159th Anniversary of Beginning of Fort Macon's Siege-- Part 1: Roanoke and New Fall, Then On to the Fort

From Mar. 18, 2021, Chowan(NC) Herald "Week in NC history."

THE SIEGE OF FORT MACON

On March 23, 1862,  U.S. forces under  Brig. Gen.   John G. Parke began the siege of Confederate-held Fort Macon.  At the time, the fort was commanded by Col. Moses J. White of Mississippi, and was defended by  54 pieces of artillery and a garrison of five companies.

In January 1962,  a Federal force  commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside arrived off the North Carolina coast. After taking Roanoke Island in February and New Bern in March, Burnside's next objective was Fort Macon.

White refused Parke's order to surrender causing the Union forces to lay siege on the fort.  They were aided by the Union Navy who bombarded the masonry fort.

--Old Secesh