City, port of entry, and county seat of
New Hanover county, N. C.; on
Cape Fear River, about 20 miles front the
Atlantic Ocean.
It was originally laid out under the name of
Newton in 1733; was incorporated as a borough in
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394]
1760, and chartered as a city in 1866; and was one of the most noted ports for blockade-runners in the first four years of the
Civil War. In December, 1864, a combined naval and military expedition was sent against
Fort Fisher, an earthwork of great strength and the principal protection of
New Inlet, the chief entrance to
Cape Fear River.
For results of this expedition see
Fisher, Fort.
