Fort Blakeley

 (1864-1865) - A Confederate earthworks and log fortification established in 1864 in Baldwin County, Alabama. Named for the nearby deserted town of Blakeley which was named for Josiah Blageley. Fort Blakeley was attacked and captured by Union forces in 1865 in the last major battle of the U.S. Civil War. Widely known as Fort Blakely.

U.S. Civil War
A Confederate earthwork and log fortification established in 1864 as a fallback position for troops at Spanish Fort (1). The fort was a sprawling complex of nine redoubts connected by four miles of earthworks and rifle pits. These fortifications were built in a semi-circle backed by the Blakely River and protected on the flanks by the river and swampy areas. Confederate armament consisted of 35 artillery pieces plus a number of siege mortars.

Battle of Fort Blakeley
Union forces under Major General Frederick Steele captured Spanish Fort on 8 Apr 1965 and reinforced other Union forces already at Fort Blakeley. The Confederate garrison at Fort Blakeley numbered about 2,700 troops including troops who fell back from the captured Spanish Fort (1). The Confederates were commanded by General St. John Liddell.The final Union assault was made on 9 Apr 1865 and was concentrated on the Confederate Redoubt #4. The Union forces prevailed and the last major battle of the U.S. Civil War ended with the capture of some 3,050 Confederate troops. This battle was fought on the same day that General Lee surrendered to General Grant  at Appomattox.



Current Status
Part of Blakeley State Park, Baldwin County, Alabama. This park has preserved the battlefield in a natural state with the remains of gun batteries, redoubts, zigzag trenches and rifle pits as one would expect them to be.

See Also:
 * Civil War Defenses of Mobile
 * Spanish Fort

Sources:
 * , page 2

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Blakeley