Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-01
Fall OF Fort maenn.

Fall OF Fort Macon.
We have the following details of this event which
took place Friday last when the enemy opened fire
from strong batteries of heavy Parrot and other rhed
guns and mortars PLANTED within 400 yards of the
Fort and behind very high sand banks which prevent
ed their being seen by the garrison until the fire
opened After ten hours fire of shot and shell the Fort
was preached and completely torn pieces The feet
outside did no damage whatever to the Fort Most of
the guns 10 the Fort were disabled including all that
could have been brought to bear upon the enemy.
Under these circumstances Col. White surrendered
the Fort with the honors of war; the officers retaining
their side All the baggage of the officers and
men was saved. Col. White and l55 Of his command
was brought to the main Cape Fear Bar yesterday
(MOnday afternoon on board the q. S. gunboat Chip
peDG, where they transferred to of trans
port steamers under flag of truce. They reached town
at y o'clock last night. The remainder of the men
composing the garrison through the Sound
to Newborn, we presume They are all on parole.
The loss on our side was seven killed and eighteen
wounded, two Of them MORALLY. The latter two were
left in the Fort.
2. S-We have just learned that fire upon the Fort
was opened at quarter before six Friday morning,
and that the engagement between the Fort and bate
ries was kept up until about o'clock that evening,
when the Fort became wholly untenable and sur
rendered as above.
All the guns on the side of the Fort opposite to that
attacked were dismounted. All but three Of the guns
bearing upon the enemys batteries were dismounted-
The enemy's central battery of preaching guns was
within eleven hundred yards The right and left flank
ing mortar batteries were more distant.
1t turns out that the report Of fifteen of hav-
ing been killed in scout undertaken some time since
against the ensmys pickets is untrue. One man only
was even wounded and none killed until Friday last
the day of the attack.
THE fall OF Fort Macon being regarded simply as a
matter of time may add little to the rather depressed
feeling abroad and but little, for it would seem as
though little effort was made to it. Perhaps its
position rendered that impossible and after the fall Of
Newbern it possessed value sufficient to warrant any
great sacrifices being made to relieve it. The garrison
and the arms and munitions Of war is the great and
real loss The real pity is that it not evacuated at
once On the fall of Newbern as we think could have
been.
The last dispatches from New Orleans left things in
such position as renewed the suspense under which
we had been aboring for time past in regard to
the fate of that city Yesterday morning the Federal
war vessels were in the river the city, but without
soldiers and said to be short of supplies and the Forts
not having been tskeD tie transports could not pass
with troops or stores.
Since the last dispatch published in yesterdays Journ
al we have received nothing by telegraph from any point
at the date of this present writing III O'Clock n.y.
but may before going to press We learn that yeser
day afternoon Or evening, private despatch passed
through from New Orleans direct, and of that days
date OF course we do not state this as showing any
thing more than the fact that tie city had not been
cuped by the Feleras.
In truth we are anxious to hear good news, but pre-
pared for the worst in regard to any point Oh our coast
THERE is not much in a name to be sure, but still
when contemporaries quote from the Wilmington Jour-
1u there can be no sense in their creditng it to
former worthy contemporary of the Wilmington Herald
People Ike to be called by their name, mat
ter how humble. BY the way, speaking Of names-a
gentleman Lately called in to speak to US very seriously
about some article correspondence which he said haC
appeared in the Journal So it had. to be sure-n The
Raleigh paper of that name. There again was an in
convenience. Why can't the name OF paper be copy
righed to guard against mistakes and save trouble7
Things on The Coast.-From Fort Macon.
The following from very oblging and trustworthy
gentleman who has before favoured US with news from
the coast between this point and Newbern, gives some
interesting intelligence of which, doubt, autbori
ties are already in possession -
ONsLow County, April 25th, 1862.
EEssRs FULTON & PRCE- GerHenlen:- We have very
reliable information that Fort Macon has held cut three
days against combined attack by Burnsdes land and
| naval forces.
The guns be easily heard at this pIace-ten miles
above jacksonville. Last night the bembardment LASTED
until after ten o'clock The guns heard at long in
terVals. The Fort is not yet taken.
Burnside has drawn in all his pckets and maraudng par
ties He is also having his and horses put ABOARD
Ship. That looks though something il the wind.
] Keep good look out about Wilmington.
Respectfully yours, B.
WE are in receipt of a communication from the camp
of the Scotland Neck Mounted Rifles which gives SOM
further account of the fail of Fort Macon as stated il
Monday Journal. Our correspondent says that tn
eney own account Of their loss is four hundred
and fifty This information of course Our correspondent
received from what appeared to be good authority bu