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INS IDE THI S I S SUE : F O R T F I S H E R S T A T E H I S TO R I C S I T E The Powder Magazine V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2 S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 S P ECIAL POINTS OF INTERE ST • Experience Garrison Life at Fort Fisher • Curious about the Fort Fisher monument? • Hear the cannons boom at Fort Fisher programs (see page 11) • Want to plan a fieldtrip? (see page 9) engineer impression. Kids of all ages can join in the fun by learn-ing period artillery drill. High-lighting the program will be a talk by local author and UNCW professor, Chris Fonvielle. October’s program, “Hardship on the Home Front,” will delve into the problems of shortages on the home front, disease, etc. that affected both civilians and Fort Fisher soldiers. For more information on these and other programs, please con-tact Amy Manor Thornton at (910) 458-5538 or fisher@ncdcr.gov. Demonstra-tions and activities are subject to change. All programs are made possible with the support of the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee. In 2009 Fort Fisher will launch two major events, one in June and one in October. These two programs will give the public the opportunity to experience the daily lives of soldiers and civil-ians during the Civil War. On June 27, we will focus on life in the Confederate Garrison and on October 10 we will explore the common hardships faced by the civilian population, as well as the troops at Fort Fisher. On June 27, 2009, visitors will hear the cannons boom as they watch artillery and infantry dem-onstrations and a Confederate Infantry demonstrations at a Fort Fisher program (Bill Yeager) Fort Fisher Debuts Two New Programs For more than seventy-five years, an imposing monument of granite and bronze has stood over Fort Fisher’s Battle Acre. A Grecian column surmounted by an eagle, it faces the sea as if watching for the great Union armada that doomed Confederate Fort Fisher in January 1865. Most visitors to the monument leave impressed with the military virtues of Fort Fisher’s defenders. However, the story of the monument is as much about the ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and their worldview, as it is about Colonel William Lamb and the men he led in battle. The idea to commemorate Fort Fisher’s soldiers originated with veterans of the battle. In 1902, the Reverend James A. Smith proposed a monument be erected at the River Road gate, in honor of his comrades of Company D, 1st North Carolina Heavy Artillery, who lost their lives in the desperate fighting there. However, little came of the idea, and nearly twenty years passed before Captain Edgar D. Williams, who witnessed the battle in his youth, installed Fort Fisher’s first historical marker. A simple stone tablet, it marked the location of Colonel Lamb’s headquarters but was not an especially grand monument. In 1929, the ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) dedicated themselves to building a monument that would “testify to future generations the Daughters in North Carolina are not “How Grand a Fame It Watches Over”: A History of the Fort Fisher Monument From the Site Manager’s Desk 2 Gift Shop Corner 2 Fort Fisher’s Mound Battery 3 Blast from the Past 5 A Word from the FFRC 5 Cannoneer’s Corner 6 Planning a Fieldtrip to Fort Fisher? 9 Join the Junior Reserves 10 2009 Calendar of Events 11 Continued on page 7 P A G E 2 From the Site Manager’s Desk: Our New Look Regular visitors to Fort Fisher State Historic Site have probably noticed a change. In years past, we frequently and closely mowed the entire site, from the north airstrip to Battery Buchanan. The grounds were as well-manicured as a putting green, but no more. Today, we are allowing many acres of grass to grow, which we believe is a change for the bet-ter. North Carolina Historic Sites has adopted a plan for “controlled growth” of our grounds. The tighten-ing state budget has required many cost-savings measures, but has also presented opportunities. In the area of grounds maintenance, a need to conserve fuel, equipment, and staff time has given us a chance to rethink our approach. What has been discov-ered is that a reduced mowing sched-ule has tangible benefits beyond its contribution to the bottom line. The earthen fortifications here have not won their battle against erosion, the oceanfront revetment wall not-withstanding. Wind and rain continue their assault on the ramparts, and every year more historic material is washed and blown away. The best preventative is a thick covering of tall grasses. It is a fact that an earth-work’s resistance to erosion is di-rectly proportional to the length of the leaf. As preservationists, we are obligated to do everything in our power to ensure the remnants of Fort Fisher survive to educate and inspire future generations. A reduced mowing schedule has been applied to much of the rest of the site, outside the immediate vicin-ity of the visitor center, tour trail, and oceanfront pathway. Areas such as the north and south airstrips will only be mowed twice a year, and not as closely as in the past. The effect will be one of a meadow, and will more accurately suggest the landscape of 1865. The soldiers and slaves who labored here did not cut grass. In fact, they encouraged its growth knowing it was all that held the sand in place. Fort Fisher State Historic Site grounds will be less manicured than you are used to seeing, but we believe you will come to appreciate the new look, and its contribution to better battlefield preservation and interpre-tation. “Controlled growth” is a cost saving measure that will prove a posi-tive good. Just remember, it is a bat-tlefield, not a golf course. Drop in and let us know what you think; as we implement this new policy, we are still learning and welcome your input. Sincerely, Jim Steele Gift Shop Corner Carolina, is known as the steward of the largest Froelich military collection in the country. Fonvielle, noted local historian and professor of history at UNC-Wilmington, explores the history of Louis Froelich and his rise to fame as a hard working and highly skilled craftsman in war-time North Carolina. Some may ask who was Louis Froelich? Froelich was a German immigrant who came to Wilmington, North Carolina at the outbreak of the American Civil War. Froelich worked for the Wilmington Button Factory until it folded in August 1861 Continued on page 6 due to lack of government contracts. Froelich turned his attention to establishing the Wilmington Arms Factory. From September 1861 to early 1863, the factory manufactured swords, sabers, and other war materiel for North Carolina and the Confederacy. Then in 1863, a fire destroyed his factory and Froelich moved the factory to Kenansville, where it continued to produce items for the Confederacy including several sets of surgical instruments and buttons until March 1865, when the Union army occupied southeastern North Carolina. In this edition of the Gift Shop Corner, we highlight the newest addition to the Fort Fisher gift shop: Louis Froelich: Arms-Maker to the Confederacy by John W. McAden, Jr., and Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle, Jr. by NC Starburst Press (Slapdash Publishing, LLC). The first printing was completed in August 2008. McAden, an avid sword collector from Wilson, North T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E “As preservationists, we are obligated to do everything in our power to ensure the remnants of Fort Fisher survive to educate and inspire future generations.” P A G E 3 During the Civil War, the colossal earth work known as Mound Battery, strategically positioned just South of Fort Fisher’s Sea Face, loomed over the Cape Fear River estuary of New Inlet. Erected in the first six months of 1863, the defensive work was officially dubbed Battery Lamb, (though more commonly referred to as “the Mound”), and was considered an engineering marvel as well as Fort Fisher’s most notable landmark. Virtually all seafaring men, both northern and southern alike, plying the waters off Cape Fear during the Civil War noted the impressive fortification. Preparatory to constructing this massive “sand castle”, the Federal Point Lighthouse (that had given Federal Point its name) was razed. Timbers from the twenty-seven year old lighthouse were scavenged as scaffolding to erect a wooden tower that framed the battery and the inclined railway that descended from the apex of the structure. With the assistance of steam engines, cartloads of sand were then pulled up the rails to the top of the tower before dumping the sand over the side, gradually filling and covering the scaffolding. To stabilize the citadel and shield it from erosion and wind, marsh grass was planted on the sand walls. A complement of two heavy seacoast guns were mounted on the summit en barbette (in the open) and signal lights were raised above the gun emplacement. According to Fort Fisher Commander, Col. William Lamb, the sixty foot battery afforded the guns (a10-inch Columbiad Smoothbore and a 6.4-inch Brooke Rifle) a position capable of, “plunging fire on the channel.” The signal lights for communicating with friendly vessels could be seen for miles and blockade runners making for New Inlet soon looked to Mound Battery for both navigation and protection. Captain John Wilkinson of the Confederate States Navy recalled that, “I believe the military men used to laugh slyly at the Colonel for undertaking its erection, predicting that it would not stand; but the result showed the contrary; and whatever