As Fort Fisher State Historic Site gets ready to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the attack on and fall of the fort, one of the biggest events will take place in mid-November — return of the fort’s only known surviving seacoast cannon.
The 8-inch Armstrong rifled muzzle loader has been on display at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as a war trophy. It will be on loan to Fort Fisher through February 2006 after which a reproduction will be displayed.
According to The Big Guns: Civil War Siege, Seacoast, and Naval Cannon by Olmstead, Stark and Tucker, the British Armstrong gun from Fort Fisher is the only 8-inch survivor of the Civil War. It is No. 1207, was cast at Elswick in 1864, and weighs 15,737 pounds. It has six-groove rifling.
The Armstrong fired a 150-pound studded steel shell with 30 pounds of powder. According to The Big Guns, the fort only had 13 projectiles for the Armstrong’s unusual rifling so its use was limited.
After finding the Armstrong at Fort Fisher and another at Fort Caswell, Admiral David Dixon Porter wrote in his after-action report that “As the British Government claims the exclusive right to use these guns, it would be interesting to know how they have come into the forts held by the Southern Confederacy.” (According to The Big Guns, the Fort Casell gun was sent to the Washington Navy Yard where it is believed to have gone to a World War II scrap metal drive.)
The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee, the site’s non-profit support organization, solicited contributions to support the Armstrong’s display with a reinforced concrete pad, protective fence, alarm system and signage. Donations may be sent to the committee at P.O. Box 169, Kure Beach, NC 28449.
Fort Fisher kept U.S. ships out of the Cape Fear River and Wilmington, the last major Confederate port. The Union Army and Navy attacked the fort on Dec. 24, 1864, and Jan. 12, 1865. The fort was bombarded by Federal ships and assaulted by more than 8,000 infantry. It fell on Jan. 15.
It is said that 40,000 shells were fired at the fort and that the final battle was the largest joint amphibious operation in U.S. military history until the Allied Invasion of Normandy in World War II.
Several other 140th anniversary events are scheduled this fall and winter.
On Oct. 1 will be the North Carolina Civil War Trails exhibit unveiling at Battery Buchanan, site of an extensive four-gun battery garrisoned by the Confederate Navy. The battery anchored Fort Fisher’s southern flank and was the site of the surrender of Fort Fisher’s troops.
From October through next September a special exhibit ill feature an artillery uniform worn by Confederate Col. Thomas J. Purdie who was stationed at Fort Fisher early in the war and died at Chancellorsville. The 8-inch Armstrong was located in Purdie Battery, thought to be named in his honor. Purdie’s uniform, saber, valise and canteen will be on loan from the Averasboro Battlefield Commission.
On Jan. 15 and 16 a 140th Anniversary of the Capture of Fort Fisher living history program will include special tours and demonstrations. A battle recreation followed by tours and cannon demonstrations will be held Saturday.
Call (910) 458-5538, email fisher@ncmail.net or visit www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/fisher/fisher.htm for information.