Way out on Federal Point, where US 421 ends, stands an
earthen mound. It does not look like much today, but during the War, it was an
impressive fortification that mounted four heavy guns. Battery Buchanan, the
works further to the north at Fort Fisher, was constructed to protect the port
at Wilmington, along the Cape Fear River.
Battery Buchanan was constructed in 1864. On January 15,
1865, as the Federals attacked Fort Fisher, the Fort's wounded commanders, Gen.
W. H. C. Whiting and Col. William Lamb, were taken via stretcher to Battery
Buchanan with hopes of being loaded on boats and making their escape. They
found no boats and were forced to surrender as the Federal troops closed in.
I have visited Battery Buchanan on several occasions. This
photo was taken in June 2012.
Let's do US-421.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your great work on the Civil War.
Thanks RoadDog!
ReplyDelete