difference of opinion may have existed with regard to its value as a military position, there can be but one as to its utility to the blockade-runners, for it was not a landmark, alone along this monotonous coast; but one of the range lights for crossing New Inlet bar…” Initial United States Navy intelligence pertaining to the erection of Mound Battery was made official in February of 1863, when Captain Case, commander of the U.S.S. Iroquois, addressed a dispatch concerning increased Confederate activity off New Inlet to Acting Rear-Admiral S.P. Lee, commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: “SIR: I have to report the enemy working like beavers in adding to the defenses of New Inlet. From their apparent great energy I am induced to believe that in the event of our capture of Charleston this is to be the point for the blockade runners…A steam engine is in use, apparently for the purpose of raising the sand, etc…The light-house at Federal Point was taken down a few days before my arrival…” In April of 1863, Captain Case, again sent an advisory regarding the Confederate defenses off New Inlet to Lee. Lee in turn forwarded the following communiqué to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles: “The enemy is busily engaged filling sand around the tower referred to in my No. 299, of March 17, as building by the rebels on the southwest end of Federal Point. It has now assumed the character of a mound, to construct which they use an inclined railway to the top of the tower. I enclose herewith a sketch, sent by Captain Case, representing the appearance of this tower at three different stages of its construction.” “‘SIR: I have to report the enemy working like beavers in adding to the defenses of New Inlet. From their apparent great energy I am induced to believe that in the event of our capture of Charleston this is to be the point for the blockade runners…’” Fort Fisher’s Mound Battery Construction of Mound Battery by Admiral Lee (Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion) T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E Continued on page 4 P A G E 4 “This is a must for those who are historical interpreters, historical re-enactors, scouts and campers or interested in historical food ways.” Continued from page 3: Fort Fisher’s Mound Battery “Among the acts of individual heroism, one must be mentioned: When the garrison flag staff, standing in the parade, was shivered by shot and shell and the flag had fallen, orders were given to Captain Daniel Munn, Company B, to raise a flag on the Mound Battery. The halyards had become unreeved and it was necessary to climb the staff to fasten the flag. Private Christopher C. Bland, of Company K, Thirty-sixth North Carolina, volunteered, climbed the staff under a heavy fire of the fleet and fastened the flag. At once a terrific fire was poured on the Mound, and the lower end of the flag being cut loose, that heroic soldier repeated the daring act, amid the cheers of the garrison, and fastened the flag securely to the staff, where it floated triumphantly, although torn and rent by fragments of shell, until the victory was won.” On January 8th, 1865, just seven days before the fall of the fort, Lamb proudly forwarded the flag and the above account to North Carolina Governor Zebulon Vance. Today the eminence that was once Mound Battery is no longer extant; yet a tangible reminder of the battery and the men who fought there remains: “Kit” Bland’s Medal of Honor, issued by the Son’s of Confederate Veterans in 1995, is on display and can be seen in the Fort Fisher State Historic Site visitor center. Ray Flowers T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E The six month construction of Mound Battery required a tremendous amount of men and labor. Colonel Lamb stated that sometimes, “… hundreds were congregated together in constructing the mound.” One of those “hundreds” wrote, “We have very still times here just now although we have plenty of work to do[.] We are building a mountain Seventy two [sic] feet high[.] I don’t think we will ever get it done…” While another complained that, “We are still at work building a mountain out of sand which is a considerable job for the wind blows it away nearly as fast as we build it…” Not only was the work monotonous and fatiguing, but it could also be dangerous. On January 30, 1863 Private Alfred Campen, Company B, 40th Regiment N.C.T. was accidentally killed during the dismantling of the lighthouse preceding the erection of Mound Battery. In November of 1863, Confederate President Jefferson Davis toured the Lower Cape Fear defense system. Recalling the President’s inspection of Fort Fisher, Colonel Lamb wrote, “He landed at the point and rode with Gen. Whiting to the mound. As soon as he reached the top, giving him a complete view of the works, the sea-face guns being manned for the purpose, gave him the Presidential salute of twenty-one guns. We doubt whether many of the forts in the South could claim the distinction of having fired this salute.” On Christmas Eve day 1864, during the first Battle of Fort Fisher, eighteen-year old Private Christopher Columbus “Kit” Bland performed a heroic feat. Fort Fisher Commander, Colonel William Lamb described the daring deed: “‘We are still at work building a mountain out of sand which is a considerable job fort he wind blows it away nearly as fast as we build it…’” Battery Lamb [Mound Battery] in January 1865 (Timothy O’Sullivan, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division) P A G E 5 Blast From the Past: Do You Know Who This Is? T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E Memorial Day signals the traditional start of another busy summer season at North Carolina beaches. This summer will be particularly challenging for State Historic Sites and especially Fort Fisher. State budget shortfalls have hit all state agencies hard forcing reduced staffing, grounds and maintenance upkeep, travel, training and operating hours. Even so, Fort Fisher will remain the most visited State Historic Site in North Carolina. Last year visitation exceeded 500,000. While some of the large visitor traffic is directly related to the beautiful beaches of Federal Point and other area tourist attractions, many more come to learn about the fabled history of the South’s largest fortification during the Civil War and the terrible battles in late 1864 and early 1865 that captured the fort and sealed the all-important port of Wilmington and the fate of the Confederacy. While Fort Fisher is a beautiful and inviting beach and tourist destination we can never forget the sacrifices of thousands of our fellow countrymen, who collided, fought, were wounded, captured, or died, and those who survived to give us the freedoms we observe every Memorial Day. God bless them and the hallowed battlefields like Fort Fisher that must be preserved for future American generations to understand the high costs of liberty. Over the past dozen years the Fort Fisher site has received many millions of state and federal dollars to protect the remnants of the earthen fort from coastal erosion and completely renovate the visitor center and install all new exhibits. Most recently, loans of actual artillery pieces that saw service at Fort Fisher were loaned by the Army from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Navy Yard in Washington. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the guiding hand of the site’s non-profit support organization, A Word From The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee “While Fort Fisher is a beautiful and inviting beach and tourist desti-nation, we can never forget the sacrifices of thousands of our fellow countrymen…”” Continued on page 10 Kenny Koch, 30 year employee at Fort Fisher State Historic Site P A G E 6 T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E Continued from page 2: Gift Shop Corner into the history behind the Wilmington Arms Factory, later renamed the Confederate States Armory, by using newspaper articles and other primary sources. The American Society of Arms Collectors cited that Louis Froelich: Arms-Maker to the Confederacy was “to be used as a reference book in the field of Confederate edged weapons and it is a factual and informative work for both collectors and historians and is recommended for this field of American arms history.” Louis Froelich: Arms-Maker to the Confederacy retails at $50.00 + tax, hardbound and is 96 pages. This would be the perfect gift for any military history buff in your family or for anyone who has an interest in North Carolina Confederate military arms and accessories. Becky Sawyer This book provides an amazing visual inventory of North Carolina’s premier arms maker to the Confederacy. Kudos should be given to the graphic arts designer, Daniel Ray Norris of Slapdash Publishing and photographer, Jack W. Melton, Jr. on the high quality of the layout of the book and spectacular images. Melton’s close-up and detailed images show the reader the intricate detail of Froelich’s craftsmanship. The book also delves Cannoneer’s Corner The winter and early spring always proves to be a busy time for the Fort Fisher cannons and their crews. Luckily, we finally resolved our misfire troubles by getting replacement friction primers in time for the 144th Battle Anniversary Program. January stayed true to winter and brought us bitter cold weather the weekend of the program. Thankfully it was only cold and there was no precipitation. We made it onto the local morning news cast the day before the program. We were firing the Napoleon to promote the program