Fort Blakely Panoramas
Fort Blakely, Alabama
Site of the Last Major Battle of the Civil War
Photos
courtesy of Ruth Beechem,
Pensacola, Florida
Maps and narratives courtesy of
Don Worth, UCLA
Please contact me for permission to use any of the following photos
The 48th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry at
Fort Blakely by Don Worth
(photos, maps, history, etc.)
See Links for Additional Information
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"Damn the torpedos. Full speed ahead!" With these
words, Admiral Farragut led his fleet into Mobile Bay in August of
1864 and defeated the rebel defenders of Forts Morgan and Gaines near
its entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. However, as spectacular as his
victory was, federal forces were not yet ready to take on the
formidable defenses of Mobile itself. This endeavor was to be
postponed until the spring of 1865, when Gen. William T. Sherman,
having completed his march to the sea, wrote to Gen. E. R. S. Canby
suggesting he concentrate his attentions first on Spanish Fort and
Fort Blakely on the eastern shore of bay, opposite the city of Mobile.
Mobile's western approaches were heavily defended, and this strategy
offered a better chance for success. Canby planned to lead a 32,000 man contingent himself from Dauphin Island by boats and overland up the eastern side of the bay to invest Spanish Fort, while Gen. Frederick Steele was to lead 13,000 federal soldiers over a long, diversionary route from Pensacola, Florida to attack Fort Blakely from the north. The successful assault on Fort Blakely on April 9th, 1865 would have the distinction of being the last major battle of the Civil War, being fought just six hours after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. U. S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. Don Worth, UCLA |
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(5-02)
15th Massachusetts Battery, constructed April 6th of gabions, logs and
earth. Three 12 pound Napoleons were placed here |
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(5-02) Remnants of the 3rd parallel trenches from which the 83rd Ohio launched their attack on April 9th, 1865 |
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(5-02)
At 5:45pm on April 9th, the 83rd Ohio led the attack
of Moore's Brigade, Andrews' Division on Redoubt #4 over this field |
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