Wilmington, North Carolina, in the Civil War
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Wilmington, North Carolina
, was a major Atlantic Ocean
port city for the Confederate States of America
during the American Civil War
. A vital lifeline for the fledgling Confederacy to trading partners in Europe
, Wilmington was one of the last ports to fall to the Union Army
.
Wilmington, located 30 miles upstream from the mouth of the Cape Fear River
(which flows into the Atlantic Ocean), was among the Confederacy’s more important cities. It ranked 13th in size in the CSA (although only 100th in the pre-war United States) with a population of 9,553 according to the 1860 census, making it virtually the same size as Atlanta, Georgia
, at the time.
Wilmington was one of the most important points of entry for supplies for the entire Confederate States. Its port traded cotton
and tobacco
in exchange for foreign goods, such as munitions, clothing
and foodstuffs
. These cargoes were transferred to railroad cars and sent from the city throughout the Confederacy. This nourished both the southern states in general and specifically General Robert E. Lee
's forces in Virginia
. In its entirety, the trade was based on the coming and going of steamer ships of British
smugglers. These vessels were called blockade runners because they had to avoid the Union's imposed maritime barricade
.
Mostly, these blockade runners stemmed indirectly from British colonies–such as Bermuda
, the Bahamas, or Nova Scotia
. Often, they were forced to fly the Confederacy's insignia explicitly because Abraham Lincoln
had imposed the death penalty on British "pirates" captured in the region. Along with vital supplies, the blockade runners brought foreign crews, which poured money into the local economy through bars, taverns, hotels, shops, and merchants. The town soon took on an international flavor not seen before the war.
Unfortunately, in the summer of 1862, one of these blockade runners also brought in sailors who were infected with yellow fever
, which soon paralyzed the once-thriving waterfront, as well as much of the city itself. Nearly 1,000 people were ultimately infected with the disease, and over 300 of them died before the illness had run its course and activity resumed.
After the fall of Norfolk, Virginia
, in May 1862, Wilmington’s importance was further increased. It became the main Confederate port on the Atlantic Ocean. Along the Atlantic seashore, Wilmington's defenses were so sturdy that they were only surpassed by Charleston
's fortifications in South Carolina
. Wilmington resisted Federal occupation for a long time, mainly due to the presence of imposing Fort Fisher
.
Blockade running soon became an organized industry. The Crenshaw Company
organized shipments of cotton from the interior of the Confederacy to Wilmington for smuggling through the blockade to England.
Wilmington was not captured by Union forces until February 22, 1865, approximately one month after the fall of Fort Fisher had finally closed the port. The Battle of Wilmington
consisted of a series of three small engagements near the Cape Fear River that led to the abandonment of the city by the Confederate forces under General Braxton Bragg
. Before leaving, Bragg ordered large quantities of bales of cotton and tobacco burned so that they would not fall into Union hands. Maj. Gen.
Jacob D. Cox soon thereafter led the first Federal troops into Wilmington, which would remain in Union control for the rest of the war.
Since almost all the military action was some distance from the city itself, a number of antebellum
homes and other buildings are still extant in downtown Wilmington.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, was a major Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
port city for the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. A vital lifeline for the fledgling Confederacy to trading partners in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Wilmington was one of the last ports to fall to the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
.
Wilmington, located 30 miles upstream from the mouth of the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
(which flows into the Atlantic Ocean), was among the Confederacy’s more important cities. It ranked 13th in size in the CSA (although only 100th in the pre-war United States) with a population of 9,553 according to the 1860 census, making it virtually the same size as Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, at the time.
Wilmington was one of the most important points of entry for supplies for the entire Confederate States. Its port traded cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
in exchange for foreign goods, such as munitions, clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
and foodstuffs
Foodstuffs
Foodstuffs is a group of three New Zealand grocery and liquor retailers' cooperatives based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch which collectively control an estimated 57% of the New Zealand grocery market...
. These cargoes were transferred to railroad cars and sent from the city throughout the Confederacy. This nourished both the southern states in general and specifically General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's forces in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In its entirety, the trade was based on the coming and going of steamer ships of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
smugglers. These vessels were called blockade runners because they had to avoid the Union's imposed maritime barricade
Union blockade
The Union Blockade, or the Blockade of the South, took place between 1861 and 1865, during the American Civil War, when the Union Navy maintained a strenuous effort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the Confederate States of America designed to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms...
.
Mostly, these blockade runners stemmed indirectly from British colonies–such as Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, the Bahamas, or Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Often, they were forced to fly the Confederacy's insignia explicitly because Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
had imposed the death penalty on British "pirates" captured in the region. Along with vital supplies, the blockade runners brought foreign crews, which poured money into the local economy through bars, taverns, hotels, shops, and merchants. The town soon took on an international flavor not seen before the war.
Unfortunately, in the summer of 1862, one of these blockade runners also brought in sailors who were infected with yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
, which soon paralyzed the once-thriving waterfront, as well as much of the city itself. Nearly 1,000 people were ultimately infected with the disease, and over 300 of them died before the illness had run its course and activity resumed.
After the fall of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, in May 1862, Wilmington’s importance was further increased. It became the main Confederate port on the Atlantic Ocean. Along the Atlantic seashore, Wilmington's defenses were so sturdy that they were only surpassed by Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
's fortifications in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Wilmington resisted Federal occupation for a long time, mainly due to the presence of imposing Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
.
Blockade running soon became an organized industry. The Crenshaw Company
Crenshaw Company
The Crenshaw Company was a blockade running company established during the American Civil War.Founded by the Crenshaw brothers of Richmond, Virginia, James was the agent in Nassau and William in Liverpool....
organized shipments of cotton from the interior of the Confederacy to Wilmington for smuggling through the blockade to England.
Wilmington was not captured by Union forces until February 22, 1865, approximately one month after the fall of Fort Fisher had finally closed the port. The Battle of Wilmington
Battle of Wilmington
The Battle of Wilmington was fought February 11 – February 22, 1865, during the American Civil War. It was a direct result of the Union victory at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.-Background:...
consisted of a series of three small engagements near the Cape Fear River that led to the abandonment of the city by the Confederate forces under General Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg was a career United States Army officer, and then a general in the Confederate States Army—a principal commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War and later the military adviser to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.Bragg, a native of North Carolina, was...
. Before leaving, Bragg ordered large quantities of bales of cotton and tobacco burned so that they would not fall into Union hands. Maj. Gen.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Jacob D. Cox soon thereafter led the first Federal troops into Wilmington, which would remain in Union control for the rest of the war.
Since almost all the military action was some distance from the city itself, a number of antebellum
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
homes and other buildings are still extant in downtown Wilmington.