From the November 24, 2014, Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News by Julian March,
The smell of fresh-cut woods once again is among the sand dunes that make up the remnants of the Confederacy's mightiest defensive position, Fort Fisher. This fence runs between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River and was built as a defense against Union land attack.
The fence it is replacing was a replica of the one built in 1864 and installed in the 1960s. The wood in the 1960s fence is in need of replacing which will have a final cost of $140,000.This one is being constructed a whole lot faster than the 1860s one due to modern machinery.
The nine-foot poles of wood are sharpened at the top and have loopholes cut in them for sharpshooters. Every 50 to 100 yards, the fence is angled so Confederates could shoot perpendicularly. Such fences are referred to as palisades in military jargon,
Of course, this is being done in prelude to the big 150th commemoration of the two attacks of Fort Fisher and its eventual capture next month and in January.
A Lot of Wood. --Old B-Runner
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