The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-28
DETAILS OF THE ExPEDIrIov

On BOARD STEAMER SANTIAGO DE CUBA. =" ORE
BEAUFORT, N. G., Dec. a. Z. Mn order TO
afford your readers clearer conception of the
operations OF the 1eet, and to correct some inaceu
II cie Incident upon hasty preparation of the letter
which sent you by the pilot off Cape Henry.
Tecapitulato to some extent the description have
gwen OF the locality selected for the operations of
the neet and the positions of the various vessels as
marked out upon the chart prepared for the occa-
mon by order OF Admiral PORTER
The Point of Attack.
lie main point of attack is Federal Point the
narrow rip ofland whch bounds the north side of
New Inlet and forms part of the east bank of Cape
Fear River Federal Point is held by a series of
works, the possessf0n rrbfvh VIII at onCv give us
command of Cape Fear River ana virtually close up
the port of Wilmington. and by cutting Off Fort Cas-
well, which stands near the mouth of the river rem
der It's possession by the Rebels no longer OF any
avail Hence the importance OF selecting New Inlet
as the point OF attack.
The principal works commanding New Inlet are
along the shore OF Federal Point, the strongest
being Fort Fisher, cagemated earthwork of great
power, mounting, 1t is supposed, thirty-six heavy
guns some of them rifles having range Of over
three miles. This work stands about two hundred
yards from the shore. Following the line of tho
fhore for about three-quarters of mile in a south
west direction from Fort Fisher runs line OF bat
teries, five In number connected by riho-pis Three
of these batteries casemated and two open. The
number OF guns mounted in them is not known, but
some OF them are rfes of long range. Some three
hundred yards northwest OF the terminus of this
line of batteries stands what s designated as Battery
Lamb, or Mound Battery, called from ts forma-
ton, 1t teing an artificial mound of earth some forty
feet high, mounting two large guns which are pro.
minent objects to the eve
A lighthouse is also station ed on this mound
Which is, doubtless Of great assistance to the block.
ade runners in making tho inlet at ni1ht. The
mound was thrown up, Il Is supposed for the pur.
a an a1n ffar fr,v.t t.a4tg.
plunR'ng shot at any Of our hight diaught Monitor,
should thcv attempt TO come up the channel The
guns OF this battery command the main channel
whilst most OF the guns OF Fort Fisher and of the
intervening batteries command not only the main
channel but also the Swash channel which runs
close along the beach in northeast direction The
latter work stands about al the entrance of the sash
channel
About two miles southeast rom Fort Fisher. on
Zeekes Island, Which forms tie southern shore of
New Inlet il another battery Of some strength but
Fort Fisher and the adjacent works are evidently
the key TO the position and Federal Point once IN
our hands, farewell to blockade running at least 40
far as Wilmington rs concerned.
fhe Plan OF Attack.
Notwithstanding the evident strength Of their
works, II confidently believed that they cannot
long Withstand the terrible dre that can be brought
70 bear upon them.
The combined armament Of the feet numbers fully
hye hIndred ana ninoty-0ne guns, most OF them OF
"a %
hale 70 say nnprecedented IN the Annals Of naval
WaitnIe. Al least Two hundred guns can be brou ght
TO bear At one time upon the works.
About three or four miles uD the beach from Fort
FISHER is q small water battery called "uaf Moon
batieTy, :" numoe1ng some Two or throo guns but
doubtless II can oher very httle resistance
IL is not known definitely where the tfoops VIII
land probably near this point or Myrtle Inlet or
Maaonboro' Inlet, the latter fourteen mics rom
New Inlet and the former about seven.
The IrOn-clud Fleet
The iron-clad fleet, led by the trgate Iroasifes
tenders, Will approach Fort Fisher FROM die north
east, sanding close 10 shore IN the sWash Cnann9l
until they come within three-quarters OF a mile OF
the iort, OF as near that point the dth of water
wall permit the I0nsideg standing broadside toward
ut convenient distances behind the irgate In this
posIlon i1ey WiA hre over the land al the Rebel
Srhe Wooden ships.
Tho frigates sloopsoiwar and other larger vessels
Will move ~ shore, forming crescentshaped line
Of battle about one mile from the forts or as near
70 tho enemy,s works a. possible, and pour their
concentrated batteries into the fort Lg FARRAGuT
. Our wooden bulls have been actively preparing lJN
netbnEs, and other expedients 20 promote the en-
,ielcY Of the vessels and protect them and their
srews as iar as possible from the enemys guns have
been adopted ana It Is hoped we shall soon have
mother great naval victory 70 chronicle
The Land Force.
The troops composing the land force are undor
,ommand Of Major beneral BUTLER, composed OF 1
be Fist Division OF the rwentY-ffh and Second |
DIVISION OF the Iwenty-fOurth Corps and arc em.
'AAAeu On Doafd the iOuOWinR transports de JgOr-
~. Lhds. Ih01nds, HeBb0ssef, PeHf IflIO L. Moore
1attic, httSe, Engpirc- Ctty, Adnirat Dupont Nor.
alk H. LtUiHgstOH, John Rice Sfarii0hL EU1
hntgaf, BeoiyoFf Eastern States, Alban0 United
States, eaq other vessels, names not asceftained
me ionouing are the Regiments Composing the
vtSel y W. ~ ~ AZ nsceriained at this wriiug;-
Sseona , ,ysssion lwenty.iourth Corps General
} y. tn,fa hlieade-l69t New York Regiment
,Qeuel Atpkni 18th New York, MAJOR NAIUT1.
On tn hew Ia hssnpsnlte Captain RosHRfs; l3lh Indi,
s Ers. 8. sriea8ee Colonel cvnrtsil2d. ll7n Isad
Second Brigade Colonel pnNNr,4 o,r,, .z.,.
ID fsih New fork, and 7cth aud 95th Psansyi.
inia.
Hlrsf Division Twenty-3lth C0rpa Geney.lp1v
First brigade C0lOnt4s n WRI0HT--i gytb anJ
b United States COlored Regimente ''N
Second Brigade Colonel j. W Aak,-aib, 9th.
- ana ssih hesipenis. SVlQred