Situated about 300 yards east of the present site of Fort Macon, the small brick-masonry fort protected the harbor for more than a decade. Raleigh, NC 27699-1615, COVID-19 information for parks under Modified Stay at Home Order, Maintain a social distance of 6 feet, regardless of the behavior of others, Bring a mask or face covering; they are required to be worn inside buildings and when social distancing cannot be implemented, Share the trail — warn other trail users of your presence, step to the side or wait at the end of a bridge, Do not enter restrooms until others have cleared out and please be patient when staff is cleaning them, Wash or sanitize your hands before, during, and after your visit, Do not share equipment like phones or cameras with other visitors, If the park seems crowded when you arrive, come back another time, Stay at home if you are exhibiting symptoms, Including coastal education center and bookstore. Atlantic Beach, NC 28512. On the lower left is an Aerial view of Fort Macon. Also see . He offered to release the men on parole if the fort was turned over intact. 5 1/2 miles southeast. The present fort, Fort Macon, was a part of this chain. The exhibit rooms, concessions, and picnic shelter remain closed. Remarks: Beaufort was one of the first harbors to be designed as a port of entry during colonial times. Fort Macon - IMO 5238779. Shortly after the Union forces had taken possession of Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside developed a plan to expand Federal control of eastern North Carolina by a joint Army-Navy expedition. Battle of Fort Macon - Civil-War-Journeys.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siege_of_Fort_Macon&oldid=990865396, Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, Union victories of the American Civil War, Military operations of the American Civil War in North Carolina, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 3rd Division, Department of North Carolina. [19], The initial fire from the mortars on shore was inaccurate, but a Signal Corps officer in Beaufort, Lieutenant William J. Andrews, acting on his own responsibility, was able to deliver messages to the battery commanders telling them how to adjust their range. The battle site is now Fort Macon State Park. Gen. Simon Bernard and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. State park. Construction began in 1826 and concluded in 1834. The fort was garrisoned in 1834 and named after U.S. In 1984, she was acquired by the Allied Transportation Company of Norfolk, Virginia. Replaced Fort Hampton. On March 23, General Parke sent a message from his headquarters at Carolina City to Colonel White, demanding the surrender of the fort. Fort Macon was held by both Confederate and Union forces throughout history and Blackbeard the pirate was documented to pass alongside the fort through Beaufort Inlet during his travels along Eastern NC. The bombardment began at dawn on April 25. Establishing a system of state parks, North Carolina purchased Fort Macon for one dollar, making it the second state park in 1924. Topics. The men in the fort were allowed to give their paroles, meaning that they would not take up arms against the United States until properly exchanged. The Confederate force was later attacked in 1862, and the fort fell int… He was given authority to recruit and organize a division, to be known as the Coast Division, which would work with the Navy's North Atlantic Blockading Squadron to take control of the North Carolina Sounds and their adjacent cities. To defend this vulnerable coastal region against future attacks from the sea, plans were developed for the construction of four defensive forts along the eastern seaboard, one of which was to be built at Old Topsail (now Beaufort) Inlet. There was ever-present threat of raids from the sea by hostile nations and pirates such as the infamous Blackbeard. The forts were built between 1817 and 1865, including Fort Macon as part of this system. Picnic shelters and group campsites that accommodate less than 50 people are open. A history of the fort. Construction of the fort that now stands began in 1826. A few men deserted during the siege.[9]. Fort Macon was a federal prison from 1867 to 1876, garrisoned during the Spanish-American War and closed in 1903. The garrison was steadily reduced in size, until by the time of the beginning of the Civil War the care of the fort was entrusted to a single sergeant. In the 1840's a US Army Engineer named Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) worked on the fort's anti-erosion system. Most trails, restrooms, playgrounds, and several boat ramps are open. Fort Macon State Park has multiple personalities as the site of a perfectly restored Civil War-era fort, a museum-quality coastal education center and an unspoiled shoreline for swimming, surf fishing and beachcombing. It is our mission to support Fort Macon State Park’s restoration and preservation as well as maintain and develop educational exhibits. Along with this distinction came danger. The sites of both eventually eroded into the sea, especially after an … On the Union side, only one man was killed, and two soldiers and one seaman were wounded. A sturdy five sided structure of brick and stone, construction of Fort Macon began in 1826 and, by 1834, the fortification was garrisoned. It is not certain whether the fort sustained any hits from the ships. Although the advent of rifled artillery would soon make its walls vulnerable, no