7th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Time: 9:00 AM
Rm 224
Presenter(s): Andrew J. Franklin
Title: The Last Port in the Storm
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Jaclyn Stanke , History

This paper examines the important role played by the Wilmington, North Carolina port, the last standing Southern port of the American Civil War. This presentation will highlight the importance of the port by discussing: Wilmington’s effective use of defensive coastal fortifications; the exploitation of unique geographic features in the area, as well as Europe’s role in aiding the Confederacy by smuggling supplies into Wilmington aboard blockade-runners. An analysis of each of these points will shed light on Wilmington’s significant role in perpetuating the Confederate war effort.