Over the course of the Civil War, the port of Wilmington held almost to the end as the main Confederate center of blockade-running. A large factor in Wilmington's strength was its defense by the powerful Fort Fisher, located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. The fort had withstood Union naval attacks in 1862 and 1864, making it impossible for the northern blockade to stop the transport of supplies to General Lee's army.

Late in 1864, around the time of the termination of this Log Book, the federal leaders decided to cut off these vital supplies by capturing Fort Fisher and Wilmington. After a second attack, Fort Fisher fell on January 15, 1865. Five weeks later, the Union army occupied Wilmington. The fall of Fort Fisher and Wilmington was a major factor sealing the fate of Lee's army.