First Battle of Fort Fisher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Fort Fisher
Part of the American Civil War
A damaged Confederate gun at Fort Fisher
Date December 23–27, 1864 Location New Hanover County, North Carolina Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Benjamin Butler David D. Porter	William H.C. Whiting William Lamb
Units involved
Expeditionary Corps, Army of the James North Atlantic Blockading Squadron	Hoke's Division Fort Fisher Garrison
Casualties and losses
320

The First Battle of Fort Fisher was a major naval attack during the American Civil War. It happened when the Union army and navy tried to capture Fort Fisher. This fort guarded Wilmington, North Carolina, which was the last big Atlantic port for the Confederacy.

The battle took place from December 23 to 27, 1864. Major General Benjamin Butler led the Union ground troops. The Union navy first tried to blow up the fort with a ship full of gunpowder, but it didn't work. Then, the navy bombed the fort for two days.

On the second day, Union soldiers started landing to attack the fort. But General Butler heard that Confederate reinforcements were coming. The weather was also getting worse. So, he stopped the attack, saying the fort was too strong to capture. This decision was very embarrassing for Butler. He was removed from his command on January 8, 1865. Major General Alfred H. Terry took over and led a second attack. This second attack successfully captured the fort just one week later.

Why Was Fort Fisher Important?

Fort Fisher was a very strong fort on Confederate Point. People called it the "Gibraltar of the Confederacy." It protected the Cape Fear River and the port of Wilmington. Wilmington was super important because it was the last major port where the Confederacy could get supplies from other countries.

The fort was huge, covering a large area. It had tall walls, up to 30 feet high, made of earth. These walls were designed to protect against bombs. There were also many traps around the fort. These included land mines, sharp wooden stakes, and deep ditches. The fort had over 50 powerful cannons. One of these was a huge 150-pounder Armstrong gun. This gun was on a 60-foot tall mound called the Mound Battery. Colonel William Lamb commanded about 1,400 Confederate soldiers at the fort. More Confederate troops were nearby, led by General Braxton Bragg.

The Union's Plan to Attack

The Union planned a big attack on Fort Fisher. Major General Benjamin Butler was chosen to lead the ground forces. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant first wanted someone else to lead, but Butler insisted. The Union army gathered soldiers from the Army of the James.

Rear Admiral David D. Porter led the Union navy. His fleet was the largest Union fleet of the entire war. It had nearly 60 warships. They also had ships to carry the army troops.

Butler had a special plan. He wanted to use a ship called the USS Louisiana. This ship was packed with 200 tons of gunpowder. The idea was to make it look like a Confederate ship. Then, they would sail it close to the fort's seawall and blow it up. Butler hoped the explosion would destroy the fort. Many Union leaders, including Grant, doubted this plan would work. But President Abraham Lincoln approved it.

The Union ships and transports gathered at Hampton Roads. The navy ships left first to refuel. They would meet the army transports at Fort Fisher. The plan was to blow up the Louisiana and then land the troops.

The Battle Begins

The Union forces were supposed to leave Hampton Roads on December 10. But a big winter storm hit. This delayed their departure until December 14. The army transports arrived at Fort Fisher first. The navy took longer to refuel.

When Admiral Porter's ships arrived on December 19, another storm hit. Some ships scattered. The army transports had to go back to Beaufort. After the storm cleared on December 23, Porter decided to attack without Butler. He ordered the Louisiana to be blown up that night.

Near midnight, the ship was towed close to the fort. It was then set on fire. However, the Louisiana was much farther from shore than the navy thought. It was about a mile offshore. Because of this, the huge explosion did no damage to Fort Fisher.

Map of the Fort Fisher I Battlefield area.

The next morning, December 23, the Union navy moved closer. They started bombing the fort. They hoped to break down the fort's walls and make the Confederates surrender. That day, they fired almost 10,000 shells. But the fort only had minor damage. Only a few cannons were broken, and 23 Confederate soldiers were hurt. The Union navy also had problems. 45 Union sailors were hurt from their own guns exploding. Confederate cannons also hit three Union ships.

A drawing from Harper's Weekly in 1865 showing the Union navy bombing Fort Fisher.

Why Did the Union Retreat?

The Union army transports arrived that evening. General Butler thought that Porter's early bombing had warned the Confederates. He believed the Confederates would be ready for a landing. But he was convinced to send a small group of soldiers to check.

The Union troops started landing on Christmas morning. The navy kept bombing the fort. The Union soldiers captured a small Confederate battery (a group of cannons) near the beach. They also captured some Confederate reserve soldiers.

After setting up a defense line, Union General Adelbert Ames sent a brigade (a group of soldiers) towards the fort. The leader, N. Martin Curtis, found the fort's land wall not well defended. He was ready to attack. But General Ames stopped him.

Butler was sure the fort was too strong to attack. He also heard that Confederate reinforcements were only a few miles north of the fort. Another storm was also forming. All these reasons made him decide to stop the attack. He ordered all the troops on the beach to return to their ships. The entire Union fleet then sailed back to Hampton Roads.

What Happened Next?

The failed attack at Fort Fisher was a big problem for General Butler. He had not followed his orders. This gave General Grant a reason to remove Butler from his command. President Abraham Lincoln, who had just been reelected, agreed. Butler was removed on January 8, 1865.

To Butler's embarrassment, Fort Fisher was captured just one week later. Major General Alfred H. Terry led a second attack on the fort. Butler had told a committee that the fort was impossible to capture. But Terry proved him wrong.

After the first battle, the Confederates quickly repaired the damage to Fort Fisher. Blockade runners (ships that tried to get past the Union blockade) continued to use the port. The very night the Union fleet left, more ships arrived. Even though the Confederate commanders thought the Union would return soon, General Bragg moved his troops away from Fort Fisher.