and it was so cold, ice crystals formed on the sponge head and in the water bucket. Despite the cold, the 32 pounder, the Napoleon, and the Parrott Rifle (from Adams Battery) all boomed thunderously to the delight of the crowds (and to my delight there were no misfires). On February 14th and 15th we took the Napoleon to the 144th Battle Anniversary Program at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. We did our best to make sure all Valentines present had a blast. We did have one little mishap. A visitor asked historical interpreter Jim McKee, “What happens when there’s a misfire?” Well, the Napoleon decided to oblige with an answer, and he quickly found out as our second shot misfired. Our little bit of trouble was short lived and the gentleman learned why we try not to say the ‘m’ word very often. Also as it turns out, February 14th was Jim McKee’s birthday. Both cannon crews felt it necessary to sing “Happy Birthday” to him as he began the second demonstration. He was surprised by our outburst of singing, but appreciated it nonetheless. March brought us to Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site on the 21st and 22nd for their 144th Battle Anniversary Program. For this trip, however, we left the Napoleon at Fort Fisher. Instead we fired Bentonville’s iron 3-inch Ordnance Rifle. It felt a little odd firing a cannon other than the Napoleon, but the Rifle performed well as did our crew. Visitors do not mind seeing different cannons, so long as they go “BOOM,” and they get a lesson about it. The Napoleon was glad to have a break and did not mind us crewing another cannon, because it got a maintenance-style spa treatment. We started by taking the tube off the carriage. We chipped and scraped the old paint off the carriage and gave it a fresh paint job. We greased the elevation screw “It was so cold, ice crystals formed on the sponge head and in the water bucket.” Continued on page 9 Kenny Koch and Jessica Sutton painting the Napoleon carriage. P A G E 7 Continued from page 1: A History of the Fort Fisher Monument unmindful of the heroism displayed by her Sons at Fort Fisher.” In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the Daughters built hundreds of monuments throughout the South. Monuments were key components in the UDC’s campaign to honor and vindicate Confederate soldiers. UDC monuments proclaimed the South’s devotion to patriotic principles and remain the most enduring symbols of the Lost Cause. A justification for secession and explanation for defeat, the Lost Cause asserted a defense of states’ rights, not slavery, provoked disunion, and that the Confederacy had been defeated only by the Union’s overwhelming material resources. The Fort Fisher Memorial Committee, chaired by Mrs. Annie Rogers Newell of Charlotte, embarked on a four-year campaign to raise money and to secure a site for the monument. Every UDC chapter in North Carolina pledged a donation to the monument fund each year. The Daughters were outstanding fundraisers. They understood that their monuments reflected their own status as socially-elite Southern women and as guardians of Confederate memory, and this knowledge inspired their best efforts. By October 1931, the North Carolina Daughters had raised $8,000, and a Wilmington committee organized to raise sufficient funds to complete the $10,000 monument. In the early 1930s, erosion had yet to destroy Fort Fisher’s mile-long, oceanfront wall. Property owners Thomas and Louis Orrell donated land on the fort’s Northeast Bastion, a fine place for a Confederate monument. At its 1931 annual convention, held in Wilmington, the North Carolina UDC approved construction of a monument designed by a Greensboro architectural firm. Charles C. Johnson, famous for building the North Carolina monument at Gettysburg, installed the monument’s foundations in December, anticipating completion in time for a June 1932 dedication ceremony. Unfortunately, oceanfront erosion forced a change of plans. The removal of offshore coquina rock in the 1920s accelerated the process along Fort Fisher’s sea face. By 1932, the Atlantic Ocean had consumed hundreds of feet of beach, and was lapping at the very base of the Northeast Bastion. A federal erosion board studied the problem and determined a solution would cost $71,000. Chief of engineers General Lytle Brown reported: “The expenditure, while desirable in the interest of the protection of a historic work, is not justified in any federal interest of navigation.” This calamitous news forced the Daughters to look elsewhere to site their monument, or see it topple into the sea with the crumbling fortress. Fortunately, nearby was a property ideally suited for a monument. West and inland of the vanishing Northeast Bastion was Battle Acre, a landscape where the Fort Fisher headquarters once stood. In 1929, the United States lighthouse service deeded the property, which it had owned since 1817, to the City of Wilmington. As a condition of the transfer, the national government obligated the city to manage Battle Acre as a memorial to the Battle of Fort Fisher. Dedicated on May 24, 1931, Battle Acre had been landscaped and adorned with a few, simple markers of concrete and cannonballs, and a flagpole flying the Stars and Stripes. Mrs. Newell secured the city’s T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E From Confederate Veteran 40: 249, “Prominent Participants in Dedication at Fort Fisher.” Mrs. Annie Rogers Newell (Chair, Fort Fisher Memorial Committee), Governor Max Gardner, Mrs. Cecil Brawley Long (President, N.C. Division, U.D.C.), General William A. Smith (Commander, N.C. Division, United Confederate Veterans). P A G E 8 “This is a must for those who are historical interpreters, historical re-enactors, scouts and campers or interested in historical food ways.” Continued from page 7: A History of the Fort Fisher Monument Long, gave a stirring address. She called upon the crowd to remember the deeds of their Confederate ancestors, and impressed upon them the Daughters sacred trust to preserve Confederate heritage: “More monuments to Southern valor have been erected upon Southern soil than have been set up in any other land to any other people. In this cause of preserving the heroic story of the South and immortalizing its illustrious past the Daughters of the Confederacy have equaled the devotion and loyalty of their mothers. . . In order that this place should be properly marked the women of the North Carolina U.D.C. have worked with persistence and unconquerable courage and are proud today to be members of an organization that can bring about such an accomplishment. They have labored arduously and today is the culmination of a long-cherished dream – a monument at Fort Fisher. This slate of stone, commanding the pilgrim to pause, to read and to know that here occurred the greatest naval bombardment in the history of ancient or modern warfare; that the blood of our bravest drenched the ocean border in a scarlet rain; that here was gloriously displayed the indomitable spirit of the Boy Soldier of the Confederacy and to know that here a grateful people have taken pride in inscribing their history on imperishable stone. We pray it will stir and quicken the pride of every North Carolinian. How grand a fame it watches over.” Since its dedication so long ago, the Fort Fisher monument has maintained its vigil by the sea. In 1935 human remains presumed to belong to a Confederate soldier were discovered in the vicinity, and reinterred at the monument’s base. Erosion threatened the monument again, and forced its westward relocation in 1948. Fortunately, installation of an oceanfront revetment wall in 1996 has stabilized Fort Fisher’s shoreline, saving Battle Acre and making another move unlikely. Today the Fort Fisher monument is an artifact of the early-twentieth century, a time when the Lost Cause was the dominant interpretation of the Civil War, and is as much a part of the historical landscape as the surviving ramparts. Taken at face value, it simply celebrates the valor of Fort Fisher’s Confederate soldiers. However, the monument also reveals much about the ladies who built it: their culture, their values, and their status as elite women struggling to preserve Confederate heritage in a New South. North Carolina Daughters today are proud of the Fort Fisher monument. Every Confederate Memorial Day they gather at Battle Acre in remembrance of their Confederate ancestors, both the soldiers and the women they left behind, and will likely do so for as long as the Fort Fisher monument stands. Jim Steele T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E permission to erect the monument on Battle Acre, and construction proceeded. June 2, 1932 was a grand day to be at Fort Fisher. At Battle Acre, the North Carolina Daughters dedicated their monument to the soldiers who fought, bled, and died defending the greatest fortification in the Confederacy. Among the hundreds of celebrants were many of North Carolina’s most-distinguished citizens, including Governor Max Gardner. He praised Confederate veterans, of whom four were present, and Confederate women, calling them “the highest and bravest of their kind.” President of the North Carolina UDC, Mrs. Cecil Brawley Artwork from the monument dedication ceremony program, June 2, 1932. (Research files, Fort Fisher State Historic Site) P A G E 9 Coded Communication in the Civil War Fort Fisher State Historic Site kicked off a new activity on June 13, 2009, during the program “Semaphores & Signal Flags.” Using signal flags and cipher discs, members of the public sent