North Carolina Lighthouses During the Civil War: Federal Point (Fort Fisher) Lighthouse

The Civil War lighthouse that once stood on Federal Point, the name given to the peninsula formed by the opening of New Inlet by the hurricane in the 1700s between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River, was the second lighthouse at the spot and contained within the growing Fort Fisher. The name Federal Point was changed to Confederate Point during the war.

There are no-known images of the original Federal Point Lighthouse built in 1817 and destroyed by fire April 13, 1836.

During the Civil War, Captain George Tate of the 40th NC Regiment stationed at the fort, drew a sketch of the second lighthouse which was completed in 1837.

It was destroyed by Confederates in 1863. However, if I remember correctly, the keeper's cottage became the fort's headquarters. The fort's commander, Col. William Lamb, had it destroyed for fear it would be too much a target of Union gunfire during an anticipated attack.

--Old B-Runner