The First Battle of Fort Fisher Began 154 Years Ago Today

On this date in 1864, a Union armada under Rear Admiral David D. Porter and Army units under Gen. Benjamin Butler started an attack on the huge Fort Fisher guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the last large Confederate port still open for blockade runners.

Earlier this morning, the famed powdership, USS Louisiana,  was blown up with expectations that it would knock the sand fort down.  It didn't.

The Union fleet commenced one of the largest-ever bombardments up to that time, but the fort still remained in Confederate control.

--Old B-Runner