alterations were made in the fort. Fort Macon was built shortly afterward. One of those forts, Fort Macon, was built on the east end of Bogue Banks in Carteret County. [21] The walls of the fort began to crumble under the continued pounding, and in mid-afternoon Colonel White began to fear that the magazine would be breached. At first, the gunners in the fort manned their pieces and replied vigorously, but they were unable to inflict damage on the Federal guns protected by the dunes. As it was intended for defense against attacking enemy naval forces, it was built of masonry. The fort was completed in December, 1834, and was improved with further modifications during 1841-46. After noon, virtually all shots were on target. Firing on both sides then ceased. Johnson, Robert Underwood, and Clarence Clough Buel, This page was last edited on 26 November 2020, at 23:25. The State Park Service at the fort will collect them again this year to restore the dunes. The Confederate return fire was accurate enough to hit two vessels, doing little damage and slightly wounding only one man. [8], At the time of the siege, the garrison of the fort numbered about 430 officers and men, commanded by Colonel Moses J. Situated at the eastern end of the 424-acre park, portions of the fort have been restored to appear as they did during the Civil War. Burnside reasoned that White could hold out at least one more day, and further action would only cause more casualties and greater damage to the fort. 2303 E. Fort Macon Road Fort Macon was a federal prison from 1867 until 1876, garrisoned during the Spanish-American War and closed in 1903. With successes in 1862 at Roanoke Island and New Bern Union commanders set their sights on Fort Macon, built between 1826 and 1834 to protect Beaufort Inlet. White asked him for more favorable conditions, and referred to the terms that General Burnside had offered on March 23. Please check the park pages for more information about camping procedures. View the contact sheet for the email address and phone number of each park », (General information – please do not call this number for camping or park-specific questions), Office Hours Location. Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Morale among the men was generally not good, as they were cut off from their families, and White was unpopular, both with his men and with the people of Beaufort. The defenders were aware of these activities, but could not waste ammunition by firing at unseen targets. Fort Macon is a Third System fort designed by Brigadier General Simon Bernard and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1826 and 1834. Named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, a U.S. congressman and senator and a leading early-republic statesman from North Carolina, Fort Macon was built after the War of 1812 to defend America and North Carolina from foreign invasion. In the years after the War of 1812, the U.S. military constructed a chain of permanent fortifications to defend its harbors and ports against the threat of foreign invasion. [10], So long as Fort Macon remained in Confederate possession, Burnside (recently promoted to rank of major general) could not use the ports at Beaufort and Morehead City, so immediately following the capture of New Bern on March 14, he ordered Brigadier General John G. Parke, commander of his Third Brigade, to reduce the fort. Fort Macon guarded Beaufort Inlet and Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina’s only major deep-water ocean port. Garrisons had manned the facility at irregular intervals leading up to the Civil War, usually only during periods of international tension. Parke waited until nightfall to open the embrasures for his guns behind the dunes. The Union force invested the fort with siege works and on April 25 opened an accurate fire on the fort, soon breaching the masonry walls. Patrols sent out from the fort to harass the Union soldiers were driven back, usually without loss. The local military authorities immediately set about improving the armament. 9, pp. Erected 1936 by State Historical Commission. As part of this system, pentagon-shaped 26-casemate Fort Macon, with a ditch separating its covertway and inner citadel, was designed by Brigadier General Simon Bernard and built by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. 9:00am to 5:00pm Fort Macon was garrisoned in 1834. . Built in 1949, by Port Houston Iron Works of Houston, Texas (hull #152) as the Mohawk for the Mobil Oil Corporation of New York, New York. White in his report says that 15 were disabled, p. 294. Construction began in 1826 and lasted eight years. Fort Macon, located on the eastern tip of the Bogue Banks along North Carolina's central coast, is an early-19th Century fort which has been restored as the centerpiece of one of the state's busiest State Parks. It was later deserted and, in 1825, was washed into the inlet by a hurricane. Preparations were completed by April 23, and on that day General Burnside communicated directly with Colonel White and repeated his demand for surrender, again offering to release the prisoners on parole. Larger outdoor facilities with a maximum capacity of more than 50 people are also not available for reservation. View the summary page for this ship! White. [20] Nineteen guns were dismounted. Busybody Bobby Lee also built Fort Washington 's caponniere in the same era, among other forty things. From its completion in 1834 until the start of the U.S. Civil War in 1861 it was garrisoned for less than six years and in … Construction of the fort that now stands began in 1826. In fact, Fort Macon was built in the aftermath of the War of 1812, as part of the Third System plan to protect America’s seacoasts. It was named after North Carolina’s eminent statesman of the period, Nathaniel Macon. weekdays only, 121 W. Jones St. Senator Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina, who procured the funds to build the fort. They then were permitted to return to their homes, taking with them their personal property. Until this time, the Navy had not been involved with the siege, but Commander Samuel Lockwood responded to the sound of gunfire and brought his section of the fleet into action. Parke did not concede, but agreed not to renew the bombardment until he could consult with Burnside. Fort Macon LSS Station Fort Macon, North Carolina Coast Guard Station #191 Location: Near east end of Bogue Banks, 3/4 mile west of Beaufort Inlet Channel; 34-42' 00"N x 76-40' 50"W Date of Conveyance: 1903 Station Built: 1904 Fate: Discontinued in 1963 and reestablished as a Coast Guard Group office. As it was intended for defense against attacking enemy naval forces, it was built of masonry. The Confederate infantry that would have defended against the landing, the 26th North Carolina, had been included in the retreat following the Battle of New Bern. [11] Parke also had to repair a railroad bridge at Newport, burned by the retreating Confederates following the loss of New Bern; the railroad was needed for the transport of his siege artillery.[12]. Burnside was recalled shortly after the victory at Fort Macon, to assist General George B. McClellan in the Peninsula Campaign in Virginia. At the start of the Civil War, North Carolina seized Fort Macon. 291–292. In 1985, the tug was acquired by the Norfolk Towing Company of Norfolk, Virginia. The Siege of Fort Macon took place from March 23 to April 26, 1862, on the Outer Banks of Carteret County, North Carolina. Construction began in 1826 and lasted for eight years. No further major offensive actions took place, and North Carolina became a secondary theater until late in the war. For campgrounds with 24-hour access, please observe the Night-Time Public Closure Period guidelines and do not leave the campground between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The fort was completed in December 1834 and was improved with further modifications during 1841-46. A man drops off a natural Christmas tree for disposal at Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach in 2020. Fort Macon. In the days of small sailing ships, North Carolina inlets and sounds attracted seafarers seeking safe haven. A Brief History of Fort Macon, NC. Walk-up camping are available only at certain loops at Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake and at backcountry campsites with self-registration boxes at trailheads. 34° 43.403′ N, 76° 44.293′ W. Marker is in Morehead City, North Carolina, in Carteret County. Fort Macon State Park. Senator from the State of North Carolina, Nathaniel Macon , who procured the funds to build the facility, Fort Macon was designed by Brig. Fort Macon's purpose was to guard Beaufort Inlet and Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina's only major deepwater ocean port. The US Civil War (1861-1865) began officially on April 12, 1861. Fort Macon was designed by Brig. [15] The batteries were moved up at night and remained hidden behind sand dunes until they were ready to open fire. Senator Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina, who procured the funds to build the fort. On April 17, General Burnside could state in his report to the War Department, "I hope to reduce the fort within ten days. The need for defense was clearly illustrated when, in 1747, Spanish raiders attacked English colonists at Beaufort, captured the town and held it for several days. The Confederate force was later attacked in 1862, and the fort fell into Union hands once again. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. Burnside's terms of surrender were accepted, and the Federal troops took possession of the fort the next morning. Fort Macon was one of the Third System coastal forts that were built around the borders of the still-young United States following the War of 1812. When battle came, the fort was outdated, inadequately armed, poorly supplied, and intended for a different form of combat than that it faced. Sickness reduced this number by about a third. Completed in 1834 after 8 years of construction, Fort Macon, NC is one fort in a series that was built along the eastern coast of … Built between 1826 and 1834 to guard the entrance to Beaufort Harbor, this five-sided fort, constructed of brick and stone, was intermittently garrisoned before being seized by Confederate troops in 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War. Where the tug retained her name. ORA I, v. 9, pp. Despite the poor diet and other living conditions that they suffered, only one man died. Camping reservations must be done online. Restored by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 to 1935, the fort was garrisoned for the last time during World War II. Indoor facilities are currently not available for reservation. Fort Macon was designed by Brig. A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both the nose and the mouth, is required to enter buildings such as the visitor center. On the upper right