The Battle of Fort Blakely was a decisive Civil War engagement in Alabama that ended in Union victory on April 9, 1865. Union forces of 45,000 troops, including eight regiments of United States Colored Troops, overwhelmed 3,700 Confederate defenders in just 25 minutes, securing control of Mobile Bay.

The Battle of Fort Blakely marked a significant turning point in the American Civil War's final days. This crucial Confederate stronghold in Alabama faced intense pressure from Union forces during the Mobile Campaign of 1865, leading to one of the last major battles of the conflict.

The fort's strategic location near Mobile Bay made it an essential target for Union forces seeking to control the Gulf Coast region. As Union troops advanced through Alabama, Fort Blakely stood as one of the last remaining Confederate defenses protecting Mobile. The ensuing siege and battle would prove to be a decisive moment that helped seal the fate of the Confederacy in the Deep South.

Fort Blakely served as a crucial Confederate stronghold protecting Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. Its strategic position made it a prime target during the Mobile Campaign of 1865.

Fort Blakely sat atop a 100-foot bluff overlooking the eastern shore of the Tensaw River, providing a commanding view of the surrounding waterways. The fort's earthwork defenses extended for 3 miles, incorporating 9 redans connected by rifle pits. Natural obstacles enhanced its defensibility, including:

• Dense swamps on the north side
• Steep riverbank slopes on the west
• Deep ravines cutting through the eastern approaches
• Artillery positions covering all water approaches

Fort Blakely functioned as a vital component of Mobile's eastern defensive line, playing several key roles in Confederate military operations:

• Protected Mobile's last remaining supply routes through the Tensaw Delta

• Controlled river traffic along the Alabama-Tensaw River system

• Secured Confederate naval operations in upper Mobile Bay

• Housed essential supply depots for Confederate forces in southern Alabama

• 3,700 troops at maximum strength

• 40 pieces of heavy artillery

• Multiple lines of infantry trenches

• Advanced rifle pits for skirmishers

The Battle of Fort Blakely marked a significant engagement in the Mobile Campaign, culminating in one of the final major confrontations of the Civil War. Union forces launched their assault on April 9, 1865, targeting this crucial Confederate stronghold.

Major General Edward Canby commanded 45,000 Union troops during the Fort Blakely operation. His forces included the XIII Corps, XVI Corps, and the United States Colored Troops (USCT), who played a pivotal role in the assault. The Union army positioned 200 artillery pieces around the fort's perimeter, establishing three siege lines at distances of 500-2,000 yards from Confederate fortifications.

Confederate General St. John Richardson Liddell organized Fort Blakely's defense with 3,700 troops. The defenders constructed:

• Nine connected redans with interlocking fields of fire

• Three lines of abatis made from sharpened tree branches

• Torpedo fields containing 30 buried explosive devices

• Gun emplacements housing 40 pieces of heavy artillery

• Digging rifle pits between major fortifications

• Establishing observation posts along the river bluffs

• Creating a network of communication trenches

• Positioning sharpshooters in strategic locations

Force Comparison	Union Forces	Confederate Forces
Total Troops	45,000	3,700
Artillery Pieces	200	40
Siege Lines	3	N/A

The Union forces initiated a strategic siege of Fort Blakely between April 1-9, 1865, deploying a combination of infantry positions artillery emplacements to encircle the Confederate stronghold. The siege operations involved methodical planning coordinated between multiple Union corps to maximize the effectiveness of their superior numbers resources.

Major General Edward Canby orchestrated a three-pronged assault strategy against Fort Blakely. The XIII Corps positioned along the eastern flank while the XVI Corps secured the center section the United States Colored Troops established positions on the western approach. The Union command divided their 45,000-strong force into specific attack zones with designated objectives:

• Primary assault teams focused on breaching the fort's nine redans
• Secondary units targeted Confederate artillery positions
• Reserve forces stood ready to exploit any breakthrough points
• Specialized engineering units prepared to clear defensive obstacles

The Union artillery campaign against Fort Blakely began on April 1, 1865, with systematic targeting of key defensive positions:

Artillery Statistics	Numbers
Union Artillery Pieces	200
Daily Shell Count	1,000+
Bombardment Duration	9 days
Maximum Range	2,000 yards

• Morning bombardments targeted defensive works
• Afternoon shelling focused on Confederate gun positions
• Night operations included illumination rounds for infantry movements
• Counter-battery fire neutralized Confederate artillery responses

The Union forces launched their decisive assault on Fort Blakely at 5:30 PM on April 9, 1865, marking the culmination of the Mobile Campaign. The attack coincided with General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House earlier that same day.

