Ravaged by war, erosion, time and World War II bulldozers, Fort Fisher will celebrate its resilience and new earthworks Saturday with 160th anniversary events

Reproduction 32-pounder was installed this week; note the two guns amid traverses (Fort Fisher SHS)

As a native of Wilmington, N.C., Chris Fonvielle grew up amid sand, surf and history. He recalls climbing all over Fort Fisher, the Civil War sentinel a few miles to the south.

Fonvielle (pronounced fawn-vull) eventually immersed himself in the study of Confederate blockade running, coastal operations and Fort Fisher, thought to be nearly impregnable as the “Gibraltar of the South.” And, as fate would have it, he still walks all around the site -- as an occasional tour guide.

Fonvielle and fellow author Rod Gragg will be among the speakers Saturday at Fort Fisher State Historic Site’s observance of the 160^th anniversary of the bastion’s fall to Union forces, hastening the South’s defeat in the four-year conflict.

"As the guardian of Wilmington -- the sole surviving major seaport in the Confederacy -- Fort Fisher was indispensable to the South, and was a critical lifeline that Northern forces had to sever,” Gragg, author of the seminal “Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher,” told the Picket.

Union forces attempted to take Fort Fisher -- built by enslaved persons on a peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean -- in December 1864, but naval guns failed to reduce artillery positions and the attack was called off. But success came on Jan. 15, 1865, after an effective and sustained bombardment.

“That knocked out all the heavy artillery that otherwise would have devastated the ground troops,” said Fonvielle.

What followed was the largest amphibious assault before World War II. Union troops rolled up defenders, leading to surrender.

The victory cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. U.S. Colored Troops were among those taking part in the attack. 

The big draw Saturday will be the new 20,000-square-foot visitor center and reconstructed earthworks that opened late last year. Programming includes artillery and infantry weapons demonstrations, guided tours, reenactors and book signings (see schedule below). The Friends of Fort Fisher are sponsoring the event.

The state park whomped up excitement Wednesday by announcing it installed a second reproduction 32-pounder cannon between the newly reconstructed seventh and eighth traverses.

“In the coming months, we will continue fleshing out these new earthworks with ground cover and interior decorations for the bombproof shelter exhibit,” Fort Fisher said in a Facebook post.

The site had closed in April 2024 to allow completion of the visitor center and the recreation of three traverses, bombproofs, a powder magazine and the sally port.

(Trails map modifications showing new traverses/ Dennis Gast)

Fort Fisher’s use during World War II helped the Allied cause but destroyed some of its familiar defensive traverses. They were removed to make way for an airstrip when the area was used for training anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units. Much of the fort was lost to erosion from the shifting Atlantic Ocean.

“It’s been a dream down here to rebuild this segment of earthworks since the 1960s. We finally did it,” Fort Fisher site manager Jim Steele told McClatchy News.

He spoke to the news service about the Southern effort to create the immense sand fort.

Building and repairing went on nonstop during the four-year war, which required the enslaved laborers to rotate through for weeks or months at a time, Steele said.

Montage of Timothy O'Sullivan photos of traverses; click to enlarge (Library of Congress)

The three new traverses, as with the original six, were the scenes of heavy, close-quarters combat as Union troops pushed east on Jan. 15,1865.

Chad Jefferds, Fort Fisher’s assistant site manager, said Saturday's weapons demonstrations will occur at Shepherd’s Battery, which guarded the western end of the Rebel defenses.

“We will be conducting both infantry and artillery demonstrations during the weapons demos at Shepherd’s Battery,” he told the Picket. “The infantry will show how units maneuvered in the field and fire blank rounds from reproduction muskets (mostly Springfields or Enfields), while artillery will show the process of loading and firing along with how each cannon crew member functioned. We currently anticipate having a 10-pounder Parrott rifle, along with the site’s 12-pounder Napoleon and 32-pounder firing blank charges.”

Admission to the site and programming is free, with the exception of $10 to take part in an “Above the Scenes” tour. Site historian Ray Flowers leads the walk, which delves deep into the experiences of those who lived, labored and fought at Fort Fisher, and gives visitors the rare opportunity to climb the fort’s earthen mounds.

Reenactors will be in an interpretive camp in Fort Grove, said Jefferds.

Books by Fonvielle (right), a retired educator, include “The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope” and “Fort Fisher 1865: The Photographs of T.H. O’Sullivan.”

He and co-author Bob Browning will discuss their new “Fort Fisher Illustrated: Art of the Battle.”

