158th Anniversary of the Fall of Fort Fisher This Weekend-- Part 1

From the January 8, 2023, Port City News (Wilmington, North Carolina) "158th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher reenacts Civil War times."

History comes alive this coming weekend with the 158th anniversary of the fall of Fort Fisher.

It is free and open to the public and the theme is "With Artillery, War Is Made" and will be held January 14 from 10 am to 4 pm.  The living history program will focus on the artillery used at Fort Fisher during the Civil War.

There will,be demonstrations of the 32-pounder banded and  rifled seacoast gun, 12-pound Parrott  gun at  10 am, noon, 1:30 and 3 pm.

--Old B-Runner

Now that West Point is divesting itself of any and all things Confederate, I'm thinking that the 150-pdr. Armstrong gun at Trophy Point that was captured at Fort Fisher which was a CONFEDERATE FORT by the way, should be "divested" back to our fort.

Fort Clifton and Army Gunboat Brewster-- Part 2: A 32-Pound Solid Shot

The fort's garrison, commanded by  Captain S. Taylor Martin,  of the Virginia Artillery, receive special commendation from Major General  George E. Pickett, the commander of the Petersburg  defenses.

Fort Clifton was evacuated on April 2, 1865, one week before Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

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The Perry Adams Antiques offered a  Confederate 32 lb. solid shot excavated at Fort Clifton, Va., on the Appomattox River north of Petersburg for $175.

According to the site,  this was excavated by a long-time  relic hunter near Fort Clifton, now a city park in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

The fort was designed by the famed  Confederate engineer Captain Charles H. Dimmock and completed in early 1864.  Its purpose was to stop Union incursions along the Appomattox River.

--Old B-Runner

The Fort Caswell You've Never Seen-- Part 2

The fort was named after former North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell.  It was built of  stone and earthworks and completed in 1836.  Located on the eastern tip of Oak Island, it juts out into the confluence of the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean.  During the Civil War, it kept Union ships out and away and provided assistance to the famed blockade runners coming into and out of Wilmington.

When the state seceded from the Union, the Confederate Army occupied it as part of Wilmington's defense.

However, after the nearby Fort Fisher was captured after a massive Union assault on January 15, 1865, orders came to spike Fort Caswell's guns, burn the barracks and explode the magazines.

Jim McKee formerly worked for the National Park Service and the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Southport.  He is an author and contributor of articles  on archaeology,  artillery, the Civil War  and Colonial subjects.  He is nationally certified in 18th and 19th century artillery.

--Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Hosts First Program Since the Virus Hit

From the July 10, 2021, WWAY (Wilmington, N.C.) 3 ABC by Celeste Smith.

Really good news to me.  Every summer Fort Fisher has all sorts of programs both outside and inside detailing the fort's history, including its popular "Beat the Heat" lectures.  Of course, that all came crashing to an end last year because of you-know-what.  Sure nice to have things back.

The Fort Fisher State Historic Site hosted its first program after an 18-month-long hiatus.

Today (Saturday, July 100, the annual Summer Artillery Program's "Most Terrible Storm of Iron and Lead" was held at the site from  10am to 4 pm.

The free event featured guided tours, an activity for kids called the "Toy Soldier Workshop," and cannon firings throughout the day.  The site's program manager, Becky Sawyer, said they are glad to offer programs to visitors again.

The site will host its next program which will focus on the events of World War II revolving around the fort and Wilmington area the Saturday of Labor Day weekend in September.

Sure Glad to see the Old Fort Back to Usual.  --Old B-Runner

Lincoln's 1864 City Point Trip-- Part 13: Further Observations 'Here's Old Abe, and Beast Butler'

Still riding through Gen. Butler's men on Bermuda Hundred, then came several artillery encampments.

**  A New Jersey gunner thought Lincoln "a very plain man."

**  A Connecticut artilleryman was surprised at how "awkward and even peculiar the President looked to us."

The sudden appearance of Lincoln's party caught the Connecticut battery sentry by surprise and he blurted out,  "Great God!  Turn out the guard!!  here's Old Abe, and Beast Butler."

So Even His Troops Called Him "Beast Butler."  --Old B-Runner

Big To Do at the Fort This Weekend-- Part 5: Sunday, Jan. 19

1:00 PM--  Dr. Angela Zombek  "Military Prisons & POWs During the Civil War"  at the Masonboro Parlor at the E. Gehrig Spencer Theater.

**  Infantry demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

1:30  PM--  Free guided tour of the fort.

2:00 PM--  Artillery demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

**  Above the Scenes tour, tickets required; limited to 25 persons.

**  Junior Reserves  "Cyphers" in the Living History Area.

2:30 PM--  Dr. Jamie Martinez, "Confederate Slave Impressment in North Carolina."

**  Torpedo demonstration in Living History Area.

**  Infantry demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

**  Free guided tour.

3:30 PM--  Infantry demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

4:00 PM--  Artillery demonstration at Shepherd's Battery.

5:00 PM--  Visitors Center closes.

It's Over Now.  --Old B-Runner

Blockade Runners Sunk at Masoboro Inlet and Wreck of USS Columbia

From Wrightsville Beach (NC) Magazine  "Wrightsville Wreck of USS Columbia:  by Chris Fonvielle.

Three other wrecks of blockade runners believed to be the Dee, Fanny and Jenny and  the Emily were discovered between the inlet and Crystal Pier.  A recent dredging project by the U.S. Army Corps of Enhineers disturbed the Columbia shipwreck.

Adding to the evidence that that wreck is that of the Columbia,  three wooden sabots that cushioned 24-pdr. cannonballs washed ashore at Masonboro Island, just south of the inlet in 2010.  They were discovered by a Southport resident who turned them over to  the North Carolina Division of Archives and History Underwater  Archaeology Branch at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach for conservation.  The Columbia's armament included six 24 pdr. cannons.

