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The Battle of Spanish Fort took place from March 27 to April 8, 1865, in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Western Theater of the American Civil War.
After the Union victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Mobile nevertheless remained in Confederate hands. Spanish Fort was heavily fortified as an eastern defense to the city of Mobile. Fort Huger, Fort (Battery) Tracey, Fort (Battery) McDermott, Fort Alexis, Red Fort, and Old Spanish Fort were all part of the Mobile defenses at Spanish Fort.
Union forces embarked on a land campaign in early 1865 to take Mobile from the east. Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby's XIII and XVI corps crossed the Fish River at Marlow Ferry, and moved along the eastern shore of
Map of Spanish fort and vicinity, drawn under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel V. Sheliha
National Park Service battle description
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields - State of Alabama
Fort McDermott
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Baldwin County, Alabama 1865 in the American Civil War 1865 in Alabama March 1865 events April 1865 events
Battle
Union forces embarked on a land campaign in early 1865 to take Mobile from the east. Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby's XIII and XVI corps crossed the Fish River at Marlow Ferry, and moved along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay ( ) is a shallow inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The ...
forcing the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrated on Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, five miles to the north. On March 27, 1865, Canby’s forces rendezvoused at Danley's Ferry and immediately undertook a siege of Spanish Fort. The Union had enveloped the fort by April 1, and on April 8 captured it. Most of the Confederate forces, under the command of Brig. Gen. Randall L. Gibson, escaped and fled to Mobile, but Spanish Fort was no longer a threat.
Fort Blakely continued to fight after Spanish Fort's fall on April 8. However, as early as April 1, when Spanish Fort's fall became inevitable, Union forces had begun moving north in order to concentrate on Fort Blakely, which eventually succumbed late on April 9 in the Battle of Fort Blakely
The Battle of Fort Blakeley took place from April 2 to April 9, 1865, in Baldwin County, Alabama, about north of Spanish Fort, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the American Civil War. At the time, Blakeley, Alabama, had been the co ...
.
The fall of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely permitted Union troops to subsequently enter Mobile unopposed after the Army of Mobile evacuated the City, occupying it on April 12, 1865.
Defense plans
Map displaying line of works ordered by Major General Gardner:Map of Spanish fort and vicinity, drawn under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel V. Sheliha
See also
*Spanish Fort Union order of battle The following units and commanders of the Union Army fought at the Mobile campaign of the American Civil War involving the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley. The units engaged against Spanish Fort involved Veatch's Division, Benton's D ...
References
External links
*National Park Service battle description
Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields - State of Alabama
Fort McDermott
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Spanish Fort Baldwin County, Alabama 1865 in the American Civil War 1865 in Alabama March 1865 events April 1865 events