Evening star., 1864-12-28
THE WILMINGTON EXPEDITION.
A Co. operating Force under Gen. Butler
The Plan of Attack.

correspondence Baltimore American.J
On BOARD STEAMER SANTIAGO DR CUBA,
ent letter, which is not designed for publica-
tion until You know the feet has arrived at it's
destination, give you in fuller detail partic-
ulars as to the point OF attack-Wilmington,
the plan Of attack, and the composition OF the
land force, which, under command of General
Butler, is to &C. Cooperate with the navy in what
every one has the fullest confidence will be q
successful effort to close up the great port OF
entry for rebel and British blockade runners.
The expedition comprises altogether nearly
one hundred and fifty vessels of all descrip-
uons, including army transports, tenders, sc.
Its destination is Wilmington, North Caro-
mand Of Rear Admiral D. %. Portsr ' The evn- cn-
operating land force, numbering about ten
thousand men, Is under command Of Major
General b. f. Butler, who thus again goes to
the coast of North Carolina to, as we NAV hone.
perform successfully an important part in
completing the restoration of the Government
authority on that coast where, early in the
ing the important capture OF Hatteras Inlet
The naval fleet comprises about sixtY-hye
vessels and an aggregate of $50 guns. 1t is
proposed to commence operations upon the
fortlfcatlons at New Inlet, the eastern entrance
Of Cape Fear river.
The main point of the attack is Federal
Point, the narrow strip of land which 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 possess
sion OF which will at once give us command
of Cape Fear river and virtually close up the
port Of Wilmington, and by cutting off Fort
Casweli, which stands near the mouth of the
river, render its 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 strong
est being Fort Fisher, casemated earthwork
of great power, mounting, it Is supposed, 36
heavy guns, some Of them rifles having a
range of over three miles. The work stands
about 200 yards from the shore. Following the
shore for about three quarters of a mile, In a
southwest direction from Fort Fisher runs q
line OF batteries, five in number, connected by
rifle pits. Three OF these batteries are case
mated and two open. The number of guns
mounted in them is not known, but some of
them are rifles of long range Some 300 yards
northwest Of the terminus of this line OF bat.
teries stands what is designated as Battery
Lamb, or Mound Battery, so called from its
formation, it being an artificial mound OF earth
some 40 feet high, mounting two large guns.
which are prominent objects to the eye. A
lighthouse is also stationed On this mound,
which is, doubtless, of great assist tanee to the
blockade runners In making the Inlet at night
The mound was thrown up, 1t is supposed, for
the purpose OF obtaining an elevation from
which to throw plunging shot at any OF our
light draught Monitors should they 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 at the entrance OF the
Swash channel. ..# '-1-F
About two miles southeast from Fort Fisher.
on Zeeke's Island. which forms the southern
skoye of New Inlet, is another battery OF some
strength, but Fort Fisher and the adjacent
works is evidently the key to the position; and,
Federal Point once in our hands, farewell to
blockade running, at least so far as Whining
ton is con cerned.
Notwithstanding the evident strength of
their works, it is confidently believed that they
cannot long Withstand the terrible fire that can
be brought to bear upon them.
The combined armament of the fleet numbers
fully SOL guns, most OF them OF the largest
callbre, and carrying a weight of metal, safe
to say, unprecedented in the annals OF naval
warfare. Atleast two hundred guns can be
brought TO bear upon the works ssY
About three or lour miles up the beach from
Fort Fisher is small water battery called
"Half Moon Battery" numbering some two or
three guns, but doubtless it can offer very lit
tie resistance. s-,- -=a : -',a.J
1t is not Known definitely where the troops
will Iand-probably near this point, or at
Myrtle Inlet, or Masonbero Inlet, the latter
fourteen miles from New