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      eHistory  >  American Civil War  >  Battles  >  Spanish Fort Search
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Spanish Fort (1865)
 
War:   American Civil War
 
Date(s):   27 Mar 1865 - 8 Apr 1865
 
Location:   Baldwin County, Alabama, US
 
Outcome:   Union victory
 
Description:   Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby, USA

Brig. Gen. Randall L. Gibson, CSA

Two US corps took on the modest garrison.

Casualties were roughly equal, Union losses a bit below 700, Confederate a bit over.

Grant had ordered a two-pronged attack on the remaining Confederate bases in Alabama, major munitions centers. The stronger prong was two infantry corps based from Pensacola, Florida.

Canby's XIII and XVI Corps moved slowly from Pensacola cross-country, then 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 Canby's forces rendezvoused at Danley's Ferry and immediately undertook a siege of Spanish Fort. The Union enveloped the fort by April 1, although the main effort was concentrated at Fort Blakely, since it blocked Canby from swinging around to the north of Mobile.

A week later Canby's men overwhelmed the garrison. Most of the Confederate forces escaped into Mobile, but Spanish Fort was no longer a threat. Canby could reinforce his men at Fort Blakely with the men from Spanish Fort.


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Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.



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