The Battle of Spanish Fort took place from March 27-April 8, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Main Western Theater. The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... For alternative meanings, see March (disambiguation). ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Baldwin County is the name of several counties in the United States: Baldwin County, Alabama Baldwin County, Georgia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Alabama is a state located in the southern United States; the population of Alabama is 4,447,100 as of 2000. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February, 1861, to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when eleven southern states seceded from the United States. ... Randall Lee Gibson (September 10, 1832 – December 15, 1892) was a U.S. Senator and a member of the House of Representatives from Louisiana. ... Battle of Fort Blakely Conflict American Civil War Date April 2-9, 1865 Place Baldwin County, Alabama Result Union victory, Fort Blakely surrendered The Battle of Fort Blakely took place from April 2-9, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Main Western Theater. ... For alternative meanings, see March (disambiguation). ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Baldwin County, Alabama is a county of the State of Alabama. ...

After the Union victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Mobile nevertheless remained in Confederate hands. Spanish Fort was heavily fortified as an eastern defense to the city of Mobile. Fort Huger, Fort (Battery) Tracey, Fort (Battery) McDermott, Fort Alexis, Red Fort, and Old Spanish Fort were all part of the Mobile defenses at Spanish Fort. Battle of Mobile Bay Conflict American Civil War (Anaconda Plan) Date August 5, 1864 Place Mouth of Mobile Bay Off the coast of Alabama Result Confederate surrender The Battle of Mobile Bay was a naval battle of the American Civil War that occurred on 5 August 1864. ... Spanish Fort is a city located in Baldwin County, Alabama. ... Mobile and Mobile Bay from space, June 1991 Mobile is a city located in Mobile County, Alabama. ...

Union forces embarked on a land campaign in early 1865 to take Mobile from the east. Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby’s XIII and XVI corps moved along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay forcing the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrated on Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. On March 27, 1865, Canby’s forces rendezvoused at Danley’s Ferry and immediately undertook a siege of Spanish Fort. The Union had enveloped the fort by April 1, and on April 8 captured it. Most of the Confederate forces, under the command of Brig. Gen. Randall L. Gibson, escaped and fled to Mobile, but Spanish Fort was no longer a threat. Mobile Bay - Landsat photo Mobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. ...

With Spanish Fort’s fall on April 8 and Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House the next day (unrelated to the fall of Spanish Fort, as Lee’s forces were in Virginia), Fort Blakely remained the last organized resistance to northern occupation east of the Mississippi River. However, as early as April 1, when Spanish Fort's fall became inevitable, Union forces had begun moving north in order to concentrate on Fort Blakely, which eventually succumbed late on April 9. Robert Edward Lee, as a U.S. Army Colonel before the war Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a career army officer and the most successful general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. ... The court house The Appomattox Court House is a historic court house located in Appomattox, Virginia famous as the site of the surrender of the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee to Union commander Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War. ...

The falls of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely permitted Union troops to subsequently enter Mobile unopposed after the conclusion of the Civil War.

Sources

• National Park Service CWSAC Battle Summaries (http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/al005.htm)