Battle of Fort Fisher

Thomas' Legion
Introduction & How to Use this Site
Cherokee Chief William Holland Thomas
Causes and Motives: American Civil War
Organization of Union and Confederate Armies: Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery
American Civil War: The Soldier's Life
American Civil War Battles and Battlefields
Civil War's Turning Points
Civil War Casualties, Fatalities & Statistics
Civil War Generals
American Civil War Desertions and Deserters: Union and Confederate
Aftermath and Reconstruction
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients
Civil War Genealogy and Research Tools
American Civil War Pictures - Photographs
African Americans and the American Civil War
North Carolina in the American Civil War
Civil War Battles Fought in North Carolina
North Carolina Civil War Regiments and Battles
NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY
North Carolina Coast: American Civil War
Western North Carolina and the American Civil War
Western North Carolina Regiments and Battalions
HISTORY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Cherokee Indians: American Civil War
HISTORY OF THE CHEROKEE INDIANS
History of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Nation
Cherokee Indian Heritage, History, Culture, Customs, Ceremonies, and Religion
Cherokee War Rituals, Culture, Festivals, Government, and Beliefs
Researching your Cherokee Heritage
Recommended American Indian History
Thomas' Legion Photographs - Pictures
Thomas' Legion Papers, Diaries, & Memoirs
American Civil War Polls
Author's Recommendation
Battle of Fort Fisher Civil War History, North Carolina Battlefield of For Fisher, Pictures, Photographs, Battle of Fort Fisher Casualties, List of Union Navy Warships, Confederate Army at Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher Battle of Fort Fisher Photos   

Other Names: First Battle of Fort Fisher 1st Battle of Fort Fisher 

Location: New Hanover County Battle of Fort Fisher Pictures and Photographs

Campaign: Expedition against Fort Fisher (December 1864)

Date(s): December 7-27, 1864

Principal Commanders: Rear Adm. David D. Porter and Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler [US]; Maj. Gen. Robert Hoke [CS]

Forces Engaged: Expeditionary Corps, Army of the James [US]; Hoke’s Division and Fort Fisher Garrison [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 320 total

Fort Fisher Interior Lines
fort_fisher_interior_lines.jpg
Library of Congress

Description: Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler was relieved of command of the Army of the James and assigned to lead an amphibious expedition against Fort Fisher, which protected Wilmington, the South’s last open seaport on the Atlantic coast. Learning that large numbers of Union troops had embarked from Hampton Roads on December 13, Lee dispatched Hoke’s Division to meet the expected attack on Fort Fisher. On December 24, the Union fleet under Rear Adm. David D. Porter arrived to begin shelling the fort. An infantry division disembarked from transports to test the fort’s defenses. The Federal assault on the fort had already begun when Hoke approached, discouraging further Union attempts. Butler called off the expedition on December 27 and returned to Fort Monroe.

Result(s): Confederate victory

Source: National Park Service

Site search Web search

Advance to:
 

 
Recommended Reading: American Civil War Ironclads

Site Meter

american_civil_war_endorses_john_mccain_for_president.jpg

Try our "Search Engine," this website contains several hundred pages.

 This website is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer.