The Union forces captured Fort Fisher, known as the 'Gibraltar of the South', after a massive combined army-navy assault. This victory effectively cut off the Confederacy's last major supply route and hastened the end of the Civil War.

The capture of Fort Fisher stands as one of the most significant Union victories during the American Civil War. Located near Wilmington North Carolina this Confederate stronghold protected the last major supply route for the South's war effort until its fall in January 1865.

After surviving a failed Union attack in December 1864 Fort Fisher faced a massive combined army-navy assault that would ultimately seal its fate. The fort's strategic importance made it a prime target as Union forces sought to strangle the Confederacy's vital supply lines. Known as the "Gibraltar of the South" Fort Fisher's capture marked a turning point that hastened the Civil War's end.

Fort Fisher's strategic location on Federal Point near Wilmington, North Carolina, made it the Confederacy's most vital coastal fortification. The fort protected the Cape Fear River's access to Wilmington's port, enabling Confederate blockade runners to maintain crucial supply lines with Europe.

The fort's defensive capabilities included:

• A series of 47 heavy cannons facing the Atlantic Ocean
• A land-face featuring 20 guns mounted on earthen mounds
• Underground bombproof shelters accommodating 500 soldiers
• A complex network of mines planted along the beach approaches

Wilmington's significance as a supply hub:

Supply Type	Percentage of Confederate Imports
Military Arms	60%
Medicine	80%
Textiles	70%
Industrial Materials	75%

The fort's effectiveness in protecting blockade runners proved essential for Confederate survival during 1864-1865. Between January 1864 and December 1864, 230 ships successfully passed through Fort Fisher's protection, delivering vital supplies to Confederate forces.

The position served three critical functions:

• Protected the primary shipping channel into Wilmington
• Defended the last operational Confederate seaport on the Atlantic coast
• Secured the railroad line connecting Wilmington to Richmond Virginia

Fort Fisher's design incorporated advanced military engineering features:

• L-shaped configuration spanning 1,900 feet along the land face
• 1,300-foot sea face with multiple artillery positions
• 15-foot-high parapets reinforced with sand dunes
• Traverses up to 60 feet high protecting gun positions

The fort's nickname "Gibraltar of the South" reflected its reputation as an impregnable stronghold. Its massive earthwork construction absorbed direct hits from naval bombardment more effectively than traditional masonry fortifications.

The First Battle of Fort Fisher occurred on December 24-25, 1864, when Union forces launched their initial attempt to capture the Confederate stronghold. The operation combined a naval bombardment with an amphibious assault that ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Admiral David Porter led 64 warships in a massive naval assault against Fort Fisher on December 24, 1864. The Union fleet fired over 10,000 shells at the fort's defenses during a 24-hour period, creating what appeared to be significant damage to the Confederate position. The bombardment included the detonation of the USS Louisiana, a powder ship loaded with 215 tons of explosives, which failed to breach the fort's walls.

Naval Bombardment Statistics	Numbers
Union Warships	64
Shells Fired	10,000+
Explosives on USS Louisiana	215 tons
Duration	24 hours

Major General Benjamin Butler commanded 6,500 Union troops in the ground assault portion of the operation. The amphibious landing force encountered strong resistance from Confederate Colonel William Lamb's garrison of 1,500 men. Butler withdrew his forces on December 25 after determining that the fort remained too strong for a successful assault. This decision led to his relief of command by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, who deemed the withdrawal premature. The failed operation resulted in minimal casualties: 8 Union dead compared to 3 Confederate losses.

Battle Statistics	Union	Confederate
Troops Involved	6,500	1,500
Combat Deaths	8	3
Ships Lost	0	0

The Union launched a decisive assault on Fort Fisher from January 13-15, 1865. Major General Alfred Terry led 8,000 Union troops alongside Admiral David Porter's naval fleet in a coordinated attack that ultimately secured the fort's capture.

Porter's fleet of 59 warships unleashed an unprecedented bombardment on January 13, 1865. The naval vessels fired 20,000 shells within the first two days, systematically targeting Fort Fisher's gun batteries to disable Confederate defenses. Union ships maintained a precise firing pattern, with monitors focusing on the fort's sea face while wooden vessels concentrated on the land face fortifications.

