Tucked away on the eastern tip of Oak Island, the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell occupies the site of a former Civil War fort. Since 1949, when the Baptist State Convention bought the property from the federal government, Caswell has been an instrument of peace, offering NC Baptists and others a place of quiet reflection and relaxation. We invite you to come and visit us here at Caswell, and discover the peace and beauty that thousands of others have enjoyed

The North Carolina Baptist Assembly is owned and operated by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina for the purpose of providing a facility for programs, activities, and retreats of the Baptist State Convention, Associations, Churches, Agencies and Institutions of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

The North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell is located on Oak Island at the mouth of the Cape Fear River (from 1526 until 1662 the river was recorded on the maps as the River Jordan). It is bounded on the south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the north by the Elizabeth River.

The original fortification, much of which still stands, is the brick structure near the end of the island, overlooking the mouth of the Cape Fear River. This part of Fort Caswell was under construction from 1826 until 1836. The remainder of the fort, seven long cement batteries, along with barracks and officer’s quarters, a hospital/morgue, bakery, horse barn, firehouse & prison, were built around the turn of the century.

This area was an important settlement and attracted everyone from international travelers to pirates. Smith Island, now named Bald Head which forms the cape, was once one of the main pirates’ refuges, as was Smithville, now named Southport, and, of course, Oak Island. Notorious pirates, Steed Bonnett, Richard Worley, Mary Ann Blithe, and Blackbeard (Edward Teach) frequented these waters, hiding out in the bays.

Because of the lack of adequate defenses in this area, in 1825 Congress authorized the construction of a fort on Oak Island. The fort was an outstanding engineering accomplishment, one of the strongest in the world. It was a pentagonal structure with a two-story citadel and surrounded by a dry moat and a wet moat. It was named in 1833 for the first Governor of NC, elected by the General Assembly, and Revolutionary hero, Richard Caswell.

During the Civil War, 1861-1865, many soldiers died here from yellow fever, small pox, and other diseases. However, there was never a life lost to enemy fire at Ft. Caswell, even though the fort changed hands four times during the War.

Fort Caswell remained in ruins after the War Between the States. It was not until April 14, 1896, when the U.S. began to be more involved in world affairs, that money was appropriated to reconstruct the fort. By 1916 Fort Caswell was again one of the most important military posts on the East Coast. It was the Headquarters of the Cape Fear Coastal Defenses and was manned by three companies of Coast Artillery Corps under the command of Col. Charles A. Bennett. The armament consisted of mortars, direct and rapid-fire guns and a mine defense. The fort was used as an Army training camp in World War I.