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Fort Fisher, North Carolina

Fort Fisher
New Hanover County,
near Wilmington, North Carolina
Union Attack on Fort Fisher North Carolina January 15 1865.jpg
Union Attack on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, January 15, 1865
Site history
Built 1861
In use 1861–1865
Battles/wars First Battle of Fort Fisher
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
Events
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher is located in North Carolina
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher is located in the US
Fort Fisher
Nearest city Wilmington, North Carolina
Area 200 acres (81 ha)
Built 1861
NRHP Reference # 66000595
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966

Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865. The fort was located on one of Cape Fear River's two outlets to the Atlantic Ocean on what was then known as Federal Point or Confederate Point and today is known as Pleasure Island. The strength of Fort Fisher led to its being called the Southern Gibraltar and the "Malakoff Tower of the South.". The battle of Fort Fisher was the most decisive one of the Civil War fought in North Carolina.

The city of Wilmington is located 29 miles (50 km) upstream from the mouth of the Cape Fear River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

During the war, Wilmington was one of the most important points of entry for supplies for the Confederacy. Its port traded cotton and tobacco in exchange for foreign goods, like munitions, clothing and foodstuffs. This nourished both the southern states in general and General Robert E. Lee's forces in Virginia. Trade was based on the coming and going of steamer ships of British smugglers. These vessels were called "blockade runners" because they had to avoid the Union's imposed maritime barricade. Mostly, the blockade runners came indirectly from British colonies, such as Bermuda, Bahamas or Nova Scotia. Often, they were forced to fly the Confederate insignia since the Union had imposed the death penalty on British "pirates" captured in the region.


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