Mobil, AL

 

I never really consider how important the Navy and the Naval battles were to the Civil War. When I think of the Civil War I think of the United States 1860s map split in half, I think of men marching hundreds of miles, Sherman’s March to the Sea, the Battle of Gettysburg. I think of the land. The sea of just as important though, and by visiting these towns that focus on naval battles I hope to see how my realities and fantasies about the Civil War battles of land compare or contrast with the naval battles.

Union troops bombing Fort Morgan. Photo Credit: history.navy.mil

Day four we will be going to check out Fort Morgan. Completed in 1834, the Fort has seen four wars: the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World Wars I and II. It is most famous though for its role during the Civil War battle of Mobil Bay. Admiral Farragut laid a two-week siege to the bay with eighteen ships and Fort Morgan was the last to fall. The fort now features an active living history program that interprets all the military periods.

Design plan of Fort Morgan. Photo Credit: loc.gov

After Fort Morgan we shall site see a bit more, grab some food and head to bed early because we have a long stretch of road ahead of us.