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Historic Blakeley State Park
The Confederate Fortifications at Blakeley
| Breastworks Trail at Blakeley, Alabama One of the primary hiking trails at Historic Blakeley State Park, the Breastworks Trail follows the Confederate fortifications surrounding the site. |
The importance of Mobile, Alabama as a major port facility and
strategic objective during the Civil War prompted the military
leaders of the Confederacy to order the construction of strong
defenses to protect the city against Union attack. Anchored by
the pre-war brick citadels of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines at the
entrance to Mobile Bay, these defenses included scores of
powerful earthwork forts and batteries. Designed to protect all
approaches to Mobile, the Confederate fortifications protected
the city until virtually the end of the war.
Among the most powerful of these defenses were the
fortifications constructed at the site of the old city of Blakeley,
located on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta just north of similar works
constructed at Spanish Fort.
To defend the strategic Blakeley site, the Confederates
constructed a series of forts, redoubts, artillery batteries, rifle
pits and breastworks that stretched for miles around the
virtually abandoned town. Most of these are now preserved at
Historic Blakeley State Park, located of State Highway 225 just
north of Spanish Fort, Alabama.
The largest National Register of Historic Places site east of the
Mississippi River, the Blakeley fortifications (sometimes called
Fort Blakeley or "Fort Blakely") cover 3,800 acres and many of
them are quite well preserved.
It is possible today to explore the Confederate fortifications of
Blakeley both on foot and by car. An automobile tour leads past
some of the works. Redoubt #4, one of the primary forts
constructed to defend Blakeley, can be seen along the driving
tour, as can some of the Confederate breastworks, rifle pits
and the opposing works constructed by the Union army.
Visitors can see more of the Confederate lines on foot by
following the Breastworks Trail. One of the primary hiking trails
in the park, the Breastworks Trail follows the line of
Confederate breastworks and forts ringing much of the site.
The fortifications at Blakeley are important landmarks of one of
the last major battles of the Civil War and are among the best
preserved in Alabama. They provide visitors a chance to step
back in time to learn more about the Mobile Campaign and the
massive effort that was made to defend the city from Union
attack.
strategic objective during the Civil War prompted the military
leaders of the Confederacy to order the construction of strong
defenses to protect the city against Union attack. Anchored by
the pre-war brick citadels of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines at the
entrance to Mobile Bay, these defenses included scores of
powerful earthwork forts and batteries. Designed to protect all
approaches to Mobile, the Confederate fortifications protected
the city until virtually the end of the war.
Among the most powerful of these defenses were the
fortifications constructed at the site of the old city of Blakeley,
located on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta just north of similar works
constructed at Spanish Fort.
To defend the strategic Blakeley site, the Confederates
constructed a series of forts, redoubts, artillery batteries, rifle
pits and breastworks that stretched for miles around the
virtually abandoned town. Most of these are now preserved at
Historic Blakeley State Park, located of State Highway 225 just
north of Spanish Fort, Alabama.
The largest National Register of Historic Places site east of the
Mississippi River, the Blakeley fortifications (sometimes called
Fort Blakeley or "Fort Blakely") cover 3,800 acres and many of
them are quite well preserved.
It is possible today to explore the Confederate fortifications of
Blakeley both on foot and by car. An automobile tour leads past
some of the works. Redoubt #4, one of the primary forts
constructed to defend Blakeley, can be seen along the driving
tour, as can some of the Confederate breastworks, rifle pits
and the opposing works constructed by the Union army.
Visitors can see more of the Confederate lines on foot by
following the Breastworks Trail. One of the primary hiking trails
in the park, the Breastworks Trail follows the line of
Confederate breastworks and forts ringing much of the site.
The fortifications at Blakeley are important landmarks of one of
the last major battles of the Civil War and are among the best
preserved in Alabama. They provide visitors a chance to step
back in time to learn more about the Mobile Campaign and the
massive effort that was made to defend the city from Union
attack.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com
| Redoubt #4 at Blakeley, Alabama Redoubt #4, one of the primary Confederate fortifications at Blakeley, has been partially restored and can be seen from car or on foot. |
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| Another view of Redoubt #4 This is a view of the exterior of Redoubt #4, also called the Stockton Road Redoubt. This earthen fort was manned by the First Missouri Brigade. |
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