Fort Powell was an Civil War sand fortification constructed by the Confederacy to guard the entrance into Mobile Bay from the Mississippi Sound. Located at Grant's Pass slightly northwest of Fort Morgan and north of Fort Gaines, the fort was constructed on a half-acre artificial island of oyster shells and sand. Of the three forts, Fort Powell was the only fortification in Mobile Bay constructed by Confederate forces, as well as the only fortification in the lower bay defenses built using sand with wooden reinforcements instead of brick.
On 5 Aug 1864 around 7:50am, the fort was attacked from the rear at short range by the Union gunboat Chickasaw. The fort commander, alarmed by the ferocity of the attack, received permission at 10:30am to abandon the fort. He left behind Lieutenants Savage and Jeffers to spike the guns and blow up the magazine. The order was given at 10:30 PM and Fort Powell was blown up. The fort was destroyed but the guns were not and they were captured by the Union forces.
What remains of Fort Powell is under water. For many years, the rubble was slightly visible at low tide on a calm day, but Hurricane Frederick is said to have finished burying the remnants of the fort from view in 1979.
N 30 18.667 W 088 08.250
These are the best coordinates I could find for the actual site of the fort. It sits just offshore of a local fishing hole and across the street from the popular Cedar Point Pier
A ten inch cannon salvaged from the original site of the fort, rests in downtown Mobile on Government St near Water St
CuttySarks was the FTF on the original hide before it was bough by the City of Mobile on April 11th 2022, who will be the next FTF at the same location.. Happy Hunting..