is a depiction of the Surrender of Fort Macon. Construction began in 1756; the fort (Fort Dobbs) was never completed, and the harbor remained defenseless until 1808 when Fort Hampton was built on the tip of Bogue Banks. The federal government in Washington had seen that coastal defenses were inadequate, and as a result a number of fortifications were built up and down the East Coast during those years. Fort Macon was built to replace Fort Dobbs, a wooden structure, and Fort Hampton, a fort similar to Macon which washed away. (Marker Number C 9.) The weather was not good for a naval bombardment, however; a strong wind created waves that caused the vessels to rock badly enough to disrupt their aim, and after about an hour, the fleet withdrew. Begun in 1826, it was completed and received its first garrison in 1834. "[16] His prediction proved to be remarkably accurate. One of the forts was built between 1826 and 1834 on the eastern point of Bogue Banks to guard Old Topsail Inlet (Beaufort Inlet), the entrance to Beaufort Harbor. Named after U.S. These deficiencies are adequate to explain why the fort succumbed so readily at the first blow. Swim beaches and areas are closed. Following that, the joint forces went on to other victories at Elizabeth City and New Bern (often spelled New Berne at the time). Fort Macon (U.S.C.G. The Friends of Fort Macon is an all-volunteer, tax exempt organization. Although the Burnside Expedition had gained notable success at little cost in North Carolina, little was done to exploit it. This undertaking involved the construction of 38 new, permanent coastal forts known as the Third System. [7] When the fort was taken over by North Carolina troops under Captain Josiah Solomon Pender on April 14 (before the state had seceded from the Union), only four guns were mounted. It was named after North Carolina's eminent statesman of the period, Nathaniel Macon . At the start of the Civil War, North Carolina seized Fort Macon. Gen. Simon Bernard and built … A system of stone jetties was constructed in the 1840s to control erosion. At the time, Beaufort was North Carolina's only deep-water port, and it needed defending. Gunfire from a rolling ship's deck was not accurate enough at that time to be able to break down brick and stone walls. A system of stone jetties was constructed in the 1840s to control erosion. [23], The battle had been relatively bloodless, at least by standards that soon would be common in the Civil War. This project was initially engineered by Robert E. Lee, who later became a general of the Confederate States Army. For specific details about each park, please visit the park website page. Fort Macon was designed by Brig. Within a few hours the fort's scarp began to collapse, and in late afternoon the Confederate commander, Colonel Moses J. ORA I, vol. White, ordered the raising of a white flag. Congress offered the sale of Fort Macon Military Reservation as surplus federal property in 1923. Thank you for following these guidelines and helping us keep you, your fellow visitors and our staff safe as we open facilities at our parks. Wilmington, for example, would seem to have been vulnerable, but it was not attacked until the final days of the war. The fort was garrisoned in 1834 and named after U.S. It was part of Union Army General Ambrose E. Burnside's North Carolina Expedition during the American Civil War. Fort Macon State Park. Shortly after dawn on April 26, the Confederate flag was lowered, the defenders marched out, and Union soldiers of the 5th Rhode Island marched in. [14] Federal siege artillery followed, and Parke set up four batteries that would bear on the fort: four 8-inch (20.3 cm) mortars at a range of 1200 yards (1100 meters); four 10-inch (25.4 cm) mortars at a range of 1600 yards (1460 meters); three 30-pounder (13.6 kg) rifled Parrotts at a range of 1300 yards (1190 meters); and a 12-pounder (5.4 kg) boat howitzer at a range of 1200 yards (1100 meters). The fort was built in 1826 and garrisoned in 1834. (Submitted on June 1, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.) The flag was returned to the State of North Carolina in 1906, in a Senate Chamber ceremony attended by veterans of the siege. Twenty-six casements are enclosed by outer walls 4.5 feet thick. [18], The defenders were also distracted by the appearance of four vessels from the Blockading Squadron: the steamers USS Daylight, State of Georgia, and Chippewa, and the bark Gemsbok. The Navy also supplied a pair of floating batteries to the attack, but again the waves interfered, and only one of them got into action. The woodwork rotted, the ironwork rusted, and gun carriages were allowed to decay. 288, 290. The major exception was the garrison of Fort Macon. There are no equipment rentals and concessions available. Photo Details: Photographer: Steven Collingwood [View profile] Title: Fort Macon: Added: Dec 13, 2020: Captured: December 12, 2020: IMO: On the Confederate side, seven were killed outright, two died of wounds, and sixteen were wounded.[24]. Full Screen - Add Comment - Bookmark this photo - Edit Info: Get thumbnail code to post in forum, blog or homepage New! Trotter, ``Ironclads and columbiads. Station Fort Macon) (1834 - 1903, 1941 - 1946), Atlantic Beach FORT WIKI Earlier forts were located here, including: Fort Dobbs (2) (1756), which was never completed, and five-gun Fort Hampton (1809 - 1815) . ... Website Built & Hosted by HighClick Media. 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