North Carolina Baptist Assembly
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina Baptist Assembly is a Christian
retreat owned and operated by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
, the state's largest denomination
. The grounds of the retreat, on the eastern end of Oak Island
, is the former site of Fort Caswell, a military base
that was occupied by various branches of the U.S. armed forces for most of the period between 1836 and 1945. Most people still call the Baptist Assembly Fort Caswell.
and completed in 1836 at a cost of $473,402, was fortified with both brick
walls and large earthworks
in a pentagonal design. Fortified with over 61 gun emplacements, it guarded the mouth of the Cape Fear River
, and was a key in the defense of Wilmington
an important port 20 miles upriver and, at the time, the state's largest city. When the issue of secession
was debated in 1861, it was seized twice by a group called the "Cape Fear Minutemen", who were subsequently ordered by Governor John Willis Ellis
to return it to the keeper of the fort, the only man stationed there by the U.S. Army at the time.
When the state finally seceded, the new Confederate Army made it, along with nearby Fort Fisher
, the key to arguably the most elaborate defensive system in the world at the time (Fort Fisher guarded the other inlet
to the Cape Fear River). This system, along with swift blockade runner
s, kept Wilmington's port open longer than any other. No fewer than six plans were devised to capture the fort, but its imposing defenses and the Frying Pan Shoals
just offshore deterred them; the Union Army
then diverted its attention to Fort Fisher. After a massive Union assault captured Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865, orders came to spike Fort Caswell's guns, burn the barracks, and explode the magazines. On January 17, the magazines were ignited, exploding approximately 100,00 pounds of powder (reports at the time state that the blast could be heard as far as 100 miles away in Fayetteville
). As a result of the explosion, one whole wall of the fort was destroyed. Amazingly, at no time during the Civil War
was any soldier stationed at Caswell killed by enemy fire; however, several died of disease and one deserter was executed by firing squad
. The loss of the Confederacy's last port was a major factor in Robert E. Lee
's decision to surrender
at Appomattox
.
The U.S. Army built a full military reservation on the site in the 1890s, complete with coastal artillery
batteries, but would be abandoned after World War I
. Most of the buildings at the Assembly were built at this time, as well as the sea wall. From 1937-1941, it was unsuccessfully converted into a resort, with the gun emplacements used as swimming pools (two artesian wells
, producing hot mineral water
, were used to fill the pools). In 1941, the Navy purchased the fort for use as a small anti-submarine base during World War II.
churches, especially during the summer months.
Because of the influx of visitors during summer youth weeks, young adults and college students are hired to live and work at the assembly; they are known as the summer staff. Many of the current full-time employees and administration started out as summer staff in years past.
The facilities, which include housing and program buildings such as Hatch Auditorium
, are also used by non-Baptist church and educational groups. It can accommodate over 1,000 people at a time. It still occasionally houses military personnel who have been stationed at the Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal, a military port north of nearby Southport
, during conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
retreat owned and operated by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, the state's largest denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. The grounds of the retreat, on the eastern end of Oak Island
Oak Island (North Carolina)
Oak Island is a barrier island on the Atlantic coast of southeastern North Carolina in Brunswick County. The island contains the towns of Oak Island and Caswell Beach as well as the North Carolina Baptist Assembly and a United States Coast Guard station, which is home to the Oak Island Lighthouse...
, is the former site of Fort Caswell, a military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
that was occupied by various branches of the U.S. armed forces for most of the period between 1836 and 1945. Most people still call the Baptist Assembly Fort Caswell.
Fort Caswell
The original fort, named after former governor Richard CaswellRichard Caswell
Richard Caswell was the first and fifth governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787....
and completed in 1836 at a cost of $473,402, was fortified with both brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
walls and large earthworks
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
in a pentagonal design. Fortified with over 61 gun emplacements, it guarded the mouth of the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
, and was a key in the defense of Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
an important port 20 miles upriver and, at the time, the state's largest city. When the issue of secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
was debated in 1861, it was seized twice by a group called the "Cape Fear Minutemen", who were subsequently ordered by Governor John Willis Ellis
John Willis Ellis
John Willis Ellis was the 35th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1859 to 1861.Ellis attended the University of North Carolina, studied law under Richmond Mumford Pearson, practiced law, and was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly from Rowan County. He served as a state...
to return it to the keeper of the fort, the only man stationed there by the U.S. Army at the time.