The paperback features lithographs, engravings, drawings and other dramatic illustrations made after the battle.

 “People knew because of the media coverage how important Wilmington was,” said Fonvielle.

Here is the current schedule for Saturday:

10 a.m.: Weapons demonstration at Shepherd’s Battery

10:45 a.m.: Presentation and book signing by Chris Fonvielle and Bob Browning, “Fort Fisher: Art of the Battle” (Orientation Theatre)

11 a.m.: “Above the Scenes” guided tour, leaving from main entrance breezeway.

Noon: Weapons demonstration at Shepherd’s Battery

12:45 p.m.: Presentation and book signing by Rod Gragg (left), “Cold Steel and the Butt of a Gun: The Fall of Fort Fisher” (Orientation Theatre).

"Commemorative events such as the 160th anniversary of the battle of Fort Fisher help us to remember our history and to learn from those who came before us," said Gragg.

1 pm.: “Above the Scenes” guided tour, leaving from main entrance breezeway.

2 p.m.: Weapons demonstration at Shepherd’s Battery

2:45 p.m.: Presentation and book signing by Angela Zombek, “Suspicious Characters and Captured Combatants: The Experiences of Prisoners of War” (Orientation Theatre)

3 p.m.: “Above the Scenes” guided tour, leaving from main entrance breezeway

4 p.m.: Weapons demonstration at Shepherd’s Battery

The site will be open Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with public program being held between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The visitor center is located at 1610 S. Fort Fisher Blvd. in Kure Beach. With an expected large crowd, the site recommends carpooling. Limited extra parking will be available at Battle Acre Road. Tickets for the “Above the Scenes” guided tour can be purchased at the first-floor information desk in the visitor center. Concessions will be provided by the Federal Point History Center.

Below: One of the reproduction 32-pounders points to the visitor center to its north (FFHS photo)

North Carolina's Fort Fisher will reopen Wednesday after six-month closure for completion of new visitor center, notable rebuilding of earthworks section

A gun emplacement is ready for a replica 32-pounder to be installed (all photos Fort Fisher SHS)

Drier weather in the past month – following damaging rainfall in mid-September – allowed construction crews to complete recreated earthworks ready for the reopening of Fort Fisher State Historic Site near Kure Beach, N.C, this Wednesday.

The Civil War site’s new two-story visitor center and the earthworks will open at 9 a.m. Guided tours will be held throughout the day. Patrons will be able to walk up new replica gun emplacements

The site closed in April to allow completion of the visitor center and the recreation of three traverses, bombproofs, a magazine and the sally port. Fort Fisher’s use during World War II helped the Allied cause but destroyed some of its familiar defensive traverses. They were removed to make way for an airstrip when the area was used for training anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units.

Last month, about 18 inches of rain created a cascade of mud at the earthworks site, delaying the site's opening by several weeks.

Rifled and banded pieces are put in place in view of the new visitor center

Everything is complete except one artillery emplacement, said assistant site manager Chad Jefferds.

“Once things dried out enough, (crews)  had to go about getting the dirt that had washed down back onto the mound. This allowed for the carpenters to construct the gun emplacements. It was impressive how quickly they finished everything in light of where things were immediately after the storm,” he said.

Bordeaux Construction of Morrisville, N.C, was the main contractor. The company's Facebook page last week had this account of the placing of artillery.

“The cannon installation was very smooth; it only took around 30 minutes – but it required a 125’ crane with roughly 6,000 lbs of counterweight to be able to get it into location. The carriage had to sit on a 'pintle block' (a concrete column with a cast iron pin about 2” wide on top. There was a hole for this pin under the carriage that was the same size. This took some precise positioning, but we were able to set it (in) one smooth motion.”

Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington. It is best known as a crucial coastal bastion for the Confederacy.

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion.

Essentially everything between Shepherd’s Battery on the western end of the fort’s land face and the center sally port were the scenes of intense fighting during the US Army’s assault.

The three new traverses, as with the original six, were the scenes of heavy, close-quarters combat as Union troops pushed east.

The fall of the "Gibraltar of the South" cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

The new visitor center stands about 100 yards from the fort wall. It is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the ocean. 

There is no admission charge for visiting Fort Fisher, but donations are accepted..

Regarding the visitor center, “New sections covering the time before Fort Fisher as well as the span of time between the Civil War and WWII are where we had to bring in the most new artifacts,” Jefferds told the Picket.

“The story is the same and Fort Fisher is obviously the central theme, but the way it’s told is different. We’ve tried to tell the story of Fort Fisher through the eyes of the people who lived, worked, fought and died here.”