Terry's troops established a defensive line north of the fort on January 14, preventing Confederate reinforcements from Wilmington. On January 15, Union forces executed a two-pronged assault:

• 3,000 sailors attacked the northeast bastion
• 3,500 infantrymen targeted the western wall
• Two African American brigades secured the Union's northern defensive line

Fort Fisher fell at 10:00 PM on January 15, 1865, after nine hours of intense combat. The battle resulted in:

Casualties	Union Forces	Confederate Forces
Killed	266	400
Wounded	1,018	1,600
Captured	0	2,083

• 47 heavy artillery pieces
• 4 mortars
• 2,000 small arms
• Substantial ammunition stores
• Critical supplies for Confederate forces

The capture of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865, delivered a devastating blow to Confederate military operations. This victory marked a turning point in the Civil War by severing the South's vital maritime supply routes.

The fall of Fort Fisher led to the immediate closure of Wilmington's port operations. Union forces gained control of the Cape Fear River, effectively shutting down the last major Confederate seaport on the Atlantic coast. The blockade runners, which had previously delivered essential supplies through Wilmington, ceased operations by February 1865. The port's closure eliminated the Confederacy's primary gateway for foreign trade, cutting off critical diplomatic connections with European allies.

• Military Equipment: Access to 60% of imported arms ceased
• Medical Supplies: 80% of medicine imports terminated
• Naval Operations: 15 blockade runners were captured or destroyed
• Rail Transport: Union forces seized the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad
• Resource Distribution: Supply routes to General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia collapsed

Supply Category	Impact After Fort Fisher's Capture
Arms Imports	Reduced by 60%
Medicine Imports	Reduced by 80%
Blockade Runners	15 vessels lost
Railroad Access	100% disrupted

Fort Fisher State Historic Site preserves the remaining earthworks of the largest land-sea battle of the Civil War. Located at 1610 Fort Fisher Boulevard South in Kure Beach, North Carolina, the site spans 385 acres featuring authentic Civil War artifacts military equipment.

The site includes several key historical elements:

• A restored 32-pound seacoast gun mounted at Battery Buchanan
• Original traverse mounds reaching heights of 30 feet
• Underground chambers known as bombproofs
• A visitor center with interpretive exhibits displaying recovered artifacts
• A 1/3-mile trail along the remains of the land face

Annual visitation statistics demonstrate Fort Fisher's enduring significance:

Metric	Number
Annual Visitors	850,000+
School Groups	15,000 students
Special Events	25+ annually
Volunteer Hours	12,000+

The site offers educational programs focused on Civil War history:

• Living history demonstrations with period-accurate weapons
• Interactive artillery exhibitions
• Guided tours led by certified interpreters
• Educational workshops for K-12 students
• Special battlefield walks during anniversary events

The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee maintains several preservation initiatives:

• Stabilization of remaining earthwork fortifications
• Protection against coastal erosion
• Archaeological surveys documenting battlefield artifacts
• Digital mapping of the original fort structure
• Conservation of recovered military equipment

The National Historic Landmark designation in 1961 established Fort Fisher as one of America's most important Civil War sites, connecting modern visitors with its pivotal role in American history through authentic preservation efforts.

• Fort Fisher was captured on January 15, 1865, after the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, which involved a massive Union assault combining naval bombardment and ground forces.
• The first Union attempt to capture Fort Fisher in December 1864 failed, but the second attack in January 1865 succeeded after 9 hours of intense combat.
• Known as the "Gibraltar of the South," Fort Fisher protected Wilmington, North Carolina - the last major Confederate seaport and supply route during the Civil War.
• The fort's capture effectively cut off the Confederacy's vital maritime supply lines, with 60% of military arms imports and 80% of medicine imports being terminated.
• The battle resulted in significant casualties: 266 Union soldiers killed and 1,018 wounded, while Confederate forces suffered 400 killed, 1,600 wounded, and 2,083 captured.
• Today, Fort Fisher is preserved as a State Historic Site spanning 385 acres, attracting over 850,000 annual visitors to view its remaining earthworks and artifacts.

The capture of Fort Fisher on January 15 1865 stands as one of the most decisive moments of the American Civil War. Its fall marked the end of the Confederacy's vital maritime lifeline and hastened the conclusion of the conflict. Today Fort Fisher's legacy lives on through its well-preserved remains and educational programs that help visitors understand its crucial role in shaping American history.

The fort's transformation from an "impregnable" Confederate stronghold to a cherished historic site reflects its enduring significance. As a National Historic Landmark Fort Fisher continues to tell the story of the largest land-sea battle of the Civil War while preserving an important piece of America's military heritage.