Friday, February 26, 2021

The Battle of Sugar Loaf Line-- Part 4: One of Three Battles to Take Wilmington

The Battle of Sugar Loaf Line was part of three major thrusts by Union forces in the overall campaign to capture Wilmington, North Carolina.  Fort Fisher fell on January 15, 1865, but Wilmington, about 22 miles upriver, held out until February 22.

A Confederate division under Major General Robert Hoke occupied the Sugar Loaf Line, just south of today's Snow's Cut where the bridge crosses over the cut.  Snow's Cut is part of the Intercoastal Waterway and connects the Cape Fear River with Myrtle Sound.  It was completed in 1931.

On February 11, Schofield attacked the Sugar Loaf Line with Alfred Terry's Corps.  The engagement started in the morning  with a bombardment from the Atlantic Ocean side of the line by Union gunboats.  A half hour later, Terry started his advance, but his left wind was  hindered by a swamp located along the river.

--Old B-Runner


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