Union troops, including eight regiments of United States Colored Troops (USCT), charged across 600 yards of open ground toward the Confederate fortifications. The USCT soldiers demonstrated exceptional valor, being among the first to breach the fort's defenses despite facing intense rifle fire and artillery barrages. Union forces successfully overwhelmed the Confederate positions in less than 30 minutes, capturing several artillery pieces and breaching multiple sections of the defensive line simultaneously.

Confederate General St. John Richardson Liddell surrendered Fort Blakely at 5:55 PM, just 25 minutes after the Union assault began. The Union captured:

Category	Number
Confederate Prisoners	3,700
Artillery Pieces	40
Small Arms	3,000

The surrender represented a significant victory for the Union army, with black Union troops playing a crucial role in capturing one of the last Confederate strongholds in Alabama. The fall of Fort Blakely effectively ended Confederate resistance in the Mobile area and secured Union control over Mobile Bay.

Fort Blakely's surrender marked a significant milestone in the Civil War, occurring on April 9, 1865, the same day as General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. The fort's capture demonstrated the evolving nature of warfare and the increasing effectiveness of Union military strategies.

The surrender of Fort Blakely accelerated the collapse of Confederate defenses in the Deep South. The Mobile Campaign's successful conclusion opened vital waterways to Union control, effectively cutting off remaining Confederate supply lines in Alabama. Black Union troops played a pivotal role in the victory, with eight USCT regiments leading the charge during the final assault, proving their combat effectiveness and contributing to broader military integration efforts. The capture of 3,700 Confederate soldiers depleted the already diminishing Southern forces, hastening the war's end in the region.

Battle Statistics	Numbers
Confederate Prisoners	3,700
Captured Artillery	40 pieces
Small Arms Seized	3,000
USCT Regiments	8

Historic Blakely State Park now preserves the battlefield's original earthworks, fortifications, and siege lines. The 2,100-acre site maintains intact examples of:

• Original Confederate redans
• Union siege approaches
• Artillery battery positions
• Rifle pits
• Torpedo fields

The park features interpretive markers detailing troop movements, defensive positions, and the final assault. Archaeological surveys continue to uncover artifacts, enhancing understanding of the battle's military tactics and soldiers' daily lives. The site's designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1981 ensures long-term preservation of these Civil War fortifications.

• Fort Blakely surrendered to Union forces on April 9, 1865, at 5:55 PM, exactly 25 minutes after the final Union assault began and coinciding with Lee's surrender at Appomattox
• The battle involved 45,000 Union troops against 3,700 Confederate defenders, with Union forces capturing all Confederate soldiers, 40 artillery pieces, and 3,000 small arms
• Eight regiments of United States Colored Troops (USCT) played a crucial role in the victory, being among the first to breach the fort's defenses during the final assault
• Fort Blakely served as a strategic Confederate stronghold protecting Mobile Bay, featuring 9 redans, multiple defensive lines, and 40 pieces of heavy artillery
• The fort's surrender effectively ended Confederate resistance in the Mobile area and helped secure Union control over crucial waterways in the Deep South

The surrender of Fort Blakely on April 9 1865 stands as a testament to the changing tide of the American Civil War. The Union's victory not only secured control of Mobile Bay but also demonstrated the effectiveness of combined arms operations and the valor of the United States Colored Troops.

The preservation of Fort Blakely's battlefield as a National Historic Landmark ensures that future generations can learn from this pivotal moment. Today visitors can explore the original earthworks and fortifications gaining firsthand insight into one of the Civil War's final major confrontations.

The battle's legacy extends beyond military significance highlighting the strategic importance of Alabama's coastal defenses and the crucial role of African American soldiers in securing the Union victory. Fort Blakely's surrender marked the beginning of the end for Confederate resistance in the Deep South.