coded messages across the south airstrip. Inside, kids of all ages enjoyed our Morse Code exhibit scavenger hunt where they discov-ered the fascinating and unusual artifacts in our Civil War museum. Starting this fall both activities will be available for school groups, 4th grade and up. Educators should con-tact the site for additional informa-tion and details on how these activi-ties meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study requirements. For more information about these and other programs, please contact Amy Thornton at 910-458-5538 or fisher@ncdcr.gov. This program is made possible by the Fort Fisher Res-toration Committee. Jen Eudy T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E From Getting the Message Through by Albert J. Meyer, page 7 and took the wheels off the carriage and put fresh grease on the axles. We polished the tube from muzzle to cascabell. After all that we put the tube back on the carriage. The Napoleon almost seemed to sigh when we were done. Last but certainly not least, we made new wheel chocks, and painted the implements and the limber chest. In April the Napoleon was brought out as an extra special educational thank you for our Park Day volunteers. After helping us with some projects around the grounds, and eating lunch, we taught our volunteers the artillery drill. We ended the day with a bang by firing the Napoleon. All in all, I would say everyone had a blast! We will be busy this summer with our “Load, Ready, FIRE!” Programs. Come by Fort Fisher Saturday July 25 and Saturday August 22, as we fire our field piece. Visitors will also get the chance to learn period artillery drill. Don’t miss our Garrison Life Program on Saturday, June 27, as we talk about daily life for soldiers here at Fort Fisher. The Garrison Life Program will include Napoleon and 32 pounder demonstrations as well as infantry demonstrations. We will also be teaching the artillery drill to visitors. We hope you will join us for our summer programs. As always, we can provide our Napoleon talk, “Cannoneers Attention!” to scheduled groups. Come learn how Civil War soldiers fired a cannon. The talk is about the Napoleon’s uses and capabilities and includes teaching the artillery drill to participants. For safety reasons, we do not fire the Napoleon for these demonstrations nor do we allow visitors to fire it when we teach the drill. For more information or to schedule your group, please contact Amy Thornton at the site: 910-458-5538 or email: fisher@ncdcr.gov. Jessica Sutton Continued from page 6: Cannoneer’s Corner Jessica Sutton and Becky Sawyer leading the interpretive program: “Cannoneers Attention!” P A G E 1 0 Continued from page 5: A Word From The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee, Inc. and its partnership with the NC Department of Cultural Resources and its Division of Historic Sites working in concert along with our federal and state elected representatives. Even though the current economic climate has caused everyone to “trim the sails,” as president of the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee I want to take this opportunity to say “thank you” for supporting this site and staff. Many exciting projects are being planned. Before long we will welcome the arrival of a reproduction 150 lb. Armstrong Cannon tube to be mounted on our too long-empty oak carriage behind the visitor center. And planning has begun on some exciting plans and events observing the Civil War Sesquicentennial beginning in 2011. It’s never too early to start the planning. The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee, Inc. will be spearheading the launch of a very exciting project for the Sesquicentennial. So stay tuned in the coming months as we prepare to make an exciting announcement in conjunction with the NC Division of Historic Sites. Paul Laird Join the Junior Reserves at Fort Fisher State Historic Site! In March of 2009, Fort Fisher State Historic Site introduced a new children’s program: the Junior Reserve Activity Booklet, which derives its name from North Carolina’s Junior Reserve regiments, units of boy soldiers age 13 to 17, who served during the 1st Battle of Fort Fisher. This program provides visitors, aged 4 to 13 and their families with fun and educational activities to complete during their visit to the site. Ranging from True/False and fill-in-the-blank exercises to mazes and puzzles, all activities can be completed with the information presented in the museum exhibits and tour trail. Upon successful completion of the required number of exercises, the “Junior Reserve” receives a patch and a signed certificate. This new program has been a great success and achieved popularity among Fort Fisher’s visitors of all ages. The Junior Reserve Program is now in its second printing with revisions and updates by its developers, Jesse Bricker and Shannon SanCartier, both graduate student in UNCW’s Public History masters program. With the summer season upon us, Fort Fisher’s younger visitors have one more fun memory to take with them. This program is made possible by the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee. Jesse Bricker Juno C. Crawford, N.C. Junior Reserves (courtesy of Drew Beason) T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E School groups have long made up a large part of Fort Fisher’s visitation. Now, with the introduction of Fort Fisher History-in-a-Box, teachers and students are able to have Fort Fisher come to them! This new teaching tool incorporates lesson plans based on North Carolina Competency Goals and related touch objects to create a hands-on learning experience that is both fun and educational. The content is designed for 8th graders, but is easily adaptable for any grade level. The lessons include activities that allow students to “reenact” the first assault on Fort Fisher, operate their own blockade runner and design an ironclad warship. For more information contact Amy Thornton at amythornton@ncdcr.gov or (910) 485-5538. June 3 to mid-August: Mary Holloway Seasonal Interpreter. Wednesdays through Sundays, at 11am and 3pm, a costumed guide will offer tours of the remains of the fort. Following the tour, at 11:45am and 3:45pm the Mary Holloway interpreter will conduct a small arms weapons demonstration. The seasonal interpreter program is named in honor of the site’s first tour guide. June 13: “Semaphores and Signal Flags.” At scheduled times during the day site staff will demonstrate and teach visitors to use signal flags as they were used during the Civil War. Coded messages will be sent down the length of our air strip and deciphered using cipher discs. June 27: Garrison Life at Fort Fisher. Staff and volunteers in period costume engage visitors in daily life in the Confederate garrison. Learn about the activities and duties performed by soldiers in the fort as you watch infantry and artillery demonstrations. Highlighting the event will be the firing of the 32 pound rifled and banded cannon at Shepherd’s Battery. July 11: “Colonel Lamb Day.” Commemorating Col. Lamb’s arrival at Fort Fisher on July 4, 1862 and reviving a popular program from Fort Fisher State Historic Site’s past, “Col. Lamb Day” is an opportunity for the public to learn more about Fort Fisher’s commander from 1862 to 1865. Short lectures and children’s activities are scheduled throughout the day. July 25: “Cannoneers: Load, Ready, Fire.” Learn about Civil War artillery in this small program. Costumed staff will teach artillery drill to kids of all ages at scheduled time during the day and fire our 12 lb bronze Napoleon for visitors. August 8: “Running the Blockade in Stories and Song.” This program features acclaimed local musician, John Golden, as he performs period music and tells tales of running the blockade. August 22: “Cannoneers: Load, Ready, Fire.” Learn about Civil War artillery in this program. Costumed staff will teach artillery drill to kids of all ages at scheduled time during the day and fire our 12 lb bronze Napoleon for visitors. October 10: Civilian program: “Hardships on the Home Front.” Civilians in the lower Cape Fear region faced many hardships during the years of the Civil War. Soldiers and civilians alike dealt with shortages of necessary supplies, deadly epidemics, and more. Learn about the interactions between soldiers and locals in this new annual program. P A G E 1 1 T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E All demonstrations are subject to change, please contact the site for details on these and other programs. Funding for our programs is provided in part by the Fort Fisher Restora-tion Committee. Fort Fisher State Historic Site is a part of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. For additional information please call (910) 458-5538 or email fisher@ncdcr.gov Huckleberry Bros. performing at a Fort Fisher program. (Michael Spence) Firing the 32 pounder at a Fort Fisher program (Ryan Dilworth). This newsletter was produced with support from the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee. Fort Fisher Restoration Committee members: Paul Laird, Chairman Gehrig Spencer, Vice-Chairman Tommy Tucker, Secretary/Treasurer Earl Lane Harry Payne, Jr. Peter T. D’Onofrio John Coble R. James MacLaren Jerome Fennell Dr. Jack Hisley 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd South P.O. Box 169 Kure Beach, North Carolina 28449 Phone: (910) 458-5538 Fax: (910) 458-0477 E-mail: fisher@ncdcr.gov Fort Fisher State Historic Site James McPherson (far right), author of Battle Cry of Freedom,
Object Description
Description
Title | Powder magazine |
Date | 2009 |
Description | Vol. 1, no. 2 (summer 2009) |
Digital Characteristics-A | 8 MB; 12 p. |
Digital Format |
application/pdf |
Full Text | INS IDE THI S I S SUE : F O R T F I S H E R S T A T E H I S TO R I C S I T E The Powder Magazine V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2 S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 S P ECIAL POINTS OF INTERE ST • Experience Garrison Life at Fort Fisher • Curious about the Fort Fisher monument? • Hear the cannons boom at Fort Fisher programs (see page 11) • Want to plan a fieldtrip? (see page 9) engineer impression. Kids of all ages can join in the fun by learn-ing period artillery drill. High-lighting the program will be a talk by local author and UNCW professor, Chris Fonvielle. October’s program, “Hardship on the Home Front,” will delve into the problems of shortages on the home front, disease, etc. that affected both civilians and Fort Fisher soldiers. For more information on these and other programs, please con-tact Amy Manor Thornton at (910) 458-5538 or fisher@ncdcr.gov. Demonstra-tions and activities are subject to change. All programs are made possible with the support of the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee. In 2009 Fort Fisher will launch two major events, one in June and one in October. These two programs will give the public the opportunity to experience the daily lives of soldiers and civil-ians during the Civil War. On June 27, we will focus on life in the Confederate Garrison and on October 10 we will explore the common hardships faced by the civilian population, as well as the troops at Fort Fisher. On June 27, 2009, visitors will hear the cannons boom as they watch artillery and infantry dem-onstrations and a Confederate Infantry demonstrations at a Fort Fisher program (Bill Yeager) Fort Fisher Debuts Two New Programs For more than seventy-five years, an imposing monument of granite and bronze has stood over Fort Fisher’s Battle Acre. A Grecian column surmounted by an eagle, it faces the sea as if watching for the great Union armada that doomed Confederate Fort Fisher in January 1865. Most visitors to the monument leave impressed with the military virtues of Fort Fisher’s defenders. However, the story of the monument is as much about the ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and their worldview, as it is about Colonel William Lamb and the men he led in battle. The idea to commemorate Fort Fisher’s soldiers originated with veterans of the battle. In 1902, the Reverend James A. Smith proposed a monument be erected at the River Road gate, in honor of his comrades of Company D, 1st North Carolina Heavy Artillery, who lost their lives in the desperate fighting there. However, little came of the idea, and nearly twenty years passed before Captain Edgar D. Williams, who witnessed the battle in his youth, installed Fort Fisher’s first historical marker. A simple stone tablet, it marked the location of Colonel Lamb’s headquarters but was not an especially grand monument. In 1929, the ladies of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) dedicated themselves to building a monument that would “testify to future generations the Daughters in North Carolina are not “How Grand a Fame It Watches Over”: A History of the Fort Fisher Monument From the Site Manager’s Desk 2 Gift Shop Corner 2 Fort Fisher’s Mound Battery 3 Blast from the Past 5 A Word from the FFRC 5 Cannoneer’s Corner 6 Planning a Fieldtrip to Fort Fisher? 9 Join the Junior Reserves 10 2009 Calendar of Events 11 Continued on page 7 P A G E 2 From the Site Manager’s Desk: Our New Look Regular visitors to Fort Fisher State Historic Site have probably noticed a change. In years past, we frequently and closely mowed the entire site, from the north airstrip to Battery Buchanan. The grounds were as well-manicured as a putting green, but no more. Today, we are allowing many acres of grass to grow, which we believe is a change for the bet-ter. North Carolina Historic Sites has adopted a plan for “controlled growth” of our grounds. The tighten-ing state budget has required many cost-savings measures, but has also presented opportunities. In the area of grounds maintenance, a need to conserve fuel, equipment, and staff time has given us a chance to rethink our approach. What has been discov-ered is that a reduced mowing sched-ule has tangible benefits beyond its contribution to the bottom line. The earthen fortifications here have not won their battle against erosion, the oceanfront revetment wall not-withstanding. Wind and rain continue their assault on the ramparts, and every year more historic material is washed and blown away. The best preventative is a thick covering of tall grasses. It is a fact that an earth-work’s resistance to erosion is di-rectly proportional to the length of the leaf. As preservationists, we are obligated to do everything in our power to ensure the remnants of Fort Fisher survive to educate and inspire future generations. A reduced mowing schedule has been applied to much of the rest of the site, outside the immediate vicin-ity of the visitor center, tour trail, and oceanfront pathway. Areas such as the north and south airstrips will only be mowed twice a year, and not as closely as in the past. The effect will be one of a meadow, and will more accurately suggest the landscape of 1865. The soldiers and slaves who labored here did not cut grass. In fact, they encouraged its growth knowing it was all that held the sand in place. Fort Fisher State Historic Site grounds will be less manicured than you are used to seeing, but we believe you will come to appreciate the new look, and its contribution to better battlefield preservation and interpre-tation. “Controlled growth” is a cost saving measure that will prove a posi-tive good. Just remember, it is a bat-tlefield, not a golf course. Drop in and let us know what you think; as we implement this new policy, we are still learning and welcome your input. Sincerely, Jim Steele Gift Shop Corner Carolina, is known as the steward of the largest Froelich military collection in the country. Fonvielle, noted local historian and professor of history at UNC-Wilmington, explores the history of Louis Froelich and his rise to fame as a hard working and highly skilled craftsman in war-time North Carolina. Some may ask who was Louis Froelich? Froelich was a German immigrant who came to Wilmington, North Carolina at the outbreak of the American Civil War. Froelich worked for the Wilmington Button Factory until it folded in August 1861 Continued on page 6 due to lack of government contracts. Froelich turned his attention to establishing the Wilmington Arms Factory. From September 1861 to early 1863, the factory manufactured swords, sabers, and other war materiel for North Carolina and the Confederacy. Then in 1863, a fire destroyed his factory and Froelich moved the factory to Kenansville, where it continued to produce items for the Confederacy including several sets of surgical instruments and buttons until March 1865, when the Union army occupied southeastern North Carolina. In this edition of the Gift Shop Corner, we highlight the newest addition to the Fort Fisher gift shop: Louis Froelich: Arms-Maker to the Confederacy by John W. McAden, Jr., and Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle, Jr. by NC Starburst Press (Slapdash Publishing, LLC). The first printing was completed in August 2008. McAden, an avid sword collector from Wilson, North T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E “As preservationists, we are obligated to do everything in our power to ensure the remnants of Fort Fisher survive to educate and inspire future generations.” P A G E 3 During the Civil War, the colossal earth work known as Mound Battery, strategically positioned just South of Fort Fisher’s Sea Face, loomed over the Cape Fear River estuary of New Inlet. Erected in the first six months of 1863, the defensive work was officially dubbed Battery Lamb, (though more commonly referred to as “the Mound”), and was considered an engineering marvel as well as Fort Fisher’s most notable landmark. Virtually all seafaring men, both northern and southern alike, plying the waters off Cape Fear during the Civil War noted the impressive fortification. Preparatory to constructing this massive “sand castle”, the Federal Point Lighthouse (that had given Federal Point its name) was razed. Timbers from the twenty-seven year old lighthouse were scavenged as scaffolding to erect a wooden tower that framed the battery and the inclined railway that descended from the apex of the structure. With the assistance of steam engines, cartloads of sand were then pulled up the rails to the top of the tower before dumping the sand over the side, gradually filling and covering the scaffolding. To stabilize the citadel and shield it from erosion and wind, marsh grass was planted on the sand walls. A complement of two heavy seacoast guns were mounted on the summit en barbette (in the open) and signal lights were raised above the gun emplacement. According to Fort Fisher Commander, Col. William Lamb, the sixty foot battery afforded the guns (a10-inch Columbiad Smoothbore and a 6.4-inch Brooke Rifle) a position capable of, “plunging fire on the channel.” The signal lights for communicating with friendly vessels could be seen for miles and blockade runners making for New Inlet soon looked to Mound Battery for both navigation and protection. Captain John Wilkinson of the Confederate States Navy recalled that, “I believe the military men used to laugh slyly at the Colonel for undertaking its