Wilmington Campaign

Wilmington Campaign
Part of the American Civil War
Fort Fisher and Wilmington on the Cape Fear River were the two obstacles to the Union advance into North Carolina.
Date December 7, 1864 – February 22, 1865 Location Eastern North Carolina Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Alfred Terry David D. Porter Benjamin Butler John Schofield	Braxton Bragg William Lamb William H.C. Whiting† Alfred H. Colquitt
Strength
100,000	95,000
Casualties and losses
1, 971	1,748

The Wilmington Campaign was part of a Union effort to take over Wilmington, North Carolina from the Confederates.

The Campaign

On December 7, 1864, Union troops under command of General Benjamin Butler were sent to take Fort Fisher, a fort guarding the Cape Fear River. Four-Star Admiral David D. Porter would land the troops. Butler knew that Fort Fisher had to fall if Wilmington should be taken. General William Lamb was charged with defending the fort. The Union troops numbered about 6,500 men, and the Confederates had about 7,000. General Butler ordered Porter to land the troops. Butler did not give Porter an exact time to land, so General Braxton Bragg was allowed to reinforce the Fort Fisher Garrison. Then, Porter landed the troops. However, several Union troops were mowed down by musket and cannon, and Butler ignored General Grant's orders to besiege the fort if an attack failed. The Union troops had to retreat back to their ships.

Then, Porter launched an expedition to try to capture Rainbow Bluff and a Confederate Ram. This Expedition was headed by the USS Wyalusing. But what Porter didn't know was that there were Water mines in the river. Both of the escort ships in the expedition were sunken by the mines, and the Wyalusing was forced to go back to blockading the North Carolina coast.

Then, General Alfred Terry decided to make another attempt to take Fort Fisher. General Terry selected Porter to land the troops. Union Marines landed on the shores, and fought their way up the beach. Soldiers engaged at Point-blank range, and the beach was taken. Then, the Right Side of the fort fell into Union hands. Then, after horrendous Melee combat on the left side, the Confederates called it quits, and retreated to Fort Buchanan. That Fort surrendered also. The way up the Cape Fear River was clear.

Then, General John Schofield took the huge responsibility of making the attempt to take Wilmington. General Bragg prepared 6,000 men in the city. General Schofield had 12,000 men. The Union and the Confederates battled from February 11 until February 22. Bragg was forced to surrender Wilmington to the Union troops.

References

• Fonvielle, Chris E., Jr. Last Rays of Departing Hope: The Wilmington Campaign. Campbell, CA: Savas Publishing Company, 1997. ISBN 1-882810-09-0.
• Gragg, Rod. Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. ISBN 0-06-16096-9.