Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-02-26

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osn, ard with which he entirely agreed. He then
coninntd 10 State his plans, and invited tie opinion o
tie hlot RI there assembled ike prevailing feeling
seemed to be adverse to making the attempt to pass the
forts at that time that it prt mature that the
for had been sufficiently reduced by the fire Of the
mortar vessels and the risk o. the loss OF many OF the
vessels was TOO great TO The question was freely
asked why the mortar vessels coud not Continue the
bonbatjG ent for length o time, the idea OF which
appeared t be rather ndt finite unless it expected
that The duc:ien OF the should be owing to the
force ot tie mortar vessels entirely, when the ships
would ne able to pass In comparative safely.
he flag tcer said be agreed in the main with what
had been said bat that Capt. Porter urged very
strongly the attempt being made, not only On the
round OF is probable success bat from the fact that
the fire Of III mortar vessels could hot be sustained for
much longer period that the ammunition be-
comicg scarce and difficult to supply, the vessels shaken
oy The constant conclusion, and the men tagged out
with continued bombardment, which bad already
las ed Tor than four days and thee nights on
these accoants the flag officer sail he had determined to
make tie attack the same night.
La conclusion yeu ask my opinion whether you were
justified by results in advocating srenuousy the ad
OF the feet and what migh and would have been
the suit had your ccuDsl, which DEF med preRa
turr, been disregarded Having been intimately
assUcated with you, and probably more conversant
with your plans and expectations than any other in the
squadron, am enabled to say that the brilliant result
most completely Vlndicated the wisdom OF your counsel
ana the 6Oundness OF your views. BY tie light OF
knowledge obtained ubs quens to the surrender of the
Ors, il is plain that day 10 the attack would have
Oeen fatal to US Had the defence been vigorously
and galEantIy conducted by the naval portion OF the
Ocs opposed to 1t by the army, the chances
that the vessels would have been obliged to
retire before the fire Of the iron clad battery Louisiana
which to have taken up rakiDg posi- ion below
the waller battery Of Fort ST. Phillip, and und the
protection OF the guns Of both forts Fortunately for US,
tbesupeness the reoe naval officers let undsturb-
layed day longer, that the enemy would have
failed to make use formidable an adjunct to his
OF defence
AN. with great respect, yonr obedient servant,
[Signedi J. 81. WAINWRIGHT,
Lieutenant Commanding.
Commander Daulel b. Porter, Z. s. n, command
ing Mortar Fiotta.
WhiIo On this subject We give al extract from the
M.ssageot Governor Moore, of louisiana to toe Leg
islature, regarding the same affair. After giving his
tory o the efforts to prepare tor naval attack on the
forts, etc, be says
The Loun1dna at length started Tor the forts On
the afternoon OF the 20h, tut with her PROV usted
her armament Incomplete and her machinery suntested
On the same day had teegraphed to General Dsncan,
Offering TO supply whatever in my power, and sug
gesng the use OF Sane bags Tor the protection Of the
tort, which offered to furnish lie at accepted
the Offer and the following morning [ despatched q
steamer with i7e thousand TO tie fo1t On the next
succeeding Gay wrote to the Chief Officers of State,
suggesting that the records Of their offices and all the
archives OF State be put in condition to admit of their
removal at few bOur8' notice.
A telegram from Gen. Duncan at 40 minutes past
10 a. NJ of the 2cd, gave an encouraging and hopeful
OF their condition, considering that from y,
900 to rs 900 thltteen inch mortar shells had been
fired by the enemy, OF which thousands had fallen
within the tort" Fearing that this DESPATCH which
Gen. d. I'D requested to b, published was intended
mainly allay the apprehensions OF the citizens and
being Informed by of my cficers whom had sent
TO the forts to ascertain their condition that they
seriously jured and that the navy had left them no
assistance, Immediately teegraphed the General re-
quest to il form OF the exact condition Of thingg
His at p m, of the same day, was, the navy
has lent assistance whatever up to this hour and
get them to place the Louisiana in position
They say they will do so tomorrow night. [ much
Obliged tor your kindly offer, but want nothing
The fear we have that in general engagement some
OF the vessels may get by. Tomorrow night was
too late. Ten hours after that desF atch received
the fear that Of the vessels would get by wa:
reaZ d.