Mobile campaign (1865)

The Mobile Campaign (1865) was a series of military operations conducted in the final months of the American Civil War, focused on capturing the city of Mobile, Alabama, a key Confederate port. Union forces, primarily under the command of Major General Edward Canby, aimed to sever Confederate supply lines and further cripple their war effort in the Deep South.

The campaign consisted of several significant battles and sieges. The Battle of Spanish Fort (March 27 – April 8, 1865) and the Battle of Fort Blakely (April 2 – April 9, 1865) involved prolonged sieges and intense fighting to overcome Confederate defenses guarding the approaches to Mobile Bay. Union success at these forts effectively opened the way for the capture of the city.

Mobile itself was heavily fortified, but Confederate forces, realizing their weakened position and the futility of a prolonged defense, evacuated the city on April 12, 1865. Union troops occupied Mobile that same day.

While the capture of Mobile occurred after General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, effectively signaling the end of the war, the Mobile Campaign represented a significant Union victory and contributed to the overall collapse of the Confederacy by depriving them of a crucial port and supply base. The campaign also involved a substantial commitment of Union resources and demonstrated their continuing offensive capabilities even in the war's closing stages.