Forgotten Forts Series - Fort Anderson (NC)

NFB22

Sergeant Major
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Location
Louisville, KY
Fort Anderson was an earthern fort located along the western bank of the Cape Fear River roughly five miles upriver north of Fort Fisher in North Carolina. Construction on the fort began sometime in late 1861 to early 1862 under the command of Major Thomas Rowland. Originally named Fort St. Philips the fort was renamed Fort Anderson after Brig. General George B. Anderson who died from wounds and subsequent infections sustained at the Battle of Antietam.
anderson.jpg

The fortress consisted of two major batteries and various support structures. One battery faced east covering the Cape Fear River with the other facing south covering the fort's landward approaches. Various magazines and "bombproofs" were built into the forts earthern works while wooden structures such as barracks were built to the rear of the fortifications. The fort's armament consisted of 10+ pieces of artillery. Confederate forces also built a wharf on the site to receive supplies and support distressed blockade runners that, if necessary, could drop their supplies at the fort if unable to make it to the port at Wilmington.
fort anderson 2.jpg

The fort saw action following the fall of Fort Fisher when Union troops and the Union Navy were pushing up the Cape Fear to capture Wilmington. After a 3 day battle with closing Union forces Confederate troops abandoned the fort on Feb 19, 1865. Union troops quickly able to take control of Fort Anderson occupied it for the rest of the war.
fort anderson 1.jpg

The grounds of the fort have been left relatively untouched since 1865 although no period guns exist on the site today. The ground has been continuously excavated by local universities in recent years with many artifacts being recovered. Today Fort Anderson is part of the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site which is maintained by the state of North Carolina. Vistors can explore a visitors center/museum at the park and old earthwork fortifications of Fort Anderson. Guided tours are also available. The park is open daily and is free of charge.

http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Anderson_(2)
http://www.nchistoricsites.org/brunswic/main.htm

Also be sure to check out all other "Forgotten Forts" in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/
 
Chris Fonvielle wrote a book about Anderson and the operations against it: Fort Anderson: The Battle for Wilmington.

Good 'un, though it lacks the drama of his Fort Fisher book-- but that's not the author's fault, as after Fisher the campaign was something of an anticlimax.

From what I read today there was a bit of fratricide committed by the U.S. Navy when Union troops began to occupy Fort Anderson since the Confederates had abandoned it under the cover of darkness the Navy wasn't aware the troops in the fort were friendly forces come dawn and opened fire on them.
 
Fort Anderson was an earthern fort located along the western bank of the Cape Fear River roughly five miles upriver north of Fort Fisher in North Carolina. Construction on the fort began sometime in late 1861 to early 1862 under the command of Major Thomas Rowland. Originally named Fort St. Philips the fort was renamed Fort Anderson after Brig. General George B. Anderson who died from wounds and subsequent infections sustained at the Battle of Antietam.
View attachment 17003
The fortress consisted of two major batteries and various support structures. One battery faced east covering the Cape Fear River with the other facing south covering the fort's landward approaches. Various magazines and "bombproofs" were built into the forts earthern works while wooden structures such as barracks were built to the rear of the fortifications. The fort's armament consisted of 10+ pieces of artillery. Confederate forces also built a wharf on the site to receive supplies and support distressed blockade runners that, if necessary, could drop their supplies at the fort if unable to make it to the port at Wilmington.
View attachment 17001
The fort saw action following the fall of Fort Fisher when Union troops and the Union Navy were pushing up the Cape Fear to capture Wilmington. After a 3 day battle with closing Union forces Confederate troops abandoned the fort on Feb 19, 1865. Union troops quickly able to take control of Fort Anderson occupied it for the rest of the war.
View attachment 17004
The grounds of the fort have been left relatively untouched since 1865 although no period guns exist on the site today. The ground has been continuously excavated by local universities in recent years with many artifacts being recovered. Today Fort Anderson is part of the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site which is maintained by the state of North Carolina. Vistors can explore a visitors center/museum at the park and old earthwork fortifications of Fort Anderson. Guided tours are also available. The park is open daily and is free of charge.

http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Anderson_(2)
http://www.nchistoricsites.org/brunswic/main.htm

Also be sure to check out all other "Forgotten Forts" in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/


I just love the Forgotten Fort series!

I live in Baltimore, so I am everyday stumbling over forgotten forts.

The city was heavily fortified during the war and the Fort McHenry site is justly famous. But there are numerous other sites, including some urban sites that are completely covered over.

The series is so great in identifying the remote rural sites. I am beginning to get interested in uncovering some of the modern urban sites around Baltimore....
 
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