The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

143rd Anniversary of First Battle of Fort Fisher

Today marks the end of the First Battle of Fort Fisher which was waged Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 1864.

This is the battle that got me interested in the Civil War. As I said last month, my dad took me to Fort Fisher and explained that the Civil War was fought between the north and the south. I figured we must have been for the north since we lived in North Carolina and North America. He was very patient and explained that we were actually for the south.

After that, I would read every book on the Civil War I could get my hands on. I also decided that I wanted to be a history teacher. This event sure had an impact on my young life.

From Civil War Naval Chronology: December 24-25

Naval forces under the command of Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter and Army units under Major General Ben Butler launched an unsuccessful attack against Fort Fisher. The fleet commenced a tremendous bombardment on Christmas Eve.

The Confederate defenders were driven from their guns and into bomb proofs, but did manage to get a few shots off. Most of the Union casualties came from the burst of Parrott cannons on board five vessels.

At 10:30 Christmas Day, the bombardment commenced again, that is just about right now as it is 9:25 AM Central Time. The fire was maintained while 2000 US troops landed north of the fort. Some of them advanced to within a few yards of the fort, but it was decided the works were too strong to be carried and withdrew.

By the 27th, the last of the troops were off and transports returned to Hampton Roads. The fleet remained in the area and kept up a sporadic fire on the fort to prevent repairs.

This bombardment was one of the biggest ever in US history. Confederate naval Lt. Aeneas Armstrong wrote, "The whole of the interior of the fort, which consists of sand, merlons, etc., was as one eleven-inch shell bursting. You can now inspect the works and walls on nothing but iron." Meaning, weapon debris was spread so thick, you could walk from one end of the mile long seaface and half mile land face and never step off iron.

A Great Victory for the Confederacy in its Waning Days. --Blockade-Runner

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