--Old B-Runner

Update on the Last Post, 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery

In the last post, I wrote about the formation of this group.

From the Lest We Forget, African American Military History.

14th U.S. COLORED HEAVY ARTILLERY

Organized at New Bern and Morehead City, N.C. from the  1st North Carolina  Colored Heavy Artillery March 17, 1864.  Attached to the Defenses of New Bern, N.C., Department of Virginia and North Carolina, to January 1865.

Sub-District of New Bern, Department of North Carolina, Sub-District of  Beaufort,  Dept. of  North Carolina to December 1865.

SERVICE:   Garrison duty at New Bern and other points in the Department of North Carolina till December 1865.  Mustered out December 11, 1865.

--Old B-R'er

March 1864 Events in N.C.-- Part 2: Black Artillery Unit Organized and Skirmishes

All of these took place in the eastern part of the state.

MARCH  17--  14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery organized at New Bern and Morehead City from the  1st North Carolina  Heavy Artillery, African Descent (Union).

MARCH  24-26--  Boat expedition to Swansborough and Bear Creek.

MARCH  25-26--  Expedition to Bogue and Bear Inlets.

MARCH 26--  Skirmish near Blackjack Church.

MARCH 26-  Skirmish at Ivy Bend.

--Old B-Runner

Cape Fear History Symposium-- Part 2: "Focus On Forts"

Participants will hear from the nation's leading experts on U.S. Coast defense history through a series of lectures and seminars and witness a live artillery demonstration (always better than a dead one, I think.  Just like I enjoy live bands better than dead ones.) and tour the campus (Fort Caswell) with experts.  Fort Caswell is usually off limits to visitors as it is part of a religious group.

You will get up close to relics and ruins as you learn about them.

Speakers include John Weaver, Lt.Col. Quentin W. Schillare, Glen Williford, Dale Floyd as well as Vincent Melomo and Tom Beaman on the archaeology of Fort Caswell.

Someplace I'd Really Like To Be This Weekend (But Since This Is Our 45th Anniversary, I Think Not.) --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

Six Reasons to Visit Fort Fisher This Weekend-- Part 3: Big Guns, Experts and Descendants

4.   LOTS OF BIG GUNS:

In addition to the scores of Civil War-era rifles, artillery crews will fire several cannons including a recently refurbished replica of a rifled and banded 32-pounder.

5.  MEET THE EXPERTS:

Nationally respected author Rod Gragg ("Confederate Goliath:  the Battle of Fort Fisher") will deliver the keynote address at 11 a.m. followed by local historian and author Richard Triebe at 2:30 p.m..

6.  ALL IN THE FAMILY:

If you can trace your family heritage back that far, Fort Fisher descendants are invited to gather for a reunion 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Courtyard Carolina Beach Oceanfront Marriott.  Noted Fort fisher expert Chris Fonvielle will speak.

--Sure Woulda liked To have Been there.  --Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Has Summer Activities for the Kids-- Part 3: Toy Soldiers and Water Balloons

AUGUST 5--  "TOY SOLDIER WORKSHOP"  Soldiers in most wars have specially designed uniforms.  During the Civil War both sides had the famous :Blue and Gray" uniforms, but also colors on the piping to indicate which branch of service they were in.

Learn about soldier uniforms, the colors they used and their equipment.

The best part is you get to paint your very own toy soldier and, even better, take it home.

AUGUST 12--  "THE ARTILLERY GUNNER"

Learn how Fort Fisher's artillerists had to use math and science to target Union ships out to sea.  then try your own hand at hitting the blockading ships with water balloons!

Take home your own quadrant to practice measuring launch angles for your own water balloon battles.

Watch Out Sister and Older Brother.  --Old B-R'er

Civil War Program Set for Saturday at Fort Fisher State Historic Site

From the June 20. 2016, Wilmington (NC) Star-News by Ben Steelman.

The summer Civil War artillery program will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.  It is called "Fire, Smoke, and Deadly showers of Cast Iron: Artillery at Fort Fisher.

Period pieces will be fired throughout the day, including a replica 12-pd Napoleon cannon.  Costumed interpreters will explain artillery drills and military equipment and tours will be given around the surviving earthworks.

Local historian Jeff Tyndall will speak about the Civil War home front in eastern North Carolina at 2 p.m. in the visitors center.

The program is free and open to the public and made possible by the Friends of Fort Fisher, to which I belong.

Ready, Aim, Fire!  --Old B-Runner

Accidental Gun Explosion at Fort Fisher

From the January 5, 1863, Fayetteville (NC) Observer.

"ACCIDENT AT FORT FISHER--  A letter from Fort Fisher informs us that a few days ago when Col. Lamb was opening fire on a blockader, the splendid gun  "Cumberland" burst at the first fire, wounding six."

Old B-Runner

Confederate Major James Reilly-- Part 3

Reilly earned the nickname "Old Tarantula."  Despite being in many battles in several wars, he was wounded only one time during the Mexican War.

After Gettysburg, he was promoted from sergeant to major, owing to his great storehouse of artillery knowledge.  He hadn't been promoted before because he wasn't on the Army of Northern Virginia's command pipeline.  He wasn't rich, wasn't a Virginian and he wasn't a West Pointer.

He was sent to Fort Fisher where that knowledge came into great use by Colonel Lamb.

Confederate Navy Captain Robert T. Chapman was in command of Battery Buchanan at the final day of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.  He was drunk and abandoned his position, taking the boat that could have transported the wounded Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb to safety.

Chapman, of course, escaped capture and later guarded Jefferson Davis in the flight from Richmond in April.

More to Come.  --Old B-Runner