Information on Ft Fischer

[NDR5thNY]

Does anyone know a good source for information on Ft Fisher? I have volunteered with the National Park Service. The Ranger believes he can provide the information I need in an hour . He is much more optimistic than I.

 

[Gary Morgan]

Fort Fisher, North Carolina? What do you need to know? It was a major Naval offensive - the biggest one of the War with multiple casualties and shortly after the fort was capture, the powder magazine exploded (maybe from someone smoking where they shouldn't have been?) and hundreds more died.

 

[NDR5thNY]

Fort Fisher, North Carolina? What do you need to know? It was a major Naval offensive - the biggest one of the War with multiple casualties and shortly after the fort was capture, the powder magazine exploded (maybe from someone smoking where they shouldn't have been?) and hundreds more died.

Gary:
Do have books you would recommend on Ft Fischer?

 

[Gary Morgan]

I haven't delved very far into it yet. I hope to eventually write a book on the Naval Academy Class of 1862, and pretty much most of them ended up at Fort Fisher (as did most of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron). I wrote to the museum at Fort Fisher asking for a recommendation for a book that focused on the Union Navy and they recommended Hurricane of Fire by Charles M. Robinson, so I will pass that recommendation on to you. I expect someone who's read more in depth on the battle will come along shortly with more good advice. There is a small museum there, although I'm not sure if it's currently open or not.

 

[NDR5thNY]

I haven't delved very far into it yet. I hope to eventually write a book on the Naval Academy Class of 1862, and pretty much most of them ended up at Fort Fisher (as did most of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron). I wrote to the museum at Fort Fisher asking for a recommendation for a book that focused on the Union Navy and they recommended Hurricane of Fire by Charles M. Robinson, so I will pass that recommendation on to you. I expect someone who's read more in depth on the battle will come along shortly with more good advice. There is a small museum there, although I'm not sure if it's currently open or not.

The museum is open. That is where I will be volunteering. I am looking forward to learning more about Ft Fisher and The Carolina Campaign. I am about an hour drive from Bentonville and two hours from Bennett's Place. I plan on volunteering at those locations also.
Thank you for information on the book. Good luck on your book. I look forward to reading it!
John

 

[Gary Morgan]

The museum is open. That is where I will be volunteering. I am looking forward to learning more about Ft Fisher and The Carolina Campaign. I am about an hour drive from Bentonville and two hours from Bennett's Place. I plan on volunteering at those locations also.
Thank you for information on the book. Good luck on your book. I look forward to reading it!
John

Ah! I'll be looking to YOU for information some day! I've made it as far as Bentonville, but I haven't made it to Fisher's Island yet - something (a tropical storm, a relative who insists that I stay the night, a global pandemic....) always happens when I try, and I've been trying every April for several years now (I live in Massachusetts). The Naval Academy book will probably take me about 10 years just to research - there are a lot of moving parts, and as I envision it, I'll basically have to write a whole book on each of the six guys I hope to follow (Preston and Porter who died on the beach being two of them) and then merge them all together into one long story.

But first I have to finish the book on Andersonville, and there are two more non-Civil War books I need to write after that. I just have to live long enough to meet all of my ambitions!

Congratulations on the new position. There aren't a lot of CW related places to visit up my way, so I'm just a little bit jealous!

Gary

 

[NDR5thNY]

Ah! I'll be looking to YOU for information some day! I've made it as far as Bentonville, but I haven't made it to Fisher's Island yet - something (a tropical storm, a relative who insists that I stay the night, a global pandemic....) always happens when I try, and I've been trying every April for several years now (I live in Massachusetts). The Naval Academy book will probably take me about 10 years just to research - there are a lot of moving parts, and as I envision it, I'll basically have to write a whole book on each of the six guys I hope to follow (Preston and Porter who died on the beach being two of them) and then merge them all together into one long story.

But first I have to finish the book on Andersonville, and there are two more non-Civil War books I need to write after that. I just have to live long enough to meet all of my ambitions!

Congratulations on the new position. There aren't a lot of CW related places to visit up my way, so I'm just a little bit jealous!

Gary

 

[NDR5thNY]

Thank you and good luck on your research. You may wish to contact the historian at the museum. I am confident he will be a knowledgeable source for you. I will send you his contact information. I am not at home now.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

Fort Fisher protected the Cape Fear River. The Cape Fear River was the major port of entry for blockade runners bringing food and armament into the Confederacy.

There are several books, but probably the three I would recommend would be:

Gragg, Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher (1991)
Fonvielle, The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope. (2001)
Walker, Rebel Gibraltar: Fort Fisher and Wilmington, C.S.A. (2005)

 

[Virginia Dave]

When a small boy my family use to take our summer vacation at Kure Beach not far from Ft. Fisher. I spent many a wonderful hour playing there, however to young to appreciate where I was playing and the history behind the Fort.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

When a small boy my family use to take our summer vacation at Kure Beach not far from Ft. Fisher. I spent many a wonderful hour playing there, however to young to appreciate where I was playing and the history behind the Fort.

We normally get to visit twice a year. A great place - lots of history, not just CW.

 

[NDR5thNY]

Fort Fisher protected the Cape Fear River. The Cape Fear River was the major port of entry for blockade runners bringing food and armament into the Confederacy.

There are several books, but probably the three I would recommend would be:

Gragg, Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher (1991)
Fonvielle, The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope. (2001)
Walker, Rebel Gibraltar: Fort Fisher and Wilmington, C.S.A. (2005)

Thanks for the information. I look forward to reading them!

 

[Mike Serpa]

"Excavation of a Fort Fisher Bombproof," 1981
https://archive.org/details/excavationoffort00watt/mode/2up

 

[NDR5thNY]

"Excavation of a Fort Fisher Bombproof," 1981
https://archive.org/details/excavationoffort00watt/mode/2up

Thanks for the information. Very useful information. I look forward to reading and learning additional to share with the visitors.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Fort Fisher protected the Cape Fear River. The Cape Fear River was the major port of entry for blockade runners bringing food and armament into the Confederacy.

There are several books, but probably the three I would recommend would be:

Gragg, Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher (1991)
Fonvielle, The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope. (2001)
Walker, Rebel Gibraltar: Fort Fisher and Wilmington, C.S.A. (2005)

I read Fonvielle's book earlier this year and liked it a lot. It doesn't neglect the naval side of the campaign but really focuses more intently on the land-side operations of the opposing armies. Admiral Porter comes in for some harsh criticism, so that part of the book might be especially interesting to you.

 

[NDR5thNY]

I read Fonvielle's book earlier this year and liked it a lot. It doesn't neglect the naval side of the campaign but really focuses more intently on the land-side operations of the opposing armies. Admiral Porter comes in for some harsh criticism, so that part of the book might be especially interesting to you.

Thank you very much!