We headed out to Dauphin Island and to take a look at Fort
Gaines. Dauphin Island was mapped as early as 1519 by the French and in 1707
was the capital of the French Louisiana territory, which covered almost two
thirds of the United States.
Mobile Harbour is entered by a narrow stretch of water and during
the civil war Fort Gaines and its twin, Fort Morgan on the other side of the
entrance, were protecting the harbour from the Union. By 1864 Mobile Harbour
was one of the last ports open to blockade runners bringing in supplies to the confederate
army, and the battle for the harbour was epic. The confederate army had a
single ironclad, the Tennessee, and despite mining in the harbour and the
bombardment from the two forts, the Union fleet broke through and the Tennessee
was forced to surrender. After 2 days of heavy bombardment, and with their guns
destroyed by Union fire, the fort also surrendered.
The self-guided tour was really interesting and took us
several hours. There was a working blacksmiths shop where a blacksmith was demonstrating
his work. The fort had over 60 guns and 400 men during the war and is in
reasonable repair, given how much it was battered, so there was lots to see. They
even had “flushing” toilets – there was a channel dug under the latrines that
washed out with the tide coming in and out.
Following the fort visit we went to the Islander restaurant for
lunch. More Cajun style seafood – so yum!
Back to the RV park via a fish market to buy fresh fish for
dinner.
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