First Battle of Fort Fisher

First Battle of Fort Fisher
Part of the American Civil War
A damaged Confederate gun at Fort Fisher
Date December 24–27, 1864 Location New Hanover County, North Carolina Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Benjamin Butler David D. Porter	William H.C. Whiting William Lamb
Units involved
Expeditionary Corps, Army of the James North Atlantic Blockading Squadron	Hoke's Division Fort Fisher Garrison
Casualties and losses
320[1]

The First Battle of Fort Fisher was a naval siege in the American Civil War, when the Union tried to capture the fort guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the South's last major Atlantic port. Led by Major General Benjamin Butler, it lasted from December 24–27, 1864.

The Union navy first attempted to detonate a ship filled with powder in order to demolish the fort's walls but this failed; the navy then launched a two-day bombardment in order to demolish the fort and compel surrender. On the second day, the Union army started landing troops in order to begin the siege. But Butler got news of enemy reinforcements approaching, and in the worsening weather conditions, he aborted the operation, declaring the fort to be impregnable. To his embarrassment, Butler was relieved of command on January 8, 1865, and was replaced by Major General Alfred H. Terry, who led a follow-up expedition that captured the fort one week later.