Fort Blakely, Alabama
Site of the Last Major Battle of the Civil War
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Contributors: Ruth Beechem,
Pensacola, Fl, George Hill, Conroe, TX & William Bozic,
Houston, TX Maps courtesy of Don Worth, UCLA Please contact Webmaster for use of any of the following photos
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Links: 1. The 48th Ohio VVI at Fort Blakely by Don Worth 2. Battle Summary: Fort Blakely, AL 3. Fort Blakeley Alabama Civil War Battle 4. Battle Summary: Spanish Fort, AL 5. The Civil War in Alabama Homepage More Links |
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"Damn the torpedos. Full speed ahead!" With these
words, Admiral Farragut led his fleet into Mobile Bay in August of
1864 and defeated the rebel defenders of Forts Morgan and Gaines near
its entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. However, as spectacular as his
victory was, federal forces were not yet ready to take on the
formidable defenses of Mobile itself. This endeavor was to be
postponed until the spring of 1865, when Gen. William T. Sherman,
having completed his march to the sea, wrote to Gen. E. R. S. Canby
suggesting he concentrate his attentions first on Spanish Fort and
Fort Blakely on the eastern shore of bay, opposite the city of Mobile.
Mobile's western approaches were heavily defended, and this strategy
offered a better chance for success. Canby planned to lead a 32,000 man contingent himself from Dauphin Island by boats and overland up the eastern side of the bay to invest Spanish Fort, while Gen. Frederick Steele was to lead 13,000 federal soldiers over a long, diversionary route from Pensacola, Florida to attack Fort Blakely from the north. The successful assault on Fort Blakely on April 9th, 1865 would have the distinction of being the last major battle of the Civil War, being fought just six hours after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. U. S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. Don Worth, UCLA |
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(5-02)
15th Massachusetts Battery, constructed April 6th of gabions, logs and
earth. Three 12 pound Napoleons were placed here |
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(5-02) Remnants of the 3rd parallel trenches from which the 83rd Ohio launched their attack on April 9th, 1865 |
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(5-02)
At 5:45pm on April 9th, the 83rd Ohio led the attack
of Moore's Brigade, Andrews' Division on Redoubt #4 over this field |
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