Southport Magazine

In the winter of 1865, Fort Anderson, known as The Gibraltar of the South, was all that stood between Union forces and the port of Wilmington. The end of the Civil War was in sight.
By dawn of February 19, 1865, confederate forces had evacuated the last major defensive fortification on the lower Cape fear and three days later Wilmington was in union hands.
The Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site will commemorate these events with a living history event from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday February 15 and 16. Visitors will experience artillery firings, infantry demonstrations, lectures from Civil war historians and living history throughout the day. Admission is free.
This year’s event adds a special nighttime program featuring a re-creation of the Federal bombardment of Fort Anderson. Called Plunging Shot and Screaming Shell: A Nighttime Bombardment at BrunswickTown/Fort Anderson, the program will feature a realistic reenactment of the shelling and evacuation of the port. The site’s newest addition, a 32 pounder heavy seacoast cannon, will fire its inaugural shots while the Federal navy returns fire. This is an immersive experience never before seen at the historic site.
The nighttime experience is a special ticketed event. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children 15 and under. Tickets must be purchased in advance and shown to be admitted. Purchase your tickets via Eventbright at http://bit.ly/37a4agl