The next big event on the site's calendar is the 160th battle anniversary on Jan. 18, 2025. Interpreters will be stationed in the new earthworks.

In case you are wondering whether the weather will again play high jinks for the opening: The forecast for Wednesday calls for partly cloudy skies in the Wilmington area.

Rain-heavy storm drops a bomb on earthworks being recreated at North Carolina's Fort Fisher. It will take several more weeks for crews to fix erosion, finish project

South entrance of sallyport tunnel, bombproof tunnel at far left left; earthworks looking toward visitor center,
gun emplacement at top right; click to enlarge (Photos courtesy Fort Fisher State Historic Site)

Historic rainfall along a stretch of North Carolina’s coast heavily eroded replica earthworks going up at Fort Fisher, creating a cascade of mud and delaying the opening of a new visitor center by at least a month.

Communities south of Wilmington – among them Kure Beach and Carolina Beach – received more than 18 inches of rain in 12 hours on Sept. 16. The National Weather Service said such inundation occurs once every 200 years.

Fort Fisher State Historic Site now says the park reopening, originally set for this Friday, will be pushed back until the earthworks are completed. Officials are not sure when that will occur.

A bleak view of the north end of the sallyport tunnel, amid shifted dirt and debris

“There has been a fair amount of damage around the site due to flooding/storm damage. Some trees and limbs came down, along with some pieces of the (replica) palisade fence,” said assistant site manager Chad Jefferds.

The visitor center roof had a small leak and the road to a park maintenance facility was washed out. “The sand in the washout was essentially quicksand.”

By far the biggest damage was to the unusual earthworks project.

The site closed in April to make way for completion of the visitor center and the recreation of three traverses, bombproofs, a magazine and the sally port. Fort Fisher’s use during World War II helped the Allied cause but destroyed some of its familiar defensive traverses. They were removed to make way for an airstrip when the area was used for training anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units.

View from the visitor center to the north parking lot on Sept. 16.

Jefferds said beyond scraping away much of the muck at the earthworks site, the contractor must wait for the proper moisture levels for replacing dirt. “It’s not a simple process.”

“The Underwater Archaeology Branch facility sustained some damage from water intrusion. There are many homes on the island that took major flood damage and some condos have been condemned,” said Jefferds.

A photograph the site posted to social media on Friday was taken last Monday from the front of the visitor center facing north toward the parking lot. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the storm,” the park wrote.

Entrance to the sallyport tunnel as the storm is happening, fallen tree elsewhere

The state historic site near Kure Beach will feature a two-story visitor center and museum..

Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington. It is best known as a crucial coastal bastion for the Confederacy.

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion. The fall of the “Gibraltar of the South” cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

Here's the recipe for the new bombproofs and traverses going up at North Carolina's Fort Fisher: Do research. Add precast concrete. Cover with a whole lot of dirt

Bombproof construction begins, pieces for tunnel entrance next to original traverses (Fort Fisher)

A construction project this summer at Fort Fisher State Historic Site in North Carolina is something you don’t see every day – or will likely see anywhere else.

Sections of precast concrete were placed Friday near a giant mound of dirt as crews begin to build a replica bombproof -- an earth- and timber-covered structure that protected a garrison from shelling.

The Civil War site near Kure Beach and contractors are engaged in an extraordinary effort to recreate three traverses, bombproofs, a magazine and a sally port that were vital parts of the Confederate fort, which fell in furious hand-to-hand combat in January 1865.

“This is a one-of-a-kind project,” said Ben Warren project manager with Bordeaux Construction of Morrisville, N.C. “We build much larger projects, but many things on this project are unique.”

Rendering of traverses, sally port and visitor center behind (Fort Fisher)

A portion of the vital fort’s earthworks was leveled during World War II to make way for an airstrip when the area was used to train anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units. The work is in conjunction with a new visitor center, also being built by Bordeaux Construction.

The earthworks project requires nearly three dozen pieces of precast concrete. About half have arrived, said Warren. The pieces were made by the Alcrete plant in Jacksonville, N.C.

Chad Jefferds, assistant site manager at Fort Fisher, told the Picket there will be a new tunnel allowing visitors to pass through the fort at the center sally port, as would have been the case originally, along with bombproofs under the traverses.

The traverses are being built in the same line as those that have withstood the effects of time and change. Rebuilding the fort will involve the reconstruction of the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th traverses.

