Spanish Fort, Ala. Siege of, March 27-April 9, 1865.
Army of West Mississippi. On March 27, during the Mobile
campaign, Garrard's division of the 16th corps was established
in an intrenched camp to cover the right and rear of Canby's
army as it moved to invest Spanish fort. The dispositions
made during the day were as follows: the 3rd division of the
16th corps, under Brig.-Gen. Eugene A. Carr, occupied the
extreme right, with its right resting on Bay Minette, then
came McArthur's division of the 16th, then Benton's and
Veatch's divisions and Bertram's brigade of the 13th corps,
the latter with its left resting on the impassable swamp
bordering on D'Olive crek. Five miles below Spanish fort a
Federal supply depot was established. On the 28th and 29th
batteries were planted on the bluff of Bay Minette to
counteract the effect of the firing of the Confederate
gunboats and batteries Tracy and Huger. Meanwhile Steele's
column had moved from Pensacola to cooperate with Canby and on
April 1, had attacked and driven in a Confederate force at
Fort Blakely. On the 2nd the Confederates made a desperate
attempt to retake the positions which Steele's column held,
but were repulsed by the colored troops. Steele then set
about investing Fort Blakely and on the 4th, after a bridge
had been completed over Bayou Minette, Spanish fort and Fort
Blakely were included in the same general line of investment.
The same day a bombardment of Spanish fort was commenced, and
although it continued from 5 a m. to 7 p.m. it did not have
much effect, as the enfilading batteries were not yet in
position Canby had expected that the navy would complete the
investment of Spanish fort, but low water in the Blakely river
prevented a near approach of the boats, and consequently the
treadway leading from the rear of Spanish fort to Battery
Tracy was not destroyed as had been planned. By the afternoon
of the 8th there were in position against Spanish fort 53
siege guns and 37 field pieces. At 5:30 p.m. that day a
bombardment was ordered and under cover of it two companies of
the 8th Ia., supported by the remainder of the regiment and
other regiments of Geddes' brigade, effected the capture of a
position on the Confederate works from which a musketry fire
could sweep 200 yards of the intrenchments. This position was
soon taken and with it some 200 prisoners. Although it was
now dark the work of pushing forward the engagement both
within and without the works was carried on by Maj.-Gen. A. J.
Smith's corps within and Granger's division from the outside.
By midnight the whole fort was in possession of the Federals
with all its armament, supplies, etc. and 600 prisoners. The
larger part of the garrison, however, had escaped over the
treadway to Battery Tracy, and thence to Mobile. From the 6th
to the 9th the Union works in front of Fort Blakely had been
pushed forward in earnest, and immediately after Spanish fort
had fallen portions of Canby's command were sent to aid
Steele. By 5:30 p.m. of the 9th his line, then 4 miles in
length, moved forward simultaneously and after a gallant
advance under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery had by
5:50 p.m. carried the works in every part. The net result of
this capture was 3,700 men, besides all the armament,
supplies, etc. The Union casualties in the 2 actions were 61
killed, 639 wounded and 32 captured or missing. The enemy's
losses in killed and wounded were never reported.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6