Confederate Breastworks

Confederate Breastworks are earthen fortifications in Fayetteville spanning approximately 2,500 feet with multiple circular cannon emplacements located on the Veterans Administration Hospital grounds. The site includes both linear defensive lines and specialized artillery positions arranged across the terrain.

Confederate forces built these earthen fortifications in March 1865 to defend Fayetteville against the advancing Union Army under General William Sherman. This defensive position represented one of the final Confederate resistance efforts in North Carolina during the final months of the Civil War.

The breastworks reflect how local residents confronted the threat of destruction during wartime and invested in defensive structures to protect their community. Visitors walking the grounds today can sense the urgency that drove people to build and maintain these earthen barriers.

The grounds are accessible behind the main building of the Veterans Administration Hospital and can be visited during daylight hours. Wearing comfortable footwear is recommended since the earthen ramparts and depressions create uneven terrain.

The site retains its original U-shaped configuration visible from Raleigh Road, which allowed defenders to attack approaching forces from multiple angles. This distinctive layout demonstrates a deliberate tactical design choice in the fortification planning.