Click to enlarge to see rebuilt features, including tunnel and bombproof (Fort Fisher)

“You will not see the precast concrete tunnels, as they will be clad in wood, such that the tunnels will appear as though they were built from timber, same as they were built originally,” Warren said in an email.

Jefferds said the concrete will be placed, waterproofed and buried over the next several weeks “so that work can begin on the gun emplacements atop the recreated mounds. The current timeline for the work has everything being completed by early September, but this is all highly dependent on weather.”

The site, with the exception of a tour stop, closed in April. The new 20,000 square-foot visitor center, a significant upgrade, is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses that were part of the defenses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the ocean. 

Visitors will use tunnel to explore  features in new traverses (Fort Fisher)

Crews will work to ensure any exposed portions of the concrete will be made to look like they appeared during the battle.

“Visitors will be able to walk through the tunnel and bombproofs, as well as up into the gun emplacements themselves,” said Jefferds.

“We are in the process of sourcing reproduction munitions, boxes, barrels, etc. to make the bombproofs appear as they may have during the Civil War.”

With the three traverses will come two gun emplacements, which will have a heavy cannon in each, along with two 12-pounder Napoleons in the center sally port.

The project will allow people to interact with the fort in a whole new way, as the tunnels and bombproofs have been caved in and inaccessible since the late 19th century, said Jefferds.

The new visitor center rises to the north of construction area (Fort Fisher)

The design of the recreated earthworks is based on historic maps, photographs and descriptions. Architectural and engineering firm Clark Nexsen made the designs, which will be similar to the original mounds, said Warren.

Dennis Stallings, design director for Clark Nexsen, said it had an archaeological consultant on its team, Commonwealth Heritage Group, which “provided documentary research along with archeological research and provided a comprehensive report on the original fort and its construction."

There were archeological investigations in 1970 and another in 1981 that provided context.

“We aimed to create earthworks that appeared historically accurate while seamlessly incorporating modern construction techniques,” Stallings wrote in an email. “This endeavor presented a unique challenge, as we found little precedent to guide us.”

“The reward is a project that is immensely satisfying as architects. It is a one-of-a-kind endeavor that millions of people will interact with over the coming decades,” he said.

New visitor center is in the middle, at left is current one, new traverses far left (Bordeaux Construction)

Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington.

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion. The fall of the “Gibraltar of the South” cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. U.S. Colored Troops were among those taking part in the attack.

Essentially everything between Shepherd’s Battery on the western end of the fort’s land face and the center sally port were the scenes of intense fighting during the US Army’s assault. The fighting went from along the traverses from west to east and was often hand-to-hand.

Jefferds said planning is underway for a grand opening ceremony, which should take place toward the end of September “if everything stays on schedule.”

Montage of Timothy O'Sullivan wartime photos of traverses; click to enlarge

The new museum will be three times larger than the current one, with more room for groups, educational space, rental opportunities, staff offices, etc. The exhibit area is also larger and will be based on the experiences of the place by the people who lived, fought, and died here.

While Fort Fisher is still the focus, the approach in developing our exhibits was much more driven by people, including underrepresented groups, said Jefferds.

“The (visitor center) exhibit casework and artifact installation will begin next week and will wrap up on the last week of August, at which time the only remaining work will be on the earthworks and fortifications,” said Warren.

The old visitor center has been torn down.

"Doing so allows us to create a better viewshed of the fort from the new visitor center as well as create green space for programming," said Jefferds.

Fort Fisher site in North Carolina to rebuild demolished earthworks and temporarily close for move to a new visitor center and museum

Planned traverses (top), reproduction guns, new visitor center, Civil War image (Fort Fisher, Library of Congress)

In a noteworthy project, Fort Fisher State Historic Site near Kure Beach, N.C., in coming months will restore a portion of earthworks that were leveled during World War II to make way for a training base airstrip. The work is in conjunction with a new visitor center.

The park will close Tuesday for a few months as workers relocate exhibits, artifacts and offices to the new 20,000 square-foot building, officials said. All site features west of U.S. 421 will be off-limits to visitors, including the museum, restrooms, tour trail and parking lot. The Battle Acre tour stop will remain available.

The Confederacy’s Fort Fisher was built on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Wilmington. 

On Jan. 15, 1865, after a naval bombardment, the Federal army attacked from the western, river side while Marines pushed in from the northeast bastion. The fall of the “Gibraltar of the South” cut off blockade runners and the last supply line through Wilmington to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. U.S. Colored Troops were among those taking part in the attack. (Click map at left to enlarge)

The visitor center is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses that were part of the defenses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the ocean. 

The earthworks reconstruction will be done by Bordeaux Construction, which also built the visitor center. The design is based on historic maps, photographs and descriptions. “The architects at Clark Nexsen are striving for authenticity while also meeting modern safety requirements,” says Fort Fisher site manager Jim Steele.

The Picket asked assistant site manager Chad Jefferds about the significant upgrade at the park. The responses have been edited for brevity.

Q.  I understand all of the park, including staffing, will not be available for the next few months, except for one trail on the east?

A. All site features surrounding the current visitor center will be off the table – especially since there will be demolition of the current visitor center and reconstruction of the earthworks. It’s a safety measure.

New visitor center is in the middle, at left is current one, traverses above them (Fort Fisher)

Q. Regarding the new visitor center/museum, I understand the bottom floor will open sometime in July, with an information desk, restrooms and a gift shop?

A. Our plan based on the current construction schedule is to have a soft opening in July. We will be able to orient visitors, have some educational programming and conduct modified guided tours as well as offer restroom facilities and the gift shop.

Q. The top floor, with all the exhibits, is expected to open around Labor Day, right?

A. This is also correct, based on the current construction schedule.

New fortifications that will be built on site (Fort Fisher)

Q. Regarding "rebuilding the fort" what exactly will that involve? I know there are new reproduction Napoleon artillery pieces.

A. Rebuilding the fort will involve the reconstruction of the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th traverses and center sally port of the land face. These were destroyed during World War II when the Army built an airstrip when the area was used for training anti-aircraft and coastal artillery units. 

With three traverses will come two gun emplacements, and (we) will have a heavy cannon in each, along with two 12-pounder Napoleons in the center sally port.

(Trails map modifications showing new traverses/ Dennis Gast)

There will be a tunnel allowing visitors to pass through the fort at the center sally port as would have been the case originally, along with bombproofs under the traverses. 

This exhibit will allow people to interact with the fort in a whole new way, as the tunnels and bombproofs have been caved in and inaccessible since the late 19th century.

Montage of Timothy O'Sullivan photos of traverses; click to enlarge

Q. Were these features prominent in a particular action at Fort Fisher?

A. Yes. Essentially everything between Shepherd’s Battery on the western end of the fort’s land face and the center sally port were the scenes of intense fighting during the US Army’s assault in January 1865. The fighting went from along the traverses from west to east and was often hand-to-hand.

Archaeological work last summer on site of traverses (Fort Fisher)

Q. New South Associates, a cultural resources management services company, last summer did archaeology work ahead of this. Can you briefly summarize what they found? Did it add any understanding to the Civil War history of the fort?

A. In preparation for rebuilding the fort, New South conducted archaeology on the airstrip targeting where the bombproof under the 8^th traverse was located. We were able to confirm it using measurements taken by US Army engineers after the battle. It definitely added a new layer to our understanding of the fort and its construction. (The team of archaeologist uncovered the remnants of a Civil War ammunition magazine and its connecting tunnels, according to the Wilmington Star-News.)

Q. When do you hope the earthworks construction will begin and conclude?

New earthworks at left, new visitor to their north, at far right (Fort Fisher)

A. Earthworks construction has technically already been underway as workers have been moving dirt from the visitor center construction site to the earthwork construction site. It will begin in earnest within the next month or so, as the concrete forms for the bombproofs and tunnel are completed and arrive on site.

Q. Can you please tell me more about the new museum? Will it be much different from the current one? Will there be any new themes or artifacts? What are the most notable items?

Click to enlarge to see features of new earthworks (Fort Fisher)

A. The new museum will be three times larger than the current one, with more room for groups, educational space, rental opportunities, staff offices, etc. The exhibit area is also larger and will be based on the experiences of the place by the people who lived, fought, and died here.

While Fort Fisher is still the focus, the approach in developing our exhibits was much more driven by people, including underrepresented groups. There will be ways for all our visitors to connect with the shared experiences of this place – something for everyone.

In terms of artifacts and notable items, we do have a few things up our sleeve to help people understand the magnitude of the bombardments that took place here in late 1864 and early 1865.

Q. What do you want Fort Fisher visitors to learn from the museum and visitor center?

A. We all want people to leave here with is a sense of the importance of this place and the shared experiences of the diverse people who have walked before us here. 

Q. Will there be a movie? If so, is it the same as now? Are there any new technology/interactive features in the new museum?

