William D. Hudgins, CSN, at Fort Fisher

From "Confederate Fort Fisher:  A Roster 1864-1865" by Richard H. Triebe.

WILLIAM D. HUDGINS     (I've seen his middle name most often as E..

1st Lieutenant

Confederate States Navy

Joined May 26, 1863, from Matthews County, Virginia.  Age unknown.

Duty on the CSS Savannah.

Wounded in mouth by a shell fragment while defending the Sea Face of Fort Fisher.

Captured.  Prison at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Exchanged April 26, 1865.

--Old B-Runner

A Visit to Fort Fisher-- Part 2

The speaker had lists of why Braxton Bragg got a bum rap and why he was not to blame for the fall of Fort Fisher.  He was very convincing and showed that Confederate General Whiting, although well-liked by his men and others was not such a good general.  I will write about the presentation later this week.

After the presentation, I took a walk around the museum and saw the Whitworth cannon that is there on loan.  This was one of the best guns at the fort and a four-piece flying battery that would go out at a gallop from the fort to safeguard stranded blockade-runners until two were sent off to other points and two were captured at the blockade-runner Hebe fight.

They also had several items belonging to Col. lamb, the fort's commander that had been presented to the fort by the Lamb family this past sesquicentennial commemoration at the fort to mark the fall of it on January 15, 1865.  This was quite an observation with over 20,000 visitors.

I sure would have liked to have been there for it.

--Old B-R'er

Civil War Big Business to Southeast N.C.-- Part 2

Fort Fisher logged more than 748,000 visitors in calendar year 2014, up from 614,000 in 2013.  Of course, i am never sure how many of these were actually at the fort or visiting the adjacent state park.

Another 4,000 attended the Feb. 14-15 re-enactment at Fort Anderson, up the Cape Fear River from Fort Fisher.  Officials think there would have been considerably more except for the heavy rains that fell those days.  This marked the 150th anniversary of its fall.

Another 2,000 attended the Feb. 7-8 150th anniversary of the Battle of Forks Road at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington.  This was the final battle before the fall of this important port city.

the complete impact of all these visitors will not be known for sure until room tax receipts from hotels are counted in the near future.

Civil War Means Bucks to Local Businesses.  --Old B-R'er

The Civil War Means Big Business in Southeastern North Carolina-- Part 1

From the April 2, 2015, WRAL TV by Ben Steelman of the Wilmington Star-News.

"Big crowds at local historic sites for the 150th anniversary of regional Civil War battles have brought a sharp uptick in business to Southeastern North Carolina in 2015."

The weekend of Jan 17-18 which was the observance of the fall of Fort Fisher, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic from Carolina Beach to the fort's site in Kure Beach, a rarity during the off-season.  There is a whole lot of traffic on US-421 which has its southern terminus at the "Rocks" by the fort's Battery Buchanan during the summer months.+

Local restaurants and hotels were booked.  The official tally at the Fort Fisher site put 21,930 visitors for the two days  The same event in 2014 drew 7500.  Officials, however, believe they missed counting some so it probably is more.

--Old B-Runner

The Beginning of the End for Fort Fisher-- Part 2: Day 2, Jan. 15, 1865

The monitors had maintained a harassing fire during the night of the 13th-morning of the 14th.  Then, at daylight of the second day of the attack, the fleet's big guns reopened the bombardment in full fury.

General W.H.C. Whiting who had come to "counsel" with Colonel Lamb and share his fate inside the fort, remarked: "It was beyond description, no language can describe that terrific bombardment."

The Confederates were hardly able to bury their dead, much less repair the works, as the fleet poured its shells in, according to one estimate,100 shells a minute.  The defenders suffered some 300 casualties from the naval bombardment and had but one gun on the land face of the fort still serviceable.

During the day, the CSS Chickamauga fired on the recently landed Federal troops from her position in the Cape Fear River, but on the 15th, the USS Monticello, Lt. Cmdr. William B. Cushing, drove the former Confederate raider out of range.(firing over the peninsula).

