Sugar Loaf Civil War Earthworks-- Part 1: Wilmington, 'The Lifeline of the Confederacy'

From the March 24, 2014, Federal Point  Historic Preservation Society by Chris E. Fonvielle.

As we know, the Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park is now a real thing after a whole lot of work.  Congratulations to all involved in the arduous effort.

The Sugar Loaf  earthworks served as an auxiliary line of defense for Fort Fisher, about four miles to the south of them.  Fort Fisher was built to protect the Confederate port of Wilmington, North Carolina, a haven for blockade runners bringing in supplies to the new country.

Over 100 of them operated in and out of Wilmington alone.  With the exception of Charleston, S.C., Wilmington became the most heavily fortified city along the Atlantic Coast.  Wilmington became so important to the South that it became known as "The Lifeline of the Confederacy."

In late 1864, even Gen. Robert E. Lee warned, "If Wilmington falls , I cannot maintain my army."

--Old B-Runner

Battle of Sugar Loaf Line-- Part 5: Decision Made Not to Attack It

By late afternoon, Schofield and Terry had overrun the Confederate skirmish line but then concluded that the main Confederate line along Sugar Loaf was too strong to be captured by frontal assault

It was decided that Wilmington would have to be captured from the western side of the Cape Fear River.

Major General Jacob  D. Cox's 3rd Division, XXIIIrd Corps was ferried to the west bank of the Cape Fear River to attack Fort Anderson, the main fortress guarding Wilmington on that side of the river.

--Old B-Runner

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

Nine USCT Regiments Opposite the Sugar Loaf Line After Fort Fisher

I honor of Black History Month, I would like to point out that there were nine black regiments of the United States Colored Troops opposing the Confederate along the Sugar Loaf Line in February 1865.

These would be the troops of Wright and A. Ames as shown on the map of the Sugar Loaf battle.

They were under the overall command of  Brigadier General Charles J. Paine of the XXV Corps.

Wright's troops were the 3rd Brigade under Elias Wright and consisted of the 1st, 5th, 10th, 27th and 37th USCT.

A. Ame's troops were the 2nd Brigade of John J. Ames and consisted of the 4th, 6th, 30th and 39th USCT.

There was also a white brigade along the line commanded by Joseph C. Abbott of the XXIV Corps, 1st Division.

Playing a Major Role.  --Old M-Runner

The Battle of Sugar Loaf Line (Wilmington Campaign)-- Part 2: Gen. Hoke at Sugar Loaf and Bragg at Wilmington

After the fall of Fort Fisher, Wilmington was closed as a haven for blockade runners.  There would be no further runs in or out of that port city.  This closed the Confederacy to the world as they had no more Atlantic ports.

The Confederates evacuated the other defensive positions along the Cape Fear River.

While the Confederate defeat at Fort Fisher the previous month had affected morale somewhat and led to an increase in desertion, the remaining soldiers reported morale to be quite high.

General Bragg commanded the defenses of Wilmington.  His field forces were Robert Hoke's division from the Army of Northern Virginia and some artillerymen from the abandoned Confederate defense in the lower river and some home guard.

Hoke commanded three of his brigades on the east side of the Cape Fear River along the Sugar Loaf Line north of Fort Fisher.  His fourth brigade occupied Fort Anderson on the west side of the river.

Bragg remained in Wilmington in order to oversee the removal of the government stockpile supplies and stores and also to prevent Union forces on the coast from reinforcing Union General Sherman as he marched through the Carolinas with his army.

--Old B-Runner

The Battle of Sugar Loaf Line in the Wilmington Campaign-- Part 1

From Wikipedia:  The Battle of Wilmington.

The Battle of Wilmington, North Carolina, was fought February 11-22, 1865, mostly south of the city of Wilmington.  The union victory at the second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, meant that Wilmington, 30 miles up the Cape Fear River, could no longer be used as the Confederacy's last major contact with the outside world.

However, there was still lots o supplies in the city that needed to get sent to Lee's Army in Virginia.  What was necessary was a delaying action for as long as possible.

The action essentially revolved around three theaters, with the Sugar Loaf Line (part of which can now be seen at the Joseph Ryder Lewis, Jr. Civil War Park in Carolina Beach, North Carolina) being the first.

The Confederates were fortunate in that the Union forces did not follow up immediately on the offensive after the fall of Fort Fisher.  Even so, when Braxton Bragg withdrew from Wilmington over a month later, there were still large amounts of tobacco, cotton, equipment and military supplies that had to be destroyed.

--Old B-Runner

How the Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Park Came to Be-- Part 2: A Very Hands-On Project

A supervised work began clearing the brush, committee members and history professor Chris E. Fonvielle Jr of UNCW, provided a comprehensive plan  research document that determined the site to be a part of the Sugar Loaf Line of Civil War earthworks built across Federal Point Peninsula in late 1864 to provide communication and a  backup line for the defense of Wilmington in case Fort Fisher )at the tip of Federal Point) fell to Union forces.

Over the past two years,  seven planning sessions and numerous  informal meetings were held at  the History Center and at the site.  Brush removal was tedious   as it was done by hand and carried by hand some distance before it was removed by city heavy equipment.

--Old B-R'er

How the Joseph Ryder Lewis Park Came to Be-- Part 1

From the May 19, 2015, Island Gazette "Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park."

On May 7, 2013,  a group of individuals from all over New Hanover County met at the Federal Point History Center to discuss preservation of earthworks known to be located  on property owned by the Town of Carolina Beach, N.C., by Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr.

The property covers about 12 acres near the Federal Point Shopping Center on U.S. Highway 421.

A committee was formed consisting of  local professional historians, Civil War scholars, archaeologists, town officials, members of the Federal Point  Historical Preservation Society, interested citizens and three members of the Joseph Ryder Lewis family.

Goals were set to document historic features and its significance to Civil War history, accurately locate the site on a map, determine proper means of preservation, and explore  the utilization of the site as an interpretation, educational and recreation park.  Also plans were developed to properly remove overgrowth on the site without damaging the integrity of the site.

--Old B-Runner

Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Park-- Part 5: The Importance of Fort Fisher and Wilmington to the Confederacy

Local historian, author of many books about the local Civil War history and historical preservation society member Chris E. Fonvielle Jr. said the park  includes some of the most intact and substantial Sugar Loaf  earthworks still existing.

The Sugar Loaf Line of earthworks  came into play as the Union closed in on taking Fort Fisher and eventually Wilmington, one of the South's last remaining seaports for supplies in the waning years of the war.

"When the seriousness of the threat to Wilmington became real, General William Whiting (Commander of the Department of the Cape Fear) decided to build this auxiliary line north of Fort Fisher so there would be troops ready to contest any landing by Federal troops," Fonvielle said.

Fighting that occurred along the Sugar Loaf Line would lead directly to the fall of Wilmington in February 1865 and featured the involvement of the United States Colored Troops.

--Old B-Runner