Encampment at Spanish Fort

In this painting, S.W. Wood depicts the Union army encampment at Spanish Fort on April 8, 1865. Spanish Fort was located four miles north of Mobile, Alabama, and was considered to be one of the major Confederate strongholds and a primary Union target during the Civil War. 3,500 veteran infantry and artillery troops were garrisoned there under the command of General Dabney H. Maury and Spanish Fort proved to be a difficult victory for the North. After arriving on March 24, 1865, the Union forces commenced a thirteen-day assault on the Confederate fort until they were victorious on April 8th. On April 9th, General Robert E. Lee surrendered in Virginia and the war was over.