The Cape Fear region of North Carolina played a significant role during the Civil War, particularly due to the strategic importance of the Port of Wilmington. Wilmington was one of the last Confederate ports open for blockade runners, who brought essential supplies, including arms and materials, into the South. It was here that the Confederacy made its final stand in defending the supply line that was critical for Robert E. Lee’s army.
 

The Battle for Fort Fisher
The capture of Fort Fisher was a pivotal event in the Civil War. Initially, the Union attempted to capture the fort in late December 1864, but the assault failed due to poor communication and lack of initiative. The Union Navy launched the largest naval bombardment of the war at that time, firing over 10,000 shells at the fort, but the Confederate forces held their ground.
 

By early 1865, the Confederacy was on the defensive, with General Robert E. Lee warning that if Wilmington fell, it would cripple the ability to supply his armies. The Union launched a second, much more intense assault on Fort Fisher from January 13-15, 1865. The Navy again unleashed a massive bombardment, followed by a brutal land assault involving nearly 10,000 Union soldiers. The fort eventually fell to Union forces, leaving the Confederate soldiers at Fort Holmes on Bald Head Island exposed to attack from all sides. As a result, the Confederacy abandoned Fort Holmes, and it was captured by Union forces on February 16, 1865. The fall of Fort Fisher sealed the fate of Wilmington, and with it, the final blow to the Confederacy’s supply line.
 

The Importance of Blockade Running
From the onset of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln ordered a blockade of all Southern ports to restrict the Confederacy’s ability to import war materials. Despite this blockade, Wilmington became a key port for blockade runners. These vessels, with their shallow drafts and local knowledge of the treacherous waters around the Cape Fear River, managed to evade Union warships. Approximately 50% of the goods the Confederacy used, including weapons and supplies, were brought in through Wilmington, making it a vital lifeline for the Southern war effort.
 

Interestingly, it wasn't until 1863 that the Confederacy began fortifying the mouth of the Cape Fear River. In response to the Union blockade, Fort Holmes was constructed on Bald Head Island. This sand and palmetto log fort featured five batteries of heavy artillery designed to defend Wilmington from Union incursions. The fort was manned by over 1,200 soldiers, including many forced laborers, such as enslaved individuals and Confederate deserters. However, after the Union captured Fort Fisher in early 1865, Fort Holmes was abandoned, and much of it was eroded by the ocean over time.
 

The Role of Enslaved People
The Civil War also had a profound impact on the lives of enslaved people in the Cape Fear region. In the early years of the war, enslaved individuals were forced to work on Confederate fortifications, including those at Fort Holmes on Bald Head Island. However, as the war progressed, many enslaved people risked their lives to escape to Union lines, seeking freedom with the help of the Union Army and Navy.
One such person was William B. Gould, an enslaved plasterer born in Wilmington. Gould managed to escape with eight other men in 1862, rowing 28 nautical miles down the Cape Fear River to the USS Cambridge, a Union warship. He joined the Union Navy and served throughout the remainder of the war, keeping a diary in which he chronicled his experiences. Gould's diary is one of the few surviving records from an African American sailor in the Civil War and provides a unique insight into the lives of those who fought for freedom.
 

The Minié Ball and Rifle Technology
The Civil War also saw significant advancements in military technology. The Minié ball, a conical-shaped bullet with a hollow base, revolutionized infantry combat. The Minié ball was designed to work with rifled muskets, which had spiral grooves inside the barrel that caused the bullet to spin, improving accuracy. Unlike earlier musket balls, which had to be jammed down the barrel or wrapped in linen to engage the grooves, the Minié ball easily slid down the barrel but expanded upon firing to fit the rifling, allowing for greater accuracy and a faster rate of fire.
 

The use of rifled muskets and the Minié ball had a significant impact on the way battles were fought. Soldiers could now engage targets at greater distances with more precision, changing the nature of infantry combat and contributing to the high casualties seen in the war.
 

The Fall of Fort Holmes
As the Confederacy's hold on the Cape Fear region weakened, the Union forces turned their attention to Fort Holmes, located on Bald Head Island. After the fall of Fort Fisher, the Confederate forces at Fort Holmes found themselves vulnerable. Union troops captured the fort on February 16, 1865, marking another key moment in the war. The fall of Fort Holmes and Wilmington signaled the end of the Confederacy's ability to supply its forces through the Cape Fear River, leading to a decisive shift in the war's outcome.
 

The capture of Fort Fisher, the success of blockade runners, the use of enslaved individuals for labor, and the technological advancements in military weapons all contributed to the outcome of the Civil War in the Cape Fear region. The fall of Wilmington and the capture of Fort Holmes signaled the collapse of the Confederacy's ability to defend its ports and supply lines, leading to the eventual end of the war in April 1865. The history of the Civil War in the Cape Fear region serves as a reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of those who fought for freedom and survival.