On the evening of the 14th, General Terry visited Porter on the flagship USS Malvern, and the two planned the timing of the next day's operations.  The fleet would maintain its bombardment until the moment of the attack in mid-afternoon.  Then half of the 8,000 soldiers would assault the land face at the western end (by the Cape Fear River).  At the same time, some 2,000 sailors and Marines would attack the "Northeast Bastion."  The remaining troops would hold the defensive line against a possible attack from Wilmington.

It's About All Over Now.  --Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Observance This Weekend-- Part 2: Books on the Battle

Steven Spielberg's 2012 film "Lincoln" really featured the fort with Lincoln and his cabinet closely following incoming action reports in the War Department's telegraph room in Washington, D.C..  No doubt, this sent some historians scrambling looking to find out more about it.

There were no in depth books written solely about Fort Fisher and Wilmington until the 1970s .  Aware of this, it was one of my goals to write that first book and I had collected a lot of information.  However, Rod Gragg published a book and since then, there have been several books on the subject.  I didn't have to write that book.

I was always angry at my professors when they wouldn't let me write my Master's thesis on the battle.  I ended up doing it on the impact of the blockade on the Confederacy's food supply as a way to somewhat get around their ban.

--Old B-R'er

Fort Fisher Observance This Weekend-- Part 1

From the December 16, 2014, Jacksonville (NC) Daily News "150 Years after Fort Fisher fight, the Civil War is big business" by Ben Steelman.

The official observance of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher and its capture will be observed this weekend, January 17-18.  .  It is titled "Nor Shall Your Glory Be Forgot."  This is a line from Theodore O'Hara's poem "The Bivouac of the Dead."

More than 300 re-enactors will be on hand.  Some 7,500 visitors came to the 145th anniversary and between 10,000 to 15,000 are expected for the sesquicentennial.

Outside of southeastern North Carolina, Fort Fisher has "sometimes seemed like one of the Civil War's best kept secrets."  Pick up a Civil War textbook or history and you usually will find no mention of the fort.  Ken Burns in his"Civil War" mini series on PBS summed the battle and importance up in barely a sentence.  And, there was no mention whatsoever in his accompanying book.

--Old B-Runner

Porter's "Great Armada" Departs from Beaufort

JANUARY 12TH, 1865:  The "Great Armada," as Col. Lamb described Rear Admiral Porter's fleet, got underway from Beaufort, North Carolina, where a rendezvous had been made with 8,000 Union troops under the command of Major General Terry.

The fleet, up to that time the largest American force to be assembled under one command, proceeded along the Carolina coast northeast of Wilmington and arrived off Fort Fisher that same night.  Preparations were made for commencing a naval bombardment the following morning and for the amphibious landing of 10,000 soldiers, sailors and Marines.

It's About Here.  --Old B-Runner

Upcoming Fort Fisher 150th Commemoration-- Part 1

From the Dec. 16, 2014, Jacksonville (NC) Daily News "150 years after Fort Fisher fight, Civil War is big business" by Ben Steelman.

In just a few weeks, Fort Fisher, North Carolina will be observing the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, the one that caused its surrender on January 15, 1865.  Historian Rowena Reed referred to this as "the largest amphibious operation in American history until the Allied invasion of Normandy, nearly 80 years later."

Sixty warships pounded the fort with thousands of shells.  Some 10,000 soldiers came ashore near Myrtle Sound (near Carolina Beach) and some 2000 sailors and Marines attacked the fort's 1500 defenders in a very hard fought, but lopsided battle in the Union favor.

The Friends of Fort Fisher(of which I am a member) is holding a reunion January 14-15 for descendants of the soldiers, sailors and Marines who fought at the battle on either side.  They had figured on having 50-60 attend, but so far they have 150 registered.

Those attending this will receive two days of VIP tours, lectures and presentations by conservators of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh on how to save family papers and memorabilia.  (Hopefully new items will be found.)  These descendants will be encouraged to write down family oral history pertaining to Fort Fisher.

Wish I Could Be There.  --Old B-R'er

Second Battle of Fort Fisher Timeline-- Part 2

JANUARY 15, 1865--  Midday--  Union bombardment had destroyed every gun on Fort Fisher's land face except two 8-inch Columbiads.

3:25 p.m.--  Naval landing party of 2,500 sailors and Marines who had landed earlier, attack the Northeast Bastion (where the sea and land faces of the fort came together) but are repulsed with heavy losses.

