Kure Beach in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
I Knew That Desperate Work Was In Store
Lt. Frank H. Lay, 117th New York
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025
1. I Knew That Desperate Work Was In Store Marker
According to the Federal battle plan, 1,600 sailors and 400 marines were to attack the sea face of Fort Fisher, while 3,700 troops were to assault the land face. Admiral Porter described his plan as follows: "[T]he sailors will be armed with cutlasses, well sharpened and with revolvers... and board the fort on the run in a seaman-like way. The marines will form in the rear and cover the sailors "
Gen. Newton Martin Curtis expressed his reservations about Porter's plan and tactics: "If you go forward as you are, you will be fearfully punished, and the only good your column will do us will be to receive the fire which otherwise would come to our lines "
The signal for the commencement of the infantry assault was made at 3:25 p.m. Gen. Adelbert Ames described the scene: "My three brigades were in line, one behind the other, ranging from three to five hundred yards from the fort. The left of each line nearly opposite the middle of the land face of the fort, the right near the river... A column of 2,000 sailors and marines were to make a gallant assault on the sea angle simultaneously with ours, thereby to create a diversion, greatly to our advantage."
Plaguing the expedition was a dispute between the division commander, Gen. Adelbert Ames, and his first brigade commander, Gen. Newton Martin Curtis, that
this page online
Sponsored by the Brunswick County Civil War Round Table of North Carolina
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° 58.34′ N, 77° 55.124′ W. Marker is in Kure Beach, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It can be reached from Fort Fisher Boulevard South (U.S. 421) 0.1 miles north of Battle Acre Road, on the right when traveling south. 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "[We] rushed forward like tempest, through the stockade and up the parapet" (within shouting distance of this marker); The Whole Garrison Has Gone To Gardening (within shouting distance of this marker); A Desolate Spit Of Land
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 24, 2025
2. I Knew That Desperate Work Was In Store Marker
This is the view from the right of the marker, looking southeast towards the replicated outer palisade fence and replica garden. The corner of the marker is just visible at lower left. Of the earthworks in the background, the three covered in snow are complete replicas built over the WWII Army Airstrip to replace Traverses 7, 8, and 9 in recent years. To the right are the original surviving earthworks, of which only 10% remain; they are traverses 6, 5, and 4, from left to right, with a further three traverses out of frame to the right. These earthworks were reconstructed to better resemble their original shape. Across Fort Fisher Boulevard at distant left can be seen the lumpy remains of traverses 10 and 11 (or 11 and 12 - some maps place traverse 9 right where the road is) that were not restored and are overgrown with green beach foliage.
Other markers no longer nearby. Lamb Expands the Fort, 1862-1865 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Growth of Fort Fisher, 1861-1862 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Shepherds Battery (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); History Trail (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); River Road Sally Port (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. There are three portraits on the marker, one each of Gen. Alfred Terry, Gen. Newton Martin Curtis, and Gen. Adelbert Ames. There is also a map of the Union Plan of Attack inset center and a Chart of Army Strength from the Official Records of the War of Rebellion inset at lower left.
Additional commentary.
1. 2015 New Marker Series
The following markers were placed at Fort Fisher State Historic Site on the site walking trail as part of the 150th 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on July 17, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 16, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
