Mobile Campaign 160th

[J.H. Moose]

With the 160th anniversary of the Mobile Campaign coming up, I decided to gather all the stuff I've amassed from Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely in a photo, no real particular reason other than boredom.

I find this particularly campaign quite fascinating and I think it's often overshadowed by other events happening in the Eastern Theater simultaneously, especially Appomattox.
I'm interested to see if anybody else would like to share any relics they have from the 1865 Mobile campaign in this thread, in light of the 160th anniversary looming.

 

[DixieRifles]

I recently found I had an ancestor who was an officer in the 19th Louisiana Regiment. So the CWT Muster tour last fall was exciting for me to finally go see Mobile area. However, my ancestor became sick somewhere around February or March and he was given furlough. There is no record he was present with his regiment at Spanish Fort.

 

[JOHN42768]

Nice collection

 

[redbob]

A very nice collection and well presented.

 

[LouG.]

Have state or national parks been established at the Spanish Fort or Blakely battlefield sites? I've passed the "Spanish Fort" exit sign on I-10 many times when approaching Mobile but never had the chance to stop.

Checking the Internet, looks like part of the Blakely Battlefield has been preserved. Worth a visit? Opinions, please.

 

[Bradley]

I have a couple of things from the campaign. Here are some bullets from the area…

And here is canister from the area…

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

With the 160th anniversary of the Mobile Campaign coming up, I decided to gather all the stuff I've amassed from Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely in a photo, no real particular reason other than boredom.
View attachment 544607
I find this particularly campaign quite fascinating and I think it's often overshadowed by other events happening in the Eastern Theater simultaneously, especially Appomattox.
I'm interested to see if anybody else would like to share any relics they have from the 1865 Mobile campaign in this thread, in light of the 160th anniversary looming.

Nice collection.

 

[Tom Hughes]

With the 160th anniversary of the Mobile Campaign coming up, I decided to gather all the stuff I've amassed from Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely in a photo, no real particular reason other than boredom.
View attachment 544607
I find this particularly campaign quite fascinating and I think it's often overshadowed by other events happening in the Eastern Theater simultaneously, especially Appomattox.
I'm interested to see if anybody else would like to share any relics they have from the 1865 Mobile campaign in this thread, in light of the 160th anniversary looming.

Wonderful Display!

 

[NFB22]

Have state or national parks been established at the Spanish Fort or Blakely battlefield sites?

What remains from the Battle of Fort Blakeley is part of Blakeley State Park.

Spanish Fort is still a town. Within the town there are remaining earthworks from Fort McDermott and it's been made into a municipal park.

Both are worth a visit, in my opinion, along with the rest of the history found around Mobile Bay.

 

[LouG.]

Thanks, Sergeant Major---most helpful. Also, compliments on the impressive collections of Minie bullets and artillery projectiles shown above.

Sadly, there are probably no remnants of the wooden mortars used by the Union(!) at these sites.

 

[redbob]

My two favorite pieces from the campaign are a complete dug 12# Confederate canister and a 7" Britten fired from the CSS Morgan. @UCVRelics found both of these great pieces for me

 

[DixieRifles]

And here is canister from the area…

Just trying to learn more about these Cannister rounds----what cannon used this ammo and what is the approx diameter of the cannister balls???

 

[redbob]

Just trying to learn more about these Cannister rounds----what cannon used this ammo and what is the approx diameter of the cannister balls???

They were primarily used in the 4.62" 12# Napoleon howitzer or 12# field gun In mine, there was 27 balls each a little over 1" in diameter. Canister rounds came in a variety of sizes, with lead or iron balls and rifled guns used them also.

 

[Manassas 1861]

They were primarily used in the 4.62" 12# Napoleon howitzer or 12# field gun In mine, there was 27 balls each a little over 1" in diameter. Canister rounds came in a variety of sizes, with lead or iron balls and rifled guns used them also.View attachment 544655

Awesome display!

 

[DixieRifles]

They were primarily used in the 4.62" 12# Napoleon howitzer or 12# field gun In mine, there was 27 balls each a little over 1" in diameter. Canister rounds came in a variety of sizes, with lead or iron balls and rifled guns used them also.

Thanks. The photo made it look like a larger bore from one of the fort's siege guns.

 

[redbob]

Thanks. The photo made it look like a larger bore from one of the fort's siege guns.

Canister rounds did come as large as siege guns and other heavy artillery. These however are for field artillery.

 

[Bradley]

Just trying to learn more about these Cannister rounds----what cannon used this ammo and what is the approx diameter of the cannister balls???

My canister is from a 6-pdr., which is neat because I'm from Tuscaloosa and in the regimental history of Lumsden's Battery, the veterans complain about working had to with these "pop guns" while stationed at at Spanish Fort.

"On return to camp, Capt. Lumsden had orders written for the writer to proceed to Tuscaloosa on this business and started the papers up to headquarters in regular channel.

But about March 20th, we were sent over to Spanish Fort, on the Eastern shore of Mobile river or rather Spanish river as the eastern channel is called, by steamer. We were placed in charge of an angle, at about the center of the fortified semi-circle that constituted the Fort, armed with 4 six pounder field guns. They seemed like pop guns in comparison with the 12 pounder Napoleons, that we had handled so long."

 

[Blessmag]

Spanish Fort was a topic last Saturday at the Boys in Blue Symposium in Mankato MN.

I spoke on John Wilkes Booth. 1865 was the theme.

 

[redbob]

My canister is from a 6-pdr., which is neat because I'm from Tuscaloosa and in the regimental history of Lumsden's Battery, the veterans complain about working had to with these "pop guns" while stationed at at Spanish Fort.

Unfortunately, after substantial Confederate artillery losses at places such as Chattanooga; there wasn't a large surplus of field artillery pieces available.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

We had a CWT Muster there last October - at Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and Fort McDermott. We had the author, Paul Brueske, "Digging All Night and Fighting All Day - The Civil War Siege of Spanish Fort" give us a presentation and give us an amazing foot tour of Spanish Fort and Fort McDermott.

Spanish Fort is built up a lot but… if you are with Paul, and he knows where to look, there are lots and lots of places still visible of where the original Spanish Fort was situated. Over at Fort McDermott there are really good earthworks and when the tide is low, the original pylons pounded into the mud that the Confederates made to escape are actually still there and can be traced out. The planking is long gone but the pylons are still there because the mud protects them from rotting.

Fort Blakely is amazing - that's all I can say. We've had the author, Paul Brueske, on CWT Presents before. We usually have that zoom show on Wednesday nights here on CWT at 8:00 pm EST.

I believe, but am not quite sure that Fort McDermott is on private land now and whatever the local SVC camp is there maintains it. If you contact Paul, he is always glad to take people on an extended tour. I want to go back and really explore that area.