Day 4
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Today was an easy day. There was no threat of rain and I really wasn't going that far, just fifty-five miles.
Sure, I had to contend with the slower morning traffic. I didn't mind. Instead, I was more concerned with the fog. The further down Hwy 98 I drove, the thicker it became.
Hwy 182 after making the turn west towards the fort...
Fort Bower was the first on this site. It was a hastily built structure of earth and wood. It's job was to protect Mobile Bay from British attack during the War of 1812. The British navy attacked the fort with three ships, one of which was sunk. For the second attack, they sent nine ships as well as a larger land force that overwhelmed the small fort.
Construction began on Fort Morgan shortly after the war. The fort is named after Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan. He was a member of the Virginia Militia at the start of the Revolutionary War. His first task was to recruit and lead a group of ninety-six riflemen six hundred miles to Boston. The city was occupied by the British and they were there to take it back.
In October, 1780, he was given the task of leading six hundred men to harass the British in the south, but avoid a direct fight. Gen. Cornwallis got fed up with it and send Col. Banastre Tarleton to track him down and put a stop to it. Some of Morgan's men had fought Tarleton before. He tended to make snap decisions and felt fighting militia was beneath him.
Based on what he learned, Morgan decided to disobey orders and provoke a direct fight. He dug in and set up a defense in a place where cattle was bought and sold, thus the name Cowpens. His sharpshooters had rifles with longer range with better accuracy. They would engage first, followed by the militia. They would then pull back, effectively suckering Tarleton in. In less than an hour, two hundred British soldiers had been killed and over eight hundred captured.
As for Fort Morgan...
Fort Morgan was captured and occupied by Confederate forced days before Alabama officially seceded, and remained in their hands until late in the war. It would fall only after a two week bombardment. Its captured allowed Union forces to enter Mobile Bay at will.
The next battle took place just north of Daphne in a place called Spanish Fort. When France founded Mobile in 1712, they built a trading post. Britain took control after the French and Indian War. Spain considered Mobile to be part of West Florida and fought Britain for control. They built a presidio on the site of the trading post. Thus the town's name, Spanish Fort.
When it was captured, focus was shifted a few miles north to Fort Blakely. It was defended by 4,000 Confederate soldiers. With Spanish Fort in their control, a Union force of 16,000 was able to concentrate on just Fort Blakely.
This is now part of Blakely State Park. In addition to the fort, there are plenty of hiking trails. The one I chose was an easy three miles. From the parking area, the trail takes you down to the Tensaw River, named for the Taensa Tribe who once lived along its shores.
Eventually, the trail loops back through the townsite that was once Blakely. Established in 1813, it soon became a successful shipbuilding community. After the Civil War, it's fortunes changed. It's now a ghost town inside the park.
An easy twenty minute drive south of the motel is the town of Fairhope. That's where you'll fine the Fairhope Brewing Company. Great place with a friendly staff. I only mention it because of something I saw hanging on the wall. Some of you will get this...
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