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Battle of Blakeley

A presentation on the Battle of Blakeley given at the Symposium on Mobile Campaign – Blakeley, AL – March 2-4, 2012<br>

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Battle of Blakeley

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  1. Symposium on Mobile Campaign – Blakeley, AL – March 2-4, 2012 The Battle of Blakely April 2-9, 1865 Wayne E. Sirmon, MA Ed, MA University of Mobile

  2. MOBILE CAMPAIGN 1 May 1862 Fall of New Orleans 5 August 1864 Control of Mobile Bay 8 April1865 Capture of Spanish Fort 9 April 1865 Capture of Blakeley 11 April 1865 Capture of Batteries Huger and Tracy 12 April 1865 Surrender of Mobile

  3. MOBILE CAMPAIGN Battle of Fort Blakely 2 – 9 April 1865

  4. Fort Blakely ? Sheer numbers breached the Confederate earthworks The siege and capture of Fort Blakely was … the last combined-force battle

  5. Why Defend Blakeley? “Back door” to Mobile Confederates on lines of supply/communication (land and river) for movements to Selma and Montgomery That’s where the Yankees are

  6. Why Defend Blakeley? “Back door” to Mobile Confederates on lines of supply/communication (land and river) for movements to Selma and Montgomery That’s where the Yankees are

  7. Construction of defenses at Blakeley began in earnest in December 1964. By April approximately 600 acres of timber had been cleared.

  8. Defensive line 3,000 yards Less than 1 solider/yd (at times as much as 1 soldier/10 yds) The majority of the labor used in the preparation of the defensive positions was provided by slaves. Only when attack was imminent, did CSA infantry contribute a significant portion of the workforce.

  9. Federal forces begin arriving on 2 April and begin digging the first Rifle Trenches. In most areas 3 lines of trenches were completed and work was started on a 4th. These trenches had a total length of over 12 miles.

  10. Over 42,000 cubic yards of earth was moved by Federal soldiers. It would require approximately 8,400 dump trucks to equal this volume.

  11. Chronology of the Battle of Blakely 1 April – Steele’s US forces make contact 4 miles north of Blakeley. CSA withdraw. 2 April – Steele’s forces begin digging positions 1/2 mile from SCA lines. 3 April – Vetch’s and Garrard’s US forces arrive. 4 April – Steele receives entrenching tools (shovels and picks). 5 April – Federal trenches advance ~200 yards each night.

  12. Chronology of the Battle of Blakely 8 April – Spanish Fort abandoned by CSA during night of 7-8. 9 April – Canby moves artillery to Blakely in morning. Artillery targets Confederate gunboats. Just before noon a boat is observed leaving Blakeley. Federals assume that evacuation of CSA troops has begun. Afternoon reports reveal a reduction of CSA artillery and rifle fire.

  13. Chronology of the Battle of Blakely 9 April 3:00 pm – Pile (73 & 86 USCT) advance to within 300 yards 4:00 pm – Hawkins moves 8 companies to support Pile. COL Drew orders 68 & 76 to charge: advance to within 100 yards 5:30 pm – Somewhat uncoordinated attack of all Federal forces. Advance begins with Andrews. 5:45 pm – All units are advancing. 6:00 pm – Entire CSA line controlled by Federal units. Remaining CSA withdraw to town where captured with little resistance.

  14. Federal soldiers are awarded 15 Medals of Honor. 9 are for capture of a flag. LTC: 3 (1 CF) CPT: 4 (3 CF) LT: 2 NCO: 3 (2 CF) PVT: 3 (3 CF)

  15. 10 April – CSA troops begin withdraw from Mobile by river and road. 11 April – Batteries Tracy and Huger abandoned (during evening) 12 April – Maury and rear guard leaves Mobile area Federal forces land 5 miles south of Mobile (near Brookley Field airport)

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