erection, predicting that it would not stand; but the result showed the contrary; and whatever difference of opinion may have existed with regard to its value as a military position, there can be but one as to its utility to the blockade-runners, for it was not a landmark, alone along this monotonous coast; but one of the range lights for crossing New Inlet bar…” Initial United States Navy intelligence pertaining to the erection of Mound Battery was made official in February of 1863, when Captain Case, commander of the U.S.S. Iroquois, addressed a dispatch concerning increased Confederate activity off New Inlet to Acting Rear-Admiral S.P. Lee, commander of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: “SIR: I have to report the enemy working like beavers in adding to the defenses of New Inlet. From their apparent great energy I am induced to believe that in the event of our capture of Charleston this is to be the point for the blockade runners…A steam engine is in use, apparently for the purpose of raising the sand, etc…The light-house at Federal Point was taken down a few days before my arrival…” In April of 1863, Captain Case, again sent an advisory regarding the Confederate defenses off New Inlet to Lee. Lee in turn forwarded the following communiqué to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles: “The enemy is busily engaged filling sand around the tower referred to in my No. 299, of March 17, as building by the rebels on the southwest end of Federal Point. It has now assumed the character of a mound, to construct which they use an inclined railway to the top of the tower. I enclose herewith a sketch, sent by Captain Case, representing the appearance of this tower at three different stages of its construction.” “‘SIR: I have to report the enemy working like beavers in adding to the defenses of New Inlet. From their apparent great energy I am induced to believe that in the event of our capture of Charleston this is to be the point for the blockade runners…’” Fort Fisher’s Mound Battery Construction of Mound Battery by Admiral Lee (Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion) T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E Continued on page 4 P A G E 4 “This is a must for those who are historical interpreters, historical re-enactors, scouts and campers or interested in historical food ways.” Continued from page 3: Fort Fisher’s Mound Battery “Among the acts of individual heroism, one must be mentioned: When the garrison flag staff, standing in the parade, was shivered by shot and shell and the flag had fallen, orders were given to Captain Daniel Munn, Company B, to raise a flag on the Mound Battery. The halyards had become unreeved and it was necessary to climb the staff to fasten the flag. Private Christopher C. Bland, of Company K, Thirty-sixth North Carolina, volunteered, climbed the staff under a heavy fire of the fleet and fastened the flag. At once a terrific fire was poured on the Mound, and the lower end of the flag being cut loose, that heroic soldier repeated the daring act, amid the cheers of the garrison, and fastened the flag securely to the staff, where it floated triumphantly, although torn and rent by fragments of shell, until the victory was won.” On January 8th, 1865, just seven days before the fall of the fort, Lamb proudly forwarded the flag and the above account to North Carolina Governor Zebulon Vance. Today the eminence that was once Mound Battery is no longer extant; yet a tangible reminder of the battery and the men who fought there remains: “Kit” Bland’s Medal of Honor, issued by the Son’s of Confederate Veterans in 1995, is on display and can be seen in the Fort Fisher State Historic Site visitor center. Ray Flowers T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E The six month construction of Mound Battery required a tremendous amount of men and labor. Colonel Lamb stated that sometimes, “… hundreds were congregated together in constructing the mound.” One of those “hundreds” wrote, “We have very still times here just now although we have plenty of work to do[.] We are building a mountain Seventy two [sic] feet high[.] I don’t think we will ever get it done…” While another complained that, “We are still at work building a mountain out of sand which is a considerable job for the wind blows it away nearly as fast as we build it…” Not only was the work monotonous and fatiguing, but it could also be dangerous. On January 30, 1863 Private Alfred Campen, Company B, 40th Regiment N.C.T. was accidentally killed during the dismantling of the lighthouse preceding the erection of Mound Battery. In November of 1863, Confederate President Jefferson Davis toured the Lower Cape Fear defense system. Recalling the President’s inspection of Fort Fisher, Colonel Lamb wrote, “He landed at the point and rode with Gen. Whiting to the mound. As soon as he reached the top, giving him a complete view of the works, the sea-face guns being manned for the purpose, gave him the Presidential salute of twenty-one guns. We doubt whether many of the forts in the South could claim the distinction of having fired this salute.” On Christmas Eve day 1864, during the first Battle of Fort Fisher, eighteen-year old Private Christopher Columbus “Kit” Bland performed a heroic feat. Fort Fisher Commander, Colonel William Lamb described the daring deed: “‘We are still at work building a mountain out of sand which is a considerable job fort he wind blows it away nearly as fast as we build it…’” Battery Lamb [Mound Battery] in January 1865 (Timothy O’Sullivan, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division) P A G E 5 Blast From the Past: Do You Know Who This Is? T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E Memorial Day signals the traditional start of another busy summer season at North Carolina beaches. This summer will be particularly challenging for State Historic Sites and especially Fort Fisher. State budget shortfalls have hit all state agencies hard forcing reduced staffing, grounds and maintenance upkeep, travel, training and operating hours. Even so, Fort Fisher will remain the most visited State Historic Site in North Carolina. Last year visitation exceeded 500,000. While some of the large visitor traffic is directly related to the beautiful beaches of Federal Point and other area tourist attractions, many more come to learn about the fabled history of the South’s largest fortification during the Civil War and the terrible battles in late 1864 and early 1865 that captured the fort and sealed the all-important port of Wilmington and the fate of the Confederacy. While Fort Fisher is a beautiful and inviting beach and tourist destination we can never forget the sacrifices of thousands of our fellow countrymen, who collided, fought, were wounded, captured, or died, and those who survived to give us the freedoms we observe every Memorial Day. God bless them and the hallowed battlefields like Fort Fisher that must be preserved for future American generations to understand the high costs of liberty. Over the past dozen years the Fort Fisher site has received many millions of state and federal dollars to protect the remnants of the earthen fort from coastal erosion and completely renovate the visitor center and install all new exhibits. Most recently, loans of actual artillery pieces that saw service at Fort Fisher were loaned by the Army from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Navy Yard in Washington. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the guiding hand of the site’s non-profit support organization, A Word From The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee “While Fort Fisher is a beautiful and inviting beach and tourist desti-nation, we can never forget the sacrifices of thousands of our fellow countrymen…”” Continued on page 10 Kenny Koch, 30 year employee at Fort Fisher State Historic Site P A G E 6 T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E Continued from page 2: Gift Shop Corner into the history behind the Wilmington Arms Factory, later renamed the Confederate States Armory, by using newspaper articles and other primary sources. The American Society of Arms Collectors cited that Louis Froelich: Arms-Maker to the Confederacy was “to be used as a reference book in the field of Confederate edged weapons and it is a factual and informative work for both collectors and historians and is recommended for this field of American arms history.” Louis Froelich: Arms-Maker to the Confederacy retails at $50.00 + tax, hardbound and is 96 pages. This would be the perfect gift for any military history buff in your family or for anyone who has an interest in North Carolina Confederate military arms and accessories. Becky Sawyer This book provides an amazing visual inventory of North Carolina’s premier arms maker to the Confederacy. Kudos should be given to the graphic arts designer, Daniel Ray Norris of Slapdash Publishing and photographer, Jack W. Melton, Jr. on the high quality of the layout of the book and spectacular images. Melton’s close-up and detailed images show the reader the intricate detail of Froelich’s craftsmanship. The book also delves Cannoneer’s Corner The winter and early spring always proves to be a busy time for the Fort Fisher cannons and their crews. Luckily, we finally resolved our misfire troubles by getting replacement friction primers in time for the 144th Battle Anniversary Program. January stayed true to winter and brought us bitter cold weather the weekend of the program. Thankfully it was only cold and there was no precipitation. We made it onto the