Siege of Fort Blakeley, Alabama Scene of the Last Major Battle of The Civil War

The Battle of Blakeley occurred at Fort Blakeley, Alabama, on April 9, 1865 at 5:30 p.m.; just hours after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee in Virginia. It is generally accepted that the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865 with the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant. Research indicates that the Blattle of Blakeley was the last major battle of the Civil War occurring six hours after the surrender at Appomattox.

Among the 32,000 union troops who marched through Baldwin County, Alabama during the months of March and April of 1865, were 24 regiments from Illinois, including: the 8th, 11th, 28th, 29th, 33rd, 37th, 46th, 47th, 58th, 72nd, 76th, 77th, 81st, 91st, 94th, 95th, 97th, 99th, 108th, 114th, 117th, 119th, 122nd, and 124th Infantries, the 2nd Regiment Artillery, and the 2nd Illinois Cavalry.

To find out more about the Battle of Blakeley, please visit the Historic Blakeley State Park website where you will find details about the battle, photos, maps, and more.

Through the very kind cooperation of Camille Corte, Archivist, Historic Blakeley State Park, we plan to make this website a repository for Civil War items of interest related to the Siege of Fort Blakeley, Alabama and the Illinois regiments that served there. She has access to much information which she has generously shared with us for this site. Items include:

• List of the 9 Illinois men who received Medals of Honor for their bravery at Blakeley
• Newspaper articles regarding a monument in Mobile National Cemetery at Magnolia Cemetery erected in 1892 by the 76th Illinois Infantry, including photos and a list of the 29 members of the 76th who died there
• Listing of 33 other Illinois soldiers that died at Blakeley and are buried at Mobile National Cemetery
• Listing of the Illinois regiments that participated at the Battle of Blakeley with a list of documents that has been collected and may be found at Blakeley Park
• Diagram of the battlefield at Blakeley showing the positions of opposing troops and attack plan.
• Diaries, letters, etc. from members of Illinois regiments serving at Blakeley

Items related to the Battle of Blakeley submitted by others:

• Poem written by Thomas Washington Danner after the Battle of Blakeley

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