154th Anniversary 2nd Battle of Fort Fisher This Saturday-- Part 1

From the December  23, 2018, Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News  "Fort Fisher program includes speakers, cannon fire."

January 13-15 marks the 154th anniversary of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher which took place in 1865.  A commemoration will be held from 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m. January 12.  It is called  "...And How We Suffered:  the 154th Commemoration of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher."

Outside, re-enactors will show infantry tactics and demonstrations firing the 32-pounder cannon, 12-pounder Napoleon and 10 pounder Parrot rifle.

Beginning at 10 a.m., there will also be two Junior Reserve activities for children.  The N.C. Junior Reserves helped defend the fort with boys under the age of 18.

The OLD Fort!!  --Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Celebrates 153rd Anniversary-- Part 1: Re-Enactors and Cannon Firing

From the December 30, 2017, Wilmington (NC) Port City Daily  "Fort Fisher celebrates 153rd anniversary of the Second Battleof Fort Fisher" by Michael Praats.

The name of the commemoration is "Exploding Shells and a Blaze of Musketry."  This will be held Saturday, January 13, 2018.  And, the best part is that I will finally be able to be there.

There will be outside re-enactors discussing camp life, garrison duty and showing the manual of arms.

There will also be large and small artillery firings throughout the day, including the 32-pdr. rifled and banded cannon atop Sheppard's Battery.

Masonboro Parlor will be playing 19th-century music and photographer Harry Taylor will be demonstrating wet plate photography.

Really Looking Forward to This.  --Old B-R'er

Fort Fisher Cannon Gets Face Lift-- Part 2

The work on the cannon was delayed in fall, partly due to Hurricane Matthew which caused the soil around the cannon, which sits at a high distance above ground level on the fort's sand parapet, was too moist for the heavy equipment needed to work on it to be brought in.  Work finally got underway in December.

The firm of T.K.F. Housemovers and Arc tech were hired to raise the gun.  Staff members and volunteers rthen moved in to clean, scrape, sand, caulk and paint the gun.

Standing proud.  --Old B-R'er

Fort Fisher Cannon Gets Face Lift-- Part 1

From the January 9, 2017, Wilmington Star-News (NC) "Fort Fisher cannon gets face lift in time for January 14 anniversary" by Ben Steelman.

The 32-pounder cannon on Shepherd's Battery has been restored in time for the 152 anniversary of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.  The 30-year-old reproduction of a Civil War era coastal artillery piece is a big favorite of visitors to the fort and fired during re-enactments, the boom of it supposedly can be heard all the way in Wilmington.

However, exposure to salt air and the elements over the years necessitated the work.

The Friends of Fort Fisher, to which I belong, raised $25,000 for it and were aided by a $6,000 grant from the Society of the Order of the Southern Cross (a Confederate heritage, a non profit group working to restore all things Civil War).

--Old B-Runner

A Walk Around Fort Fisher-- Part 3

The Confederate defenders of Fort Fisher, besides being extremely outnumbered by their Union foes (just the Naval Column had more men than the entire fort), they were ourgunned by the Union Navy.  Just one ship, the USS Minnesota, mounted more cannons than the entire fort.

Another Union advantage was that seven of their regiments were armed with the new Spencer repeating rifles which could fire seven shots before reloading, plus, they were breech-loading.

How hot was the action?  Seventy Medals of Honor were given out afterwards for heroism.  The USMC received 17.

The highlight of the tour was when the guide looked at us when we were at Sheppard's Battery and said "This will be loud.!"  A bunch of re-enactors dressed in Confederate artillery uniforms were on top of the battery preparing to fire off the fort's 32-pdr cannon (not an original one).  The guide said it was a $30,000 gift from Canada .

Now, I've been at a lot of re-enactments and there is always field artillery firing, but I had the idea that this much-larger cannon would be much louder.  It was!!  Considerably louder and we were standing way below the battery and behind it.

It takes a five-pound charge of powder to fire it each time, about $60.  Obviously, they rarely fire it, but always do on a Second Saturday program which was why I was so glad to be there.  They've had the gun for quite a few years now, but I had never seen it fired.

Had they been firing a real 32-pdr. shell, it would have taken 10-12 pounds of powder in the charge.

I'm Still Walkin'.  --Old B-Runner