local morning news cast the day before the program. We were firing the Napoleon to promote the program and it was so cold, ice crystals formed on the sponge head and in the water bucket. Despite the cold, the 32 pounder, the Napoleon, and the Parrott Rifle (from Adams Battery) all boomed thunderously to the delight of the crowds (and to my delight there were no misfires). On February 14th and 15th we took the Napoleon to the 144th Battle Anniversary Program at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. We did our best to make sure all Valentines present had a blast. We did have one little mishap. A visitor asked historical interpreter Jim McKee, “What happens when there’s a misfire?” Well, the Napoleon decided to oblige with an answer, and he quickly found out as our second shot misfired. Our little bit of trouble was short lived and the gentleman learned why we try not to say the ‘m’ word very often. Also as it turns out, February 14th was Jim McKee’s birthday. Both cannon crews felt it necessary to sing “Happy Birthday” to him as he began the second demonstration. He was surprised by our outburst of singing, but appreciated it nonetheless. March brought us to Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site on the 21st and 22nd for their 144th Battle Anniversary Program. For this trip, however, we left the Napoleon at Fort Fisher. Instead we fired Bentonville’s iron 3-inch Ordnance Rifle. It felt a little odd firing a cannon other than the Napoleon, but the Rifle performed well as did our crew. Visitors do not mind seeing different cannons, so long as they go “BOOM,” and they get a lesson about it. The Napoleon was glad to have a break and did not mind us crewing another cannon, because it got a maintenance-style spa treatment. We started by taking the tube off the carriage. We chipped and scraped the old paint off the carriage and gave it a fresh paint job. We greased the elevation screw “It was so cold, ice crystals formed on the sponge head and in the water bucket.” Continued on page 9 Kenny Koch and Jessica Sutton painting the Napoleon carriage. P A G E 7 Continued from page 1: A History of the Fort Fisher Monument unmindful of the heroism displayed by her Sons at Fort Fisher.” In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the Daughters built hundreds of monuments throughout the South. Monuments were key components in the UDC’s campaign to honor and vindicate Confederate soldiers. UDC monuments proclaimed the South’s devotion to patriotic principles and remain the most enduring symbols of the Lost Cause. A justification for secession and explanation for defeat, the Lost Cause asserted a defense of states’ rights, not slavery, provoked disunion, and that the Confederacy had been defeated only by the Union’s overwhelming material resources. The Fort Fisher Memorial Committee, chaired by Mrs. Annie Rogers Newell of Charlotte, embarked on a four-year campaign to raise money and to secure a site for the monument. Every UDC chapter in North Carolina pledged a donation to the monument fund each year. The Daughters were outstanding fundraisers. They understood that their monuments reflected their own status as socially-elite Southern women and as guardians of Confederate memory, and this knowledge inspired their best efforts. By October 1931, the North Carolina Daughters had raised $8,000, and a Wilmington committee organized to raise sufficient funds to complete the $10,000 monument. In the early 1930s, erosion had yet to destroy Fort Fisher’s mile-long, oceanfront wall. Property owners Thomas and Louis Orrell donated land on the fort’s Northeast Bastion, a fine place for a Confederate monument. At its 1931 annual convention, held in Wilmington, the North Carolina UDC approved construction of a monument designed by a Greensboro architectural firm. Charles C. Johnson, famous for building the North Carolina monument at Gettysburg, installed the monument’s foundations in December, anticipating completion in time for a June 1932 dedication ceremony. Unfortunately, oceanfront erosion forced a change of plans. The removal of offshore coquina rock in the 1920s accelerated the process along Fort Fisher’s sea face. By 1932, the Atlantic Ocean had consumed hundreds of feet of beach, and was lapping at the very base of the Northeast Bastion. A federal erosion board studied the problem and determined a solution would cost $71,000. Chief of engineers General Lytle Brown reported: “The expenditure, while desirable in the interest of the protection of a historic work, is not justified in any federal interest of navigation.” This calamitous news forced the Daughters to look elsewhere to site their monument, or see it topple into the sea with the crumbling fortress. Fortunately, nearby was a property ideally suited for a monument. West and inland of the vanishing Northeast Bastion was Battle Acre, a landscape where the Fort Fisher headquarters once stood. In 1929, the United States lighthouse service deeded the property, which it had owned since 1817, to the City of Wilmington. As a condition of the transfer, the national government obligated the city to manage Battle Acre as a memorial to the Battle of Fort Fisher. Dedicated on May 24, 1931, Battle Acre had been landscaped and adorned with a few, simple markers of concrete and cannonballs, and a flagpole flying the Stars and Stripes. Mrs. Newell secured the city’s T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E From Confederate Veteran 40: 249, “Prominent Participants in Dedication at Fort Fisher.” Mrs. Annie Rogers Newell (Chair, Fort Fisher Memorial Committee), Governor Max Gardner, Mrs. Cecil Brawley Long (President, N.C. Division, U.D.C.), General William A. Smith (Commander, N.C. Division, United Confederate Veterans). P A G E 8 “This is a must for those who are historical interpreters, historical re-enactors, scouts and campers or interested in historical food ways.” Continued from page 7: A History of the Fort Fisher Monument Long, gave a stirring address. She called upon the crowd to remember the deeds of their Confederate ancestors, and impressed upon them the Daughters sacred trust to preserve Confederate heritage: “More monuments to Southern valor have been erected upon Southern soil than have been set up in any other land to any other people. In this cause of preserving the heroic story of the South and immortalizing its illustrious past the Daughters of the Confederacy have equaled the devotion and loyalty of their mothers. . . In order that this place should be properly marked the women of the North Carolina U.D.C. have worked with persistence and unconquerable courage and are proud today to be members of an organization that can bring about such an accomplishment. They have labored arduously and today is the culmination of a long-cherished dream – a monument at Fort Fisher. This slate of stone, commanding the pilgrim to pause, to read and to know that here occurred the greatest naval bombardment in the history of ancient or modern warfare; that the blood of our bravest drenched the ocean border in a scarlet rain; that here was gloriously displayed the indomitable spirit of the Boy Soldier of the Confederacy and to know that here a grateful people have taken pride in inscribing their history on imperishable stone. We pray it will stir and quicken the pride of every North Carolinian. How grand a fame it watches over.” Since its dedication so long ago, the Fort Fisher monument has maintained its vigil by the sea. In 1935 human remains presumed to belong to a Confederate soldier were discovered in the vicinity, and reinterred at the monument’s base. Erosion threatened the monument again, and forced its westward relocation in 1948. Fortunately, installation of an oceanfront revetment wall in 1996 has stabilized Fort Fisher’s shoreline, saving Battle Acre and making another move unlikely. Today the Fort Fisher monument is an artifact of the early-twentieth century, a time when the Lost Cause was the dominant interpretation of the Civil War, and is as much a part of the historical landscape as the surviving ramparts. Taken at face value, it simply celebrates the valor of Fort Fisher’s Confederate soldiers. However, the monument also reveals much about the ladies who built it: their culture, their values, and their status as elite women struggling to preserve Confederate heritage in a New South. North Carolina Daughters today are proud of the Fort Fisher monument. Every Confederate Memorial Day they gather at Battle Acre in remembrance of their Confederate ancestors, both the soldiers and the women they left behind, and will likely do so for as long as the Fort Fisher monument stands. Jim Steele T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E permission to erect the monument on Battle Acre, and construction proceeded. June 2, 1932 was a grand day to be at Fort Fisher. At Battle Acre, the North Carolina Daughters dedicated their monument to the soldiers who fought, bled, and died defending the greatest fortification in the Confederacy. Among the hundreds of celebrants were many of North Carolina’s most-distinguished citizens, including Governor Max Gardner. He praised Confederate veterans, of whom four were present, and Confederate women, calling them “the highest and bravest of their kind.” President of the North Carolina UDC, Mrs. Cecil Brawley Artwork from the monument dedication ceremony program, June 2, 1932. (Research files, Fort Fisher State Historic Site) P A G E 9 Coded Communication in the Civil War Fort Fisher State Historic Site kicked off a new activity on June 13, 2009, during the