Question of the Week: 10/9-10/15/17

Have you visited a Civil War era fort (coastal or inland)? Which one or ones?



15 Responses to Question of the Week: 10/9-10/15/17

  1. Visited several this year, but I intend to try to do something for Ft. Lamar on James Island near our new home in Charleston, SC. Admittedly, the area is home to some spectacular Civil War attractions. Fort Lamar is kind of a sideshow. The fort was the site of the only direct land assault on the city and stands in disrepair, heavily overgrown, the exhibit board defaced and in need of updating. I intend to write our friends at the Civil War Trust and try to identify the responsible civic organization. Any suggestions are appreciated.

  2. Fort Popham in Maine, Fort Monroe in Virginia , Fort Donelson in Tennessee, and Forts Moultrie and Sumter in South Carolina . Monroe was still an active military installation when I was there after the 2011 Sesquicentennial reenactment of the siege at Sumter. When I visited Monroe, I wore my Civil War reenactor artillery uniform to tour its museum. The museum at Monroe had mannequins dressed in uniforms at each period in the fort’s history. When I got to the Civil War section of the museum, I heard the voices of a couple of teenage girls several rooms behind me. I stood absolutely still in the Civil War section, and as the girls walked past me, I heard one say to the other, “These mannequins are starting to freak me out.” That was all I needed to say “Boo!” I just couldn’t help myself, and I explained to their parents that “the Devil in me made me do it.” Too bad it wasn’t nearer to Halloween.

  3. Fort Barrancas at NAS Pensacola, and Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA most recently. Fort Sumter many years ago.

  4. yes Ft Monroe excellent museum do not forget to visit the chapel. Ft Pillow Tn. Ft Mcallister Ga. and good old back in the early 1700 Ft Niagara NY . A REV AND 1812 MORE SO BUT DID HAVE UNION TROOPS HERE TO GUARD OUR NORTHERN BORDER . A GREAT TO VISIT

  5. Beach vacations are a good times for side trips to CW forts.

    On vacations to Hilton Head, S.C. visited the island’s three CW forts – Mitchel, Howell and Walker. Union troops occupied the island and nearby Beaufort, SC. after U.S. navy won Battle of Port Royal in Nov. 1861. Area became important supply and medical base for Northern warships blockading Confederate ports along Atlantic. During one vacation to Hilton Head, drove south past Savannah, Ga., to Fort McAllister. Capture of this fort in December 1864 ended Sherman’s March to the Sea and allowed his troops to to link up with supply ships of U.S. navy. On another Hilton Head vacation, drove north to Charleston and Forts Sumter and Moultrie.

    On a vacation to Destin, Fla., drove west to Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay, Al. U.S. Navy’s victory here closed this important Rebel port to shipping.

    And, of course, no vacation to Nashville, Tenn. would be complete without a detour to Fort Donelson whose capture led to the Confederate evacuation of Nashville. (Donelson isn’t near a beach, but it’s a neat fort anyway.)

  6. Ft Monroe of course. Then Ft Huger in Isle of Wight county Va. Its out of the way but has a good view of the James River. Lastly Ft Pocahontas in Charles City county Va where black U.S. troops held off an attack from cavalry under Fitz Lee.

  7. In my earlier post, I forgot two CW forts in New Mex. On two of our many vacations to Santa Fe, visited Fort Craig south of Santa Fe and Fort Union north of the city. Both Union forts played important roles in Sibley’s Confederate invasion of NM in 1862. Unfortunately for Sibley, he was unable to capture either fortress and eventually had to retreat back to Texas. Unlike forts in the East, many of which were earthen, forts in the Southwest were built of adobe.

  8. Many: Sumter, Moultrie, Morgan, Gaines, Fort Jackson (New Orleans), McAllister (Savannah), Pulaski, Fernandina (near Jacksonville), most of the preserved works around Richmond and Petersburg.

  9. Lots of them: Donelson, Henry (at least what you can see without scuba gear), Heiman, river defenses of Grand Gulf, Macon, Fisher, Moultrie, Sumter, Pulaski, Jackson (Savannah), McAllister, Gaines, Morgan, Pickens, Barrancas, Blakeley, AL, Davidson (Pilot Knob, Missouri), Star Fort at Allatoona, Fortress Monroe, Port Hudson, the remaining fort at Cape Girardeau, MO with the catchy name of Fort D. Plus, the remaining defensive works at Richmond, Petersburg, and the preserved works at Corinth.

  10. Fort Stevens, in Warrenton, Oregon. At the mouth of the Columbia, its the only Civil War site built in Oregon during the War. It is the largest state park in Oregon, and during the Second World War was the only site in the lower 48 states which was fired on by the Japanese navy. Ironically, the fort was built to defend Portland and the Columbia River from rebel sea raiders, but its cannons were installed the week that Lee surrendered to Grant. I’ve also been to Fort Sumter, but Fort Stevens is a bit more unusual.

  11. Forts Monroe, Delaware, Pulaski, Jackson, McAllister, Warren, Scott, Smith, Pemberton, Hindman, Donelson, what there is of Henry, Yorktown, Huger & Pocahontas, All of Richmond & Petersburg & Overland Campaign defenses, all of Vicksburg defenses,

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