When the state finally seceded, the new Confederate Army made it, along with nearby Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
, the key to arguably the most elaborate defensive system in the world at the time (Fort Fisher guarded the other inlet
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
to the Cape Fear River). This system, along with swift blockade runner
Blockade runner
A blockade runner is usually a lighter weight ship used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait, as opposed to confronting the blockaders to break the blockade. Very often blockade running is done in order to transport cargo, for example to bring food or arms to a blockaded city...
s, kept Wilmington's port open longer than any other. No fewer than six plans were devised to capture the fort, but its imposing defenses and the Frying Pan Shoals
Frying Pan Shoals
The Frying Pan Shoals are a long, shifting area of shoals off the coast of Cape Fear in North Carolina, United States. The shoals have been a hazard to ships in the area since the beginning of European exploration of the area; the area is littered with shipwrecks. The southern edge of the shoals...
just offshore deterred them; the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
then diverted its attention to Fort Fisher. After a massive Union assault captured Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865, orders came to spike Fort Caswell's guns, burn the barracks, and explode the magazines. On January 17, the magazines were ignited, exploding approximately 100,00 pounds of powder (reports at the time state that the blast could be heard as far as 100 miles away in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
). As a result of the explosion, one whole wall of the fort was destroyed. Amazingly, at no time during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
was any soldier stationed at Caswell killed by enemy fire; however, several died of disease and one deserter was executed by firing squad
Execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
. The loss of the Confederacy's last port was a major factor in Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's decision to surrender
Surrender (military)
Surrender is when soldiers, nations or other combatants stop fighting and eventually become prisoners of war, either as individuals or when ordered to by their officers. A white flag is a common symbol of surrender, as is the gesture of raising one's hands empty and open above one's head.When the...
at Appomattox
Appomattox
Appomattox may refer to:*Appomattox, Virginia, a town*Appomattox County, Virginia* Appomattox Basin, a name for the Tri-Cities, Virginia region*Appomattox Court House, a court house in Virginia...
.
The U.S. Army built a full military reservation on the site in the 1890s, complete with coastal artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
batteries, but would be abandoned after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Most of the buildings at the Assembly were built at this time, as well as the sea wall. From 1937-1941, it was unsuccessfully converted into a resort, with the gun emplacements used as swimming pools (two artesian wells
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
, producing hot mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
, were used to fill the pools). In 1941, the Navy purchased the fort for use as a small anti-submarine base during World War II.
The North Carolina Baptist Assembly
The 250 acres (1 km²) property was abandoned by the Navy after World War II and was purchased by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina as surplus property for a mere $86,000 in 1949. It is now used as a year-round coastal retreat and conference center for churches, associations, agencies, and other affiliates of the Baptist State Convention. One of the facility's main purposes has been to serve as a camp for the youth of North Carolina's BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches, especially during the summer months.
Because of the influx of visitors during summer youth weeks, young adults and college students are hired to live and work at the assembly; they are known as the summer staff. Many of the current full-time employees and administration started out as summer staff in years past.
The facilities, which include housing and program buildings such as Hatch Auditorium
Hatch Auditorium
Hatch Auditorium is a facility of the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell. The auditorium is situated next to the old Fort Caswell and faces the parade ground. Construction of the auditorium was made possible by a gift from Rachel E. Hatch upon her death in October 1966. Her estate,...
, are also used by non-Baptist church and educational groups. It can accommodate over 1,000 people at a time. It still occasionally houses military personnel who have been stationed at the Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal, a military port north of nearby Southport
Southport, North Carolina
Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, during conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm.