Fort Johnston (2)

Fort Johnston (2) (1748-1891, 1955-2005) - Originally established as a colonial fort in 1748 in Southport, Brunswick County, North Carolina. Named for the then colonial Governor of North Carolina, Gabriel Johnston (1734-1752). The original fort was destroyed during the Revolutionary War but was rebuilt as a Second System coastal defense fort in time for the War of 1812. Confederates seized the fort at the beginning of U.S. Civil War but it was retaken by Union forces in 1865. Abandoned in 1881 but used by federal agencies until 2005. Also known as Fort Pender, Johnston's Fort and Fort Branch at various times.

Colonial Period (1630-1775)

Construction on Johnston's Fort began in 1748 and was declared complete 1749 but some construction continued into the 1750s. The post was garrisoned by just a few dozen North Carolina militia soldiers.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

During the Revolutionary War the British Governor of North Carolina abandoned the fort, removed the cannons and supplies and fled aboard a British warship. American revolutionaries destroyed the fort. In 1778 the General Assembly appropriated money to rebuild the fort and in the back and forth of the war it was destroyed again. After the war what remained of the fort deteriorated further.

Current Status

Southport, Brunswick County, North Carolina

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Location: Southport, Brunswick County, North Carolina. Maps & Images Lat: 33.9177895 Long: -78.0174024 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 618

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Fort
• Wikipedia - Fort Johnston

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