Forum Host- Joined
- Sep 2, 2019
- Location
- Raleigh, North Carolina
This Saturday I visited a small park dedicated to the preservation of part of the mile-long Sugar Loaf defensive line, which traversed Federal Point peninsula between Wilmington NC and Fort Fisher during the Civil War. I think it's a nice example of what a community organization can do to preserve fortifications as an historic and cultural resource. The park is in Carolina Beach and is called the Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park, after the man who preserved and donated the 12-acre tract used for the park.
After the Second Battle of Fort Fisher (Jan 13-15 1865), Gen Alfred Terry's forces advanced north up the peninsula to attack Wilmington, the only open Confederate port on the Atlantic, and the lifeline for Confederate forces in Virginia. To approach Wilmington by way of the peninsula, they had to get past Gen Robert F. Hoke's 6,400 defenders on the Sugar Loaf line, which ran east-to-west through what is now Carolina Beach. The forces clashed on 11 Feb 1865 in what has become known as the Battle of Sugar Loaf. Federal forces were not able to break through at that point, but they were able to force Hoke out of his works on 19 Feb by threatening his rear from the Cape Fear River.
This map shows the Sugar Loaf defenses in relation to Fort Fisher. The fortifications ran from Sugarloaf Dune on the Cape Fear side over to what is now Myrtle Sound:
This Google sat map zooms in on Carolina Beach, showing the location of the Lewis Park:
One of the most interesting things to me is that this park was created and its earthworks preserved in an area that is developing rapidly. No doubt long stretches of the Sugar Loaf entrenchments have simply disappeared due to commercial development. The park itself is actually accessed via the parking lot of a Publix supermarket. You can see the entrance to the park in the background in this photo:
I'm certain that the historical society, town officials, and developers cooperated cheerfully to make sure this cultural resource would be made accessible to the public.
Here are some shots from inside the park. You'll see that it is nicely laid out with paths, protective barriers, interpretive signage, and some beautiful examples of preserved Civil War earthworks:
I should add that I was at the Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park on a cold day in February, but even so there were probably about 30 visitors during the hour or so I was there.
Roy B.
After the Second Battle of Fort Fisher (Jan 13-15 1865), Gen Alfred Terry's forces advanced north up the peninsula to attack Wilmington, the only open Confederate port on the Atlantic, and the lifeline for Confederate forces in Virginia. To approach Wilmington by way of the peninsula, they had to get past Gen Robert F. Hoke's 6,400 defenders on the Sugar Loaf line, which ran east-to-west through what is now Carolina Beach. The forces clashed on 11 Feb 1865 in what has become known as the Battle of Sugar Loaf. Federal forces were not able to break through at that point, but they were able to force Hoke out of his works on 19 Feb by threatening his rear from the Cape Fear River.
This map shows the Sugar Loaf defenses in relation to Fort Fisher. The fortifications ran from Sugarloaf Dune on the Cape Fear side over to what is now Myrtle Sound:
This Google sat map zooms in on Carolina Beach, showing the location of the Lewis Park:
One of the most interesting things to me is that this park was created and its earthworks preserved in an area that is developing rapidly. No doubt long stretches of the Sugar Loaf entrenchments have simply disappeared due to commercial development. The park itself is actually accessed via the parking lot of a Publix supermarket. You can see the entrance to the park in the background in this photo:
I'm certain that the historical society, town officials, and developers cooperated cheerfully to make sure this cultural resource would be made accessible to the public.
Here are some shots from inside the park. You'll see that it is nicely laid out with paths, protective barriers, interpretive signage, and some beautiful examples of preserved Civil War earthworks:
I should add that I was at the Joseph Ryder Lewis Jr. Civil War Park on a cold day in February, but even so there were probably about 30 visitors during the hour or so I was there.
Roy B.