Simultaneously, a brigade of Ames' Division attacks the western end of the land face (by the Cape Fear River and succeed in getting into the fort.  A traverse to traverse battle then begins all the way eastward along the fort's land face.

9 p.m.--  Lamb and Whiting are both wounded and Major James Reilly assumes command of of worsening situation.  The fort's defenders are slowly pushed southward along the sea face of the fort to Battery Buchanan.

10 p.m.--  With no escape, Reilly surrenders the fort at Battery Buchanan.  Union ships fire off a huge fireworks display at the fort's surrender.

JANUARY 16, 1865--  The fort's main powder magazine explodes, killing about 250 Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers.

--Old B-Runner

Christmas Eve 150 Years Ago Came In With a Bang at Fort Fisher

From the Dec. 16, 2014, Jacksonville, N.C. Daily News "150 Years after Fort Fisher fight, Civil War is big business" by Ben Steelman.

"Christmas Eve came with a bang 150 years ago in Southeastern North Carolina."

At 1:46 a.m. on the morning of  December 24, 1864, the USS Louisiana, a flat-bottomed powder ship, blew up 600 yards off Fort Fisher.  This was the project of Union General Benjamin Butler who thought the explosion would knock the big sand fort down.

The explosion was heard at Wilmington and some accounts have it being heard at Beaufort, North Carolina, 70 miles away.

The explosion failed to even damage the fort.  Undertow and a strong offshore breeze pulled the Louisiana off course.  The ship's commander miscalculated the distance and thought he was just 300 yards away and then set the fuses and abandoned the ship.

A group of teen-aged N.C. Junior Reserves were camping near the beach and the explosion jarred them from their tents :like popcorn from a popper."  they were frightened, but otherwise unhurt.

Today, ironically, the Fort Fisher State Historic Park will be closed Dec. 24-Dec. 26, 2014, for the holidays, which dates also mark the 150th anniversary of the First Battle of Fort Fisher.

The fort marked its observance last Saturday with re-enactors and the firing of the fort's 32-pdr. gun.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Visitors Center Closed Today and Christmas Day

It's sad to say, but the Fort Fisher Visitors Center and Museum will be closed today, Christmas Eve and tomorrow, Christmas Day and Friday  These three days mark the 150th anniversary of the First Battle of Fort Fisher.

I think that considering this was to be such an important anniversary that it should have remained open.

--Old B-R'er

Workers Preparing Fort Fisher for 159th Anniversary of Its Fall

From the Dec. 17, 2014, WECT NBC Wilmington, N.C. "Workers at Fort Fisher get ready for massive anniversary crowd" by Bob Townsend.

The year 2015 marks the end of the Civil War Sesquicentennial observance which has been good, but not as good as the centennial one was back in 1961-1965 (when I was ages 10-14).  Workers have been busily preparing for the observance of Fort Fisher's capture by Union force on January 15, 1865.

A new palisade fence was been erected along the land face of the earthen fort.  Also, new way sign markers have been placed.  (The old ones had gotten very faded out over the years.)

After Fort Fisher fell, the war lasted less than 90 days which makes its capture quite important.  Two battles were fought at the fort.  The first one began 150 years ago today, Christmas Eve, 1864.  The Union forces lost that one and withdrew, but came back about three weeks later and this time succeeded.

Fort Fisher officials will conduct special tours the weekend of Jan.17-18, 2015.  Over 500 re-enactors are expected to be on hand and over 20,000 visitors are expected.

There will be parking at the Air Force Fort Fisher Recreation Area to handle the overflow  vehicles.

--Old B-Runner

Hey Navy/Marine Re-Enactors, Time's Running Out to Sign Up for Fort Fisher 150th!

From the Dec. 9, 2014, Civil War Navy and Marine Forum Digest #208.

Andrew Duppstadt reminded everyone that the registration deadline for the 150th Fort Fisher re-enactment is just one week away, Dec. 15th.  He urges that you get it in.  If you need any help, contact him.

I am thinking about attending this since I am such a big Fort Fisher nut.  I am not, however, a re-enactor.

--Old B-Runner