Kure Beach in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Every Charge Was Death Or Surrender.

A member of the 203rd Pennsylvania Regiment on the fighting at Fort Fisher

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025

1. Every Charge Was Death Or Surrender Marker

Inscription.

Every Charge Was Death Or Surrender.. A member of the 203rd Pennsylvania Regiment on the fighting at Fort Fisher. In front of you is the fourth traverse. On January 15, 1865, this was the scene of the hottest fighting within the fort. Union flags seen floating above Shepherd's Battery, to your left, prompted Gen. W.H.C. whiting to call for a counterattack. He ordered his men to "pull down those flags and drive the enemy from the works.", General Whiting led the first counterattack from the Northeast Bastion to your far right. Pushing the Union forces back as far as the third traverse, he was wounded and sent to the makeshift hospital inside of the Pulpit Battery. Word was sent to the gunners at Battery Buchannan, Columbiad Battery, and Mount Battery to turn their guns to fire inside the fort, killing and wounding friend and foe alike. With Union forces advancing inside the fort, friendly fire became an issue. The two Napoleons in the center sally port were directed to fire at the advancing union forces on the parade ground., Colonel Lamb assembled the 800 men he had available to dislodge the Union for a second counterattack. The Confederates had some success with the charge led by Whiting, and Lamb felt confident they could drive the Union soldiers out of the fort. As Lamb led the bayonet charge against Ames's Division, the tide of battle seemed to be turning in favor of the Confederates. At this critical point, the Union fleet came to the rescue, with deadly precision firing on the land face; a Federal counterattack ensued. Lamb fell severely wounded and was evacuated to the Pulpit Battery. Command was eventually turned over to Maj. James Reilly. Despite Reilly's best efforts, Union forces seized seven traverses on the land face by 4:45 p.m., If there ever was a longer or more desperate hand to hand fight during the war, I have not heard of it...The contestants were savagely firing into each others faces, and in some cases clubbing their guns, being too close to load and fire. Col. William Lamb, (captions) , Columbiad Battery, with guns turned to fire inside the fort. Library of Congress, Col. William Lamb, Interior view of the 4th transverse and magazine on the land front. Library of Congress, Confederate Counterattack, In honor of Sally Lamb Scott and Col. William and Daisy Lamb by Friends of Fort Fisher

In front of you is the fourth traverse. On January 15, 1865, this was the scene of the hottest fighting within the fort. Union flags seen floating above Shepherd's Battery, to your left, prompted Gen. W.H.C. whiting to call for a counterattack. He ordered his men to "pull down those flags and drive the enemy from the works."

General Whiting led the first counterattack from the Northeast Bastion to your far right. Pushing the Union forces back as far as the third traverse, he was wounded and sent to the makeshift hospital inside of the Pulpit Battery. Word was sent to the gunners at Battery Buchannan, Columbiad Battery, and Mount Battery to turn their guns to fire inside the fort, killing and wounding friend and foe alike. With Union forces advancing inside the fort, friendly fire became an issue. The two Napoleons in the center sally port were directed to fire at the advancing union forces on the parade ground.

Colonel Lamb assembled the 800 men he had available to dislodge the Union for a second counterattack. The Confederates had some success with the charge led by Whiting, and Lamb felt confident they could drive the Union soldiers out of the fort. As Lamb led the bayonet charge against Ames's Division, the tide of battle seemed to be turning in favor of the Confederates. At this critical point, the Union fleet

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came to the rescue, with deadly precision firing on the land face; a Federal counterattack ensued. Lamb fell severely wounded and was evacuated to the Pulpit Battery. Command was eventually turned over to Maj. James Reilly. Despite Reilly's best efforts, Union forces seized seven traverses on the land face by 4:45 p.m.

