The Battle of Fort Fisher
December 7-27, 1864 in Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Butler's North Carolina Expedition
Union Forces Commanded by:
Rear Adm. David D. Porter and Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler
| Forces |
Killed |
Wounded |
Captured |
| - |
8 |
38 |
- |
Confederate Forces Commanded by:
Maj. Gen. Robert Hoke
| Forces |
Killed |
Wounded |
Captured |
| - |
3 |
55 |
280* |
**Missing and Captured
Conclusion: Confederate Victory
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BATTLE SUMMARY
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler was relieved of command of the Army of the James and assigned to lead an amphibious expedition against Fort Fisher, which protected Wilmington, the South's last open seaport on the Atlantic coast. Learning that large numbers of Union troops had embarked from Hampton Roads on December 13, Gen. Robert E. Lee dispatched Hoke's Division to meet the expected attack on Fort Fisher.
On the 24th, the Union fleet under Rear Adm. David D. Porter arrived to begin shelling the fort. An infantry division disembarked from transports to test the fort's defenses. The Union assault on the fort had already begun when Hoke approached, discouraging further Union attempts.
Butler called off the expedition on the 27th and returned to Fort Monroe.
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