looked liked a castle, hence the name, was one of several fortifications making up New York City's Inner Harbor Defenses.
On the same island as Castle Williams, Governor's Island, there was also Fort Columbus which was renamed Fort Jay and South Battery.
Castle Clinton was on the south end of Manhattan Island in what is known as Battery Park.
Fort Wood was on Liberty Island and today forms the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Fort Gibson was on Ellis Island.
Don't Go There If You're a Confederate Ship. --Old B-Runner
On the same island as Castle Williams, Governor's Island, there was also Fort Columbus which was renamed Fort Jay and South Battery.
Castle Clinton was on the south end of Manhattan Island in what is known as Battery Park.
Fort Wood was on Liberty Island and today forms the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Fort Gibson was on Ellis Island.
Don't Go There If You're a Confederate Ship. --Old B-Runner
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