If there ever was a longer or more desperate hand to hand fight during the war, I have not heard of it...The contestants were savagely firing into each others faces, and in some cases clubbing their guns, being too close to load and fire. Col. William Lamb

(captions)
Columbiad Battery, with guns turned to fire inside the fort. Library of Congress

Col. William Lamb

Interior view of the 4th transverse and magazine on the land front. Library of Congress

Confederate Counterattack

In honor of Sally Lamb Scott and Col. William and Daisy Lamb by Friends of Fort Fisher

Erected 2015.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is January 15, 1865.

Location. 33° 58.284′ N, 77° 55.182′ W. Marker is in Kure Beach, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It can be reached from Fort Fisher Boulevard South (U.S.

View from "Every Charge Was Death Or Surrender Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025

2. View from "Every Charge Was Death Or Surrender Marker

The fourth traverse cited in the marker is the lump of earth at right. The three traverses separating the gun chambers of Shepherd's Battery extend from center to left of the photo. Note that the sledders are no acquaintances of the photographer, and Fort Fisher State Historic Site's stance on sledding is undetermined. For want of preservation of this historic field, this activity is probably best avoided.

421) 0.1 miles west of Battle Acre Road. Marker is on the walking trail around the Land Face of Fort Fisher State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1610 Fort Fisher Boulevard South, Kure Beach NC 28449, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Work Of More Labor Than The Pyramids (a few steps from this marker); After Taking Fort Fisher, I Think Our Troops Could Storm Hell Itself. (within shouting distance of this marker); War Never Witnessed More Determined Bravery. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shepherd's Battery #1 (about 300 feet away); Our Occupation Of The Fort, Was Not Equivalent To Its Possession. (about 300 feet away); Not Fortifications, But Fiftyfications At Least (about 300 feet away); The One Weak Point In The 'Malakoff' Was The Gate (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kure Beach.

Other markers no longer nearby. Union Fiasco - The First Battle (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Capture! (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Shepherd’s Bombproof (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Shepherd’s Battery (was within shouting distance of this marker

General W.H.C. Whiting's Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 23, 2025

3. General W.H.C. Whiting's Grave

General Whiting eventually died from the wounds he received fighting atop the works in the charge described in this marker. He is buried in Wilmingon's Oakdale Cemetery.

but has been confirmed missing); Restoration of Shepherd’s Battery (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Fort Fisher Since 1865 (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Shepherd’s Battery (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); River Road Sally Port (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Growth of Fort Fisher, 1861-1862 (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding Every Charge Was Death Or Surrender.. The napoleons at the center sally port referenced in the text are represented by a pair of replica guns on the other side of the earthworks facing the visitor's center. Regarding the orientation given in the marker, the Northeast Bastion WAS to the viewer's right - in 1865. That portion of the fort eroded into the ocean nearly a century ago and is completely gone.

Additional commentary.
1. 2015 Series of Markers
The following markers were placed at Fort Fisher State Historic Site on the site walking trail as part of the 150th

Maj. James Reilly's Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 23, 2025

4. Maj. James Reilly's Grave

Major Reilly, commander of Fort Fisher's artillery and the defense of the land front, is also buried in Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery. Note the American flags at his grave are because of his service in the Mexican, Seminole, and Indian Wars, not his service to the Confederacy.

Anniversary of the battles in 2015:

278788
278793
278799
278843
278848
278856
278903
278907
278909
278913
278919
278923
278926
278936

A marker in the same style (278761) was placed at the Fort Fisher monument at Battle Acre in 2017. Three other markers outside of the site history trail (278940, 278774, and 278764) are all the same styling and may also be part of the 2015 re-signing effort.

— Submitted July 17, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.

Northeast Bastion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 25, 2025

5. Northeast Bastion

Where Whiting's counterattack began, referenced as being to the far right on the marker, is out in the ocean. This graphic from inside the visitor center shows the bastion (the almost squared corner where the two lines of earthworks intersect, just beyond the 1960 Beach Line) for reference. The marker discussed here is aligned essentially above where the word "Original" is in the graphic, illustrating the distance covered by the counterattack.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.