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On April 22, 2025, Fort Branch's Museum suffered extreme damage from a fallen tree during a storm. The building is at a total loss. The Historical Society, volunteers, and other members of the community have been working tirelessly to clean up, document, and safely store a variety historical artifacts.
Preserve and Protect the Past for the Future
Welcome
Fort Branch is located in Hamilton, NC, 60 miles upriver of the town of Plymouth. Sitting 70 feet above a bend in the Roanoke River, this Confederate earthen fort provided a safe and clear view of Union gunboats approaching from down river.
Protecting the "Lifeline" of the Confederacy
Fort Branch Civil War Site: Your Partner in Historical Preservation
Fort Branch's eleven cannons offered significant protection for the railway bridge over the river at Weldon, a weak link in the "Lifeline of the Confederacy" between Wilmington, NC, and Richmond, VA. The fort also protected the nearby construction site of the ironclad ram C.S.S. Albemarle, which later helped regain control of the lower Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound by sinking wooden Union ships.
About Us
The Fort Branch Historical Society
The Fort Branch Historical Society
The Fort Branch Historical Society
The Fort Branch Historical Society works to preserve and restore the fort and its history. Browse this website to learn more about ongoing preservation projects and how you can be involved. We invite any interested parties to attend our upcoming meetings and events.
Our History
The Fort Branch Historical Society
The Fort Branch Historical Society
Visit Fort Branch and see eight of the original eleven cannons, making Fort Branch the only earthwork fortification in the South with its original artillery in place. You can also see a restored late 1800s steam engine from The Ranger, and local Native American pottery and artifacts from Hoggtown, a nearby eighteenth century river community. Other attractions include rebuilt gun emplacements and an 1850s farmhouse, which is currently being restored.
Re-enactor's Information
The Fort Branch Historical Society
Re-enactor's Information
Today, the site is the winter headquarters for the First North Carolina Volunteers, a Civil War re-enactment group. A battle re-enactment is held annually at the fort on the first weekend in November and includes a unique Living History Program. The annual events schedule often includes a Civil War Christmas celebration, as well.