Battle of Spanish Fort
Spanish Fort, Alabama, USA
What happened
Union forces under E.R.S. Canby besieged the Confederate garrison of Spanish Fort under Randall L. Gibson. After the Union victory at Mobile Bay, the city of Mobile was still in Confederate hands. Canby's forces moved along the eastern shore of the bay and surrounded Spanish Fort, a strongly built defense of Mobile. They captured it on 8 April, though most of the Confederate troops escaped to Mobile.
Why it matters
Its fall let Union forces turn north against Fort Blakeley. After both forts fell, Union troops entered Mobile without a fight.
What came next
Fort Blakeley fell on 9 April, and Union troops occupied Mobile on 12 April 1865.
Did you know?
The modern city of Spanish Fort is named after the Confederate defenses, which a Confederate officer called 'the old Spanish Fort' in 1864.
Timeline
- 5 Aug 1864Farragut's fleet enters Mobile Bay.
- 27 Mar 1865The siege of Spanish Fort begins.
- 8 Apr 1865Spanish Fort is captured.
- 9 Apr 1865Fort Blakeley falls.
- 12 Apr 1865Union troops occupy Mobile.