Entrance to Fort Morgan
A long tunnel leads through
heavy earthen embankments
to the main entrance or sally
port of the fort.
A long tunnel leads through
heavy earthen embankments
to the main entrance or sally
port of the fort.
Casemates of Fort Morgan
Smoke and fire filled these
vaulted rooms during the
Battle of Mobile Bay. Cannon
here fought the Union fleet.
Smoke and fire filled these
vaulted rooms during the
Battle of Mobile Bay. Cannon
here fought the Union fleet.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Fort Morgan State Historic Site, Alabama
Fort Morgan State Historic Site - Gulf Shores, Alabama
| Fort Morgan, Alabama This face of Fort Morgan sustained a severe battering during the Battle of Mobile Bay. |
Alabama's Citadel on the Gulf
Worn by time and combat, Alabama's historic
Fort Morgan now takes visitors back in time
to the days with two American nations battled
for control of Mobile Bay.
Built on the site of an earlier work (Fort
Bowyer, scene of two important War of 1812
battles), Fort Morgan was one of two major
brick forts built by the United States to defend
Mobile Bay from foreign attack. The other,
Fort Gaines, can be seen across the bay on
Dauphin Island.
Construction of the fort on Mobile Point
began in 1819 and in 1833, as the work
neared completion, the massive new
structure was named Fort Morgan after Gen.
Daniel Morgan, a hero of the American
Revolution.
In 1836 and 1837, Fort Morgan became an
important stop on the Trail of Tears as the
Creek Indians of Alabama were forcibly
removed to new lands west of the
Mississippi. After 1842, however, the fort was
placed in caretaker status and was not
garrisoned again until Southern troops
seized it in January of 1861.
A major Confederate fortress, the fort was the
key to Southern control of Mobile Bay and for
the first three years of the Civil War the Union
army and navy did not seriously test it.
The situation changed on August 5, 1864,
when the fleet of Admiral David Farragut
stormed in from the Gulf, igniting the Battle of
Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan bore the brunt of the
Union attack.
Led by four ironclad monitors, Farragut's fleet
steamed within range of Fort Morgan at 6:30
a.m. and massive sheets of flame erupted
as the gunners in the fort opened fire. The
ironclad U.S.S. Tecumseh was blown up by a
mine or "torpedo" off the fort and the entire
Union fleet came to a halt within point blank
range of the heavy Confederate cannon.
It was at this critical moment that Admiral
Farragut gave his famed orders to "Damn the
torpedoes. Full speed ahead!" The fleet
surged forward and into the bay.
As the Union warships moved out of range of
the guns of Fort Morgan, however, the Battle
of Mobile Bay moved into a second phase.
The Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Tennessee
along with several smaller wooden gunboats
steamed out from a sheltered position near
the fort and engaged the entire Union fleet.
In one of the most dramatic naval battles of
the war, the Tennessee battled thirteen U.S.
warships, at times fighting as many as seven
ships at a time. Severely battered but game
until the end, the Tennessee was a smoking
wreck by the time her flag came down.
Fort Morgan now takes visitors back in time
to the days with two American nations battled
for control of Mobile Bay.
Built on the site of an earlier work (Fort
Bowyer, scene of two important War of 1812
battles), Fort Morgan was one of two major
brick forts built by the United States to defend
Mobile Bay from foreign attack. The other,
Fort Gaines, can be seen across the bay on
Dauphin Island.
Construction of the fort on Mobile Point
began in 1819 and in 1833, as the work
neared completion, the massive new
structure was named Fort Morgan after Gen.
Daniel Morgan, a hero of the American
Revolution.
In 1836 and 1837, Fort Morgan became an
important stop on the Trail of Tears as the
Creek Indians of Alabama were forcibly
removed to new lands west of the
Mississippi. After 1842, however, the fort was
placed in caretaker status and was not
garrisoned again until Southern troops
seized it in January of 1861.
A major Confederate fortress, the fort was the
key to Southern control of Mobile Bay and for
the first three years of the Civil War the Union
army and navy did not seriously test it.
The situation changed on August 5, 1864,
when the fleet of Admiral David Farragut
stormed in from the Gulf, igniting the Battle of
Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan bore the brunt of the
Union attack.
Led by four ironclad monitors, Farragut's fleet
steamed within range of Fort Morgan at 6:30
a.m. and massive sheets of flame erupted
as the gunners in the fort opened fire. The
ironclad U.S.S. Tecumseh was blown up by a
mine or "torpedo" off the fort and the entire
Union fleet came to a halt within point blank
range of the heavy Confederate cannon.
It was at this critical moment that Admiral
Farragut gave his famed orders to "Damn the
torpedoes. Full speed ahead!" The fleet
surged forward and into the bay.
As the Union warships moved out of range of
the guns of Fort Morgan, however, the Battle
of Mobile Bay moved into a second phase.
The Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Tennessee
along with several smaller wooden gunboats
steamed out from a sheltered position near
the fort and engaged the entire Union fleet.
In one of the most dramatic naval battles of
the war, the Tennessee battled thirteen U.S.
warships, at times fighting as many as seven
ships at a time. Severely battered but game
until the end, the Tennessee was a smoking
wreck by the time her flag came down.
| Copyright 2010 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
Fort Gaines surrendered three days later, but
Fort Morgan held out. Union troops landed
east of the fort and began a formal siege on
August 9, 1864.
Entrenchments were dug and artillery placed,
but for two weeks the fort held out. After days
of sporadic firing, the combined forces of the
Union army and navy opened a devastating
bombardment of Fort Morgan on August
22nd. More than 3,000 where fired into the
fort, shattering brick whiles and dismounting
Confederate cannon. Flames reached into
the sky over the fort and General Richard L.
Page was finally forced to accept defeat. After
spiking his remaining guns and destroying
thousands of pounds of powder, he raised
the white flag on August 23, 1864.
Held by Union forces for the remainder of the
war, Fort Morgan continued to serve as an
important military post until World War II.
Modernized over the decades following the
Civil War, the historic site today displays
fortifications from various eras of American
history.
Open daily, Fort Morgan Historic Site is
located at the western tip of Mobile Point. To
reach the fort, follow Alabama Highway 180
west from Gulf Shores for roughly 18 miles
until it ends at Fort Morgan.
Fort Morgan held out. Union troops landed
east of the fort and began a formal siege on
August 9, 1864.
Entrenchments were dug and artillery placed,
but for two weeks the fort held out. After days
of sporadic firing, the combined forces of the
Union army and navy opened a devastating
bombardment of Fort Morgan on August
22nd. More than 3,000 where fired into the
fort, shattering brick whiles and dismounting
Confederate cannon. Flames reached into
the sky over the fort and General Richard L.
Page was finally forced to accept defeat. After
spiking his remaining guns and destroying
thousands of pounds of powder, he raised
the white flag on August 23, 1864.
Held by Union forces for the remainder of the
war, Fort Morgan continued to serve as an
important military post until World War II.
Modernized over the decades following the
Civil War, the historic site today displays
fortifications from various eras of American
history.
Open daily, Fort Morgan Historic Site is
located at the western tip of Mobile Point. To
reach the fort, follow Alabama Highway 180
west from Gulf Shores for roughly 18 miles
until it ends at Fort Morgan.
lor.
The Northwest Bastion
This bastion or corner of the
fort was under intense fire
during the Battle of Mobile Bay
and sustained heavy damage.
This bastion or corner of the
fort was under intense fire
during the Battle of Mobile Bay
and sustained heavy damage.
Restored Water Battery
A 32-pounder looks out on
Mobile Bay from the restored
Confederate water battery of
the fort.
A 32-pounder looks out on
Mobile Bay from the restored
Confederate water battery of
the fort.
Siege of Fort Morgan
Union forces laid siege to Fort
Morgan in August of 1864,
bombarding the fort and its
garrison into submission.
Union forces laid siege to Fort
Morgan in August of 1864,
bombarding the fort and its
garrison into submission.
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Fort Gaines, Alabama
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Mobile Campaign
Battle of Spanish Fort
Battle of Fort Blakeley
Mobile Area Historic Sites
Forts and Battlefields in the South
Historic Sites in Alabama
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Mobile Campaign
Battle of Spanish Fort
Battle of Fort Blakeley
Mobile Area Historic Sites
Forts and Battlefields in the South
Historic Sites in Alabama
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
