Union Ships Attack Half Moon Battery Above Fort Fisher

FEBRUARY 11TH, 1865:  The USS Keystone State, Aries, Montgomery, Howquah, Emma and Vicksburg engaged Half Moon Battery, situated on the coastal flank of the Confederate defense line (by present-day Carolina Beach) which crossed the Cape Fear Peninsula six miles above Fort Fisher.

This bombardment contained General Hoke's division while General Schofield's troops moved up along the beach and got behind the Confederates.

Deteriorating weather conditions, however, prevented the landing of the pontoons, and Schofield withdrew his troops back to the Fort Fisher lines.

In the meantime, Porter's ships in the Cape Fear River engaged the west bank batteries.

--Old B-Runner