Hurricane of Fire: The Union Assault on Fort Fisher

by Charles M. Robinson III

Rarely does a new study of such well-plowed ground as the American Civil War create so much interest and have such a stunning effect on the literature as this fascinating account of the Union's long-delayed naval assault on Fort Fisher. Based on exhaustive primary source research, this is the first full history--from a naval perspective--of the fort on North Carolina's Cape Fear River and its little-known significance as both the Achilles' heel of the Union blockade and the lifeline of the Confederacy. It challenges many hoary, hidebound perceptions.
While other accounts have concentrated on the Union army's land assault, Robinson weaves together firsthand reports from previously untapped sources to definitively establish how the maze of earthworks, bomb shelters, and gun emplacements protecting Wilmington developed without opposition and enabled Confederate blockade runners to defy the Union navy for more than two years, allowing matériel to flow to Robert E. Lee's forces on the Virginia front. Traditional explanations for the Union's inaction and the sacking of Adm. Samuel Lee are vigorously disputed with often embarrassing new findings. In a breathtaking, minute-by-minute description of the heaviest naval bombardment and greatest amphibious assault the world had ever seen, Robinson offers new evidence that vindicates the two thousand ill-equipped and poorly trained sailors and marines who for more than 130 years have been unjustly blamed for the failure of their terrible, grisly assault across a mile of open beach.
Unrivaled in its scope, research, and readability, this important new contribution to Civil War history demands attention not only for its heretical new information about this nearly forgotten battle, but also for its disconcerting revelations of political mistakes and shenanigans that lengthened the war and a divided nation's suffering.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Charles M. Robinson III was an American author, illustrator, and adventurer. He was a history instructor with South Texas College in McAllen, Texas, until early 2012 and was a member of the 2010 Oxford Round Table. He was a graduate of St. Edward's University and the University of Texas–Pan American.

He wrote several books that focused on the American Old West, as well as the American Civil War and the Spanish conquest of Mexico. He also wrote magazine articles on seafaring, sailing, hunting, guns, and antique automobiles. In 1993 he was awarded the T. R. Fehrenbach Book Award by the Texas Historical Commission.

Robinson passed away in 2012 due to complications from lung cancer.

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched and fairly easy to read. Interesting footnotes. But the book is published by the Naval Institute, and it seems to focus mostly on the attack of the naval brigade. The Army side of things is given sec0nd fiddle. I would have preferred m0re discussion of battlefield action, less of the personalities of the protagonists. One of the best features is the inclusion of detailed maps. I also liked the commentary on the present day features of the battlefield, which was helpful when I took a trip there.

[Greg Parrott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good follow on to the Confederate Goliath book that focuses more on the naval aspects. One of the persons getting an acknowledgement is a friend in my SCV camp!

[Guy Sas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A relatively short book, this author takes a look at Fort Fisher outside of Wilmington, NC and ties it into the grand scheme of the Union Blockade – and why it was so important to both sides. He also touches on the blockade runners in this equation as well. I picked out this book as a fluke – not really expecting much – I was pleasantly surprised. The book was well written, easy to read, and kept my interest from cover to cover. Several revelations shocked me – caught me completely off guard – and the implications were staggering (one example: pages 24-26). The author also touches on the impact of politics, especially political appointments (ex. Gen. Benjamin Butler (USA) – I learned to hate this guy – and Gen. Bragg (CSA) – absolutely useless, but a favorite of CSA Pres. Jefferson Davis). I’m glad I read this book.