Second Battle of Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher, New Hanover County, North Carolina, USA
What happened
Union army and navy forces under Alfred Terry and David Porter attacked the Confederate Fort Fisher, commanded by William Lamb. Fort Fisher guarded the river entrance to Wilmington, the last big Atlantic port still open to the Confederacy. Union warships pounded the fort while troops landed nearby. Soldiers broke in from the land side and fought on after dark until the fort surrendered.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Blockade-runners could no longer bring supplies through Wilmington to Lee's army. It was a heavy blow to the Confederacy.
What came next
A Union army under John Schofield captured Wilmington about a month later.
Did you know?
Galusha Pennypacker, badly wounded here, was promoted to general at about 20, one of the youngest in US Army history.
Timeline
- 13 January 1865Union troops land near the fort.
- 15 January 1865The fort is captured.
- about February 1865Union troops take Wilmington.
- 1 October 1916Pennypacker dies in Philadelphia.