"Capture of Fort Fisher" by Kurz and Allison depicts the Union assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, on January 15, 1865, a key battle that sealed the fall of the Confederacy’s last major seaport at Wilmington. The scene bursts with action, showing Union infantry storming the fort’s sand defenses while naval gunfire from warships pounds the Rebel stronghold in the background. Blue-coated soldiers advance with bayonets and flags raised, while Rebel defenders fire desperately from the parapets. Kurz and Allison heighten the drama with clouds of cannon smoke, flashes of musketry, and a swirl of color, portraying the event as a climactic and heroic victory that helped bring the Civil War to its final months.