program “Semaphores & Signal Flags.” Using signal flags and cipher discs, members of the public sent coded messages across the south airstrip. Inside, kids of all ages enjoyed our Morse Code exhibit scavenger hunt where they discov-ered the fascinating and unusual artifacts in our Civil War museum. Starting this fall both activities will be available for school groups, 4th grade and up. Educators should con-tact the site for additional informa-tion and details on how these activi-ties meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study requirements. For more information about these and other programs, please contact Amy Thornton at 910-458-5538 or fisher@ncdcr.gov. This program is made possible by the Fort Fisher Res-toration Committee. Jen Eudy T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E From Getting the Message Through by Albert J. Meyer, page 7 and took the wheels off the carriage and put fresh grease on the axles. We polished the tube from muzzle to cascabell. After all that we put the tube back on the carriage. The Napoleon almost seemed to sigh when we were done. Last but certainly not least, we made new wheel chocks, and painted the implements and the limber chest. In April the Napoleon was brought out as an extra special educational thank you for our Park Day volunteers. After helping us with some projects around the grounds, and eating lunch, we taught our volunteers the artillery drill. We ended the day with a bang by firing the Napoleon. All in all, I would say everyone had a blast! We will be busy this summer with our “Load, Ready, FIRE!” Programs. Come by Fort Fisher Saturday July 25 and Saturday August 22, as we fire our field piece. Visitors will also get the chance to learn period artillery drill. Don’t miss our Garrison Life Program on Saturday, June 27, as we talk about daily life for soldiers here at Fort Fisher. The Garrison Life Program will include Napoleon and 32 pounder demonstrations as well as infantry demonstrations. We will also be teaching the artillery drill to visitors. We hope you will join us for our summer programs. As always, we can provide our Napoleon talk, “Cannoneers Attention!” to scheduled groups. Come learn how Civil War soldiers fired a cannon. The talk is about the Napoleon’s uses and capabilities and includes teaching the artillery drill to participants. For safety reasons, we do not fire the Napoleon for these demonstrations nor do we allow visitors to fire it when we teach the drill. For more information or to schedule your group, please contact Amy Thornton at the site: 910-458-5538 or email: fisher@ncdcr.gov. Jessica Sutton Continued from page 6: Cannoneer’s Corner Jessica Sutton and Becky Sawyer leading the interpretive program: “Cannoneers Attention!” P A G E 1 0 Continued from page 5: A Word From The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee, Inc. and its partnership with the NC Department of Cultural Resources and its Division of Historic Sites working in concert along with our federal and state elected representatives. Even though the current economic climate has caused everyone to “trim the sails,” as president of the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee I want to take this opportunity to say “thank you” for supporting this site and staff. Many exciting projects are being planned. Before long we will welcome the arrival of a reproduction 150 lb. Armstrong Cannon tube to be mounted on our too long-empty oak carriage behind the visitor center. And planning has begun on some exciting plans and events observing the Civil War Sesquicentennial beginning in 2011. It’s never too early to start the planning. The Fort Fisher Restoration Committee, Inc. will be spearheading the launch of a very exciting project for the Sesquicentennial. So stay tuned in the coming months as we prepare to make an exciting announcement in conjunction with the NC Division of Historic Sites. Paul Laird Join the Junior Reserves at Fort Fisher State Historic Site! In March of 2009, Fort Fisher State Historic Site introduced a new children’s program: the Junior Reserve Activity Booklet, which derives its name from North Carolina’s Junior Reserve regiments, units of boy soldiers age 13 to 17, who served during the 1st Battle of Fort Fisher. This program provides visitors, aged 4 to 13 and their families with fun and educational activities to complete during their visit to the site. Ranging from True/False and fill-in-the-blank exercises to mazes and puzzles, all activities can be completed with the information presented in the museum exhibits and tour trail. Upon successful completion of the required number of exercises, the “Junior Reserve” receives a patch and a signed certificate. This new program has been a great success and achieved popularity among Fort Fisher’s visitors of all ages. The Junior Reserve Program is now in its second printing with revisions and updates by its developers, Jesse Bricker and Shannon SanCartier, both graduate student in UNCW’s Public History masters program. With the summer season upon us, Fort Fisher’s younger visitors have one more fun memory to take with them. This program is made possible by the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee. Jesse Bricker Juno C. Crawford, N.C. Junior Reserves (courtesy of Drew Beason) T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E School groups have long made up a large part of Fort Fisher’s visitation. Now, with the introduction of Fort Fisher History-in-a-Box, teachers and students are able to have Fort Fisher come to them! This new teaching tool incorporates lesson plans based on North Carolina Competency Goals and related touch objects to create a hands-on learning experience that is both fun and educational. The content is designed for 8th graders, but is easily adaptable for any grade level. The lessons include activities that allow students to “reenact” the first assault on Fort Fisher, operate their own blockade runner and design an ironclad warship. For more information contact Amy Thornton at amythornton@ncdcr.gov or (910) 485-5538. June 3 to mid-August: Mary Holloway Seasonal Interpreter. Wednesdays through Sundays, at 11am and 3pm, a costumed guide will offer tours of the remains of the fort. Following the tour, at 11:45am and 3:45pm the Mary Holloway interpreter will conduct a small arms weapons demonstration. The seasonal interpreter program is named in honor of the site’s first tour guide. June 13: “Semaphores and Signal Flags.” At scheduled times during the day site staff will demonstrate and teach visitors to use signal flags as they were used during the Civil War. Coded messages will be sent down the length of our air strip and deciphered using cipher discs. June 27: Garrison Life at Fort Fisher. Staff and volunteers in period costume engage visitors in daily life in the Confederate garrison. Learn about the activities and duties performed by soldiers in the fort as you watch infantry and artillery demonstrations. Highlighting the event will be the firing of the 32 pound rifled and banded cannon at Shepherd’s Battery. July 11: “Colonel Lamb Day.” Commemorating Col. Lamb’s arrival at Fort Fisher on July 4, 1862 and reviving a popular program from Fort Fisher State Historic Site’s past, “Col. Lamb Day” is an opportunity for the public to learn more about Fort Fisher’s commander from 1862 to 1865. Short lectures and children’s activities are scheduled throughout the day. July 25: “Cannoneers: Load, Ready, Fire.” Learn about Civil War artillery in this small program. Costumed staff will teach artillery drill to kids of all ages at scheduled time during the day and fire our 12 lb bronze Napoleon for visitors. August 8: “Running the Blockade in Stories and Song.” This program features acclaimed local musician, John Golden, as he performs period music and tells tales of running the blockade. August 22: “Cannoneers: Load, Ready, Fire.” Learn about Civil War artillery in this program. Costumed staff will teach artillery drill to kids of all ages at scheduled time during the day and fire our 12 lb bronze Napoleon for visitors. October 10: Civilian program: “Hardships on the Home Front.” Civilians in the lower Cape Fear region faced many hardships during the years of the Civil War. Soldiers and civilians alike dealt with shortages of necessary supplies, deadly epidemics, and more. Learn about the interactions between soldiers and locals in this new annual program. P A G E 1 1 T H E P O W D E R M A G A Z I N E All demonstrations are subject to change, please contact the site for details on these and other programs. Funding for our programs is provided in part by the Fort Fisher Restora-tion Committee. Fort Fisher State Historic Site is a part of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. For additional information please call (910) 458-5538 or email fisher@ncdcr.gov Huckleberry Bros. performing at a Fort Fisher program. (Michael Spence) Firing the 32 pounder at a Fort Fisher program (Ryan Dilworth). This newsletter was produced with support from the Fort Fisher Restoration Committee. Fort Fisher Restoration Committee members: Paul Laird, Chairman Gehrig Spencer, Vice-Chairman Tommy Tucker, Secretary/Treasurer Earl Lane Harry Payne, Jr. Peter T. D’Onofrio John Coble R. James MacLaren Jerome Fennell Dr. Jack Hisley 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd South P.O. Box 169 Kure Beach, North Carolina 28449 Phone: (910) 458-5538 Fax: (910) 458-0477 E-mail: fisher@ncdcr.gov Fort Fisher State Historic Site James McPherson (far right), author of Battle Cry of Freedom, |
OCLC number | 713839021 |