A. In the immediate (future) we will keep the same orientation film we have been using, but we will likely produce a new one as funding becomes available. Budget constraints limited the technological features immediately available, but there is room to expand our interactive features in the future. (Current exhibit, left, Fort Fisher photo)

Curved timber found decades ago on North Carolina beach may have belonged to a Civil War blockade runner

(NC Office of State Archaeology)

Forty years ago, someone walking North Carolina’s Kure Beach found a curved piece of timber pocked with holes and containing a piece of iron. 

Eventually, the finder tired of keeping it at home. A friend on Friday donated the “old piece of wood” -- which may have an exciting past -- to the state. 

Experts are speculating it may have been used to fashion the hull of a Civil War blockade runner. There is no way to know for sure; it's possible the timber dates to the 20th century.

Assistant state archaeologist Stephen Atkinson, who wrote about the donation in a Facebook post, tells the Picket the timber could be from a small coastal fishing and trading schooner. Such vessels were used to run the Union blockade on Southern ports.

Swift blockade runners carried a mix of war materiel and goods to the port in exchange for exported cotton and other items.

The ships carried items to and from Europe, largely via the Bahamas and Bermuda.

Enterprising owners took the risk of running the gauntlet of U.S. Navy ships trying to keep them away from vital ports, including Wilmington, which is about 15 miles north of Kure Beach. But most of the runs succeeded and it was a lucrative business.

Wilmington was ideally situated for blockade-running. Located 28 miles up the Cape Fear River, it was free from enemy bombardment as long as the forts at the mouth of the river remained in Confederate hands.

In his post, first reported by the Charlotte Observer, Atkinson detailed an initial analysis of the timber.

(NC Office of State Archaeology)

“While it may seem like just an old piece of wood, these frames can be a wealth of information by assessing a few key features. Its width, length, and curvature suggest that we have nearly the whole profile of the vessel, and the transverse holes near its base indicate where it had been fastened to a floor timber…

“The sporadic and numerous trunnel holes show that the vessel may have been planked and replanked numerous times, suggesting a long working life. Finally, the wild and tight grain appears to be live oak, which lends to the resiliency of the timber throughout time, regardless of the huge knot in it, and also could indicate local construction. All of this fits the bill of a coastal trading schooner, used in North Carolina for a lengthy span of time for activities from fishing to running blockades in the Civil War.”

(NC Office of State Archaeology)

Assistant state archaeologist Nathan Henry told the Picket such schooners were called “corn crackers” and were used to haul farm produce to Wilmington.

“During the Civil War, small schooners were occasionally used for coasting voyages to the Bahamas to acquire salt for sale in the blockaded states," Henry said. "There are numerous accounts in the ORN of schooners being caught, or nearly caught in route by the blockaders. Invariably when the Navy visited the smaller towns adjacent the inlets, small schooners were discovered.”  (ORN is an abbreviation for "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.")

Interestingly, few blockade runners were owned by Southern entrepreneurs.

The trade “was monopolized by English and Scottish merchants who had ships and capital to invest in this hazardous but lucrative trade,” according to NCPedia.com. “British firms dispatched both luxury items and war matériel to the West Indies in regular merchant ships for transfer to blockade-runners, which would arrive in port loaded with cotton.”

In mid-1863, the Confederacy ordered captains to carry 50 percent in war goods, such as uniforms, rifles, artillery and munitions.

The Cape Fear Shipwreck District contains the remains of 21 Civil War-era ships, 15 of which were steam-powered blockade runners, according to the state. Among the wrecks is the Agnes E. Fry, site of dives and research in recent years.

Wreck of the Agnes E. Fry (NCDNCR)

The other five wrecks are four Union military vessels and one Confederate ship.

“Nowhere in the world is there a comparable concentration of vessel remains,” says the Office of State Archaeology.

(NC Office of State Archaeology)

“The majority of the blockade runners were lost when they were stranded along the beach or on inlet shoals and sank in shallow waters. Upon wrecking, a vessel became the focus of furious attempts to save it and its cargo,” according to the Office of State Archaeology.

“The Federals had the decided advantage in efforts to recover the total vessel since they could approach from the sea with tugboats. The Confederates concentrated on a wreck's cargo, which was not only more important to their specific needs but could be unloaded with ease onto the beaches which they controlled.”

Officials say the remains of these vessels help tell the story of the transition from sail to steam and from wood to iron.

(January 2021: I asked Stephen Atkinson, assistant state archaeologist, for an update. His reply: “Seeing as the timber was/is in stable condition and an isolated/out-of-context donation, no further research is being pursued at this time as our office has since shifted to other emerging finds and donations.”)

• Blockade runner dioramas rich with detail