Ft. Macon

· Ft. Macon was constructed from 1826-1834. It was a boost to the economy of Beaufort and Carteret County. Many of the skilled workers and artisans that came to the area to construct the Ft. never left. Wages were considered to be good, with a brick layer making an average of $2.50 for a 10-12 hour day.

· Robert E. Lee, as a young captain, visited Beaufort in the 1840’s. He was surveying Bogue Island and designing the stone jetties which still protect the end of the island where Ft. Macon is located.

· At the start of the “War Between the States” in 1861, a group of secessionists, called the “Old Topsail Riflemen”, commanded by Capt. Josiah Pender, took over the Fort from the federal gov’t. The men, mostly from Beaufort, gave the sole member of the Federeal Garrison a ticket north and raised an improvised southern flag. Col. Moses A. White became the commander.

· Ft. Macon was taken siege on April 25th of 1862, one month after the fall of New Bern. Ft. Macon was defended by Col. White and 400 men. The battle was loud, fierce and short. The white flag was run up by 4pm of the day of the attack.

· Gen. Burnside was said to have cried a few tears when witnessing two coffins of Beaufort townspeople being claimed by their loved ones.

· During the Civil War, the town and harbor were visited by not only Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, but also Gen. W.T. Sherman and Gen. U.S. Grant.

· Ft. Macon, which continued as an active garrison until 1877, also saw use in the Spanish-American War, though not during WW I; in 1924, it was ceded to the state of NC for use as a state park. In 1942, it was leased to the federal government again and was used as a garrison and radar station during WW II.

· Ft. Macon was named for Nathaniel Macon, who served in Congress as the Speaker of the House in the 1820’s