Siege of Fort Gaines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Fort Gaines |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
 Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Confederate States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gordon Granger George H. Gordon |
Charles D. Anderson | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,500 | 818 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown killed and wounded | All surrendered | ||||||
The Siege of Fort Gaines was an important event during the American Civil War. It happened between August 3 and 8, 1864. This battle took place near Mobile Bay in Alabama. It was part of a bigger fight called the Battle of Mobile Bay. The siege ended with the fort and its soldiers giving up.
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What Was the Siege of Fort Gaines?
A siege is when an army surrounds a fort or city. They try to cut off supplies and attack until the people inside surrender. The Siege of Fort Gaines was a fight for control of a key fort. This fort guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay.
The Union Army Arrives
On August 3, 1864, Union forces landed on Dauphin Island. This island is about 7 miles from Fort Gaines. These soldiers were led by Major General Gordon Granger. His army had about 1,500 men. They quickly moved towards Fort Gaines.
Confederate Defenders at Fort Gaines
Fort Gaines was defended by 818 Confederate soldiers. Their commander was Colonel Charles DeWitt Anderson. Another Confederate leader, Brigadier General Richard L. Page, told Colonel Anderson not to surrender. The fort was built to last a long siege, possibly up to six months.
The Battle for Mobile Bay
On August 5, the Union navy sailed past Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan. They then fought and defeated the Confederate fleet inside Mobile Bay. This was a big win for the Union. It meant the fort was now surrounded by both land and sea.
Why Fort Gaines Surrendered
The Union navy had 199 cannons ready to attack. Fort Gaines only had 26 cannons. Colonel Anderson realized he could not win against such a strong combined attack. He knew his soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned. So, on August 8, he chose to surrender the fort.
What Happened After the Siege?
After Fort Gaines fell, General Granger left some soldiers there. He then quickly moved his army to attack Fort Morgan. This fort was on the other side of Mobile Bay.
The Fall of Fort Morgan
After a two-week siege, General Page surrendered Fort Morgan on August 23. With both Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan captured, the Union now controlled Mobile Bay. This meant the Confederates could no longer use the bay as a port for their ships. It was a big loss for them during the war.
