In mid-April, Gen. Ambrose Burnside arrived with reinforcements and took command of the siege. On April 25, 1862, the fort was bombarded from both land and sea. Although the fire from the Union fleet did little damage to the fort because of its strengthened seaward defenses, the land bombardment did major damage.
Col. White surrendered the next day, April 26.
The fall of Fort Macon gave the Union control of both Beaufort and Morehead City, strengthening heir control over the Eastern North Carolina coast. Beaufort also became a major Union naval base and was used a lot for the duration of the war. This is where the Union blockaders received supplies of coal and ammunition and where the Union fleet operated from during the two attacks on Fort Fisher.
Fort Macon was constructed by the Federal government from 1826 to 1834 and was named after a North Carolina U.S. Senator, Nathaniel Macon and designed by Brig. Gen. Simon Bernard, who also designed Fort Monroe. It also featured an 1840s design of erosion control that was prepared by one Robert E. Lee.
It was seized by North Carolina militia just two days after Fort Sumter was fired upon.
Fort Macon is now one of 39 state parks. The park will commemorate the siege and battle this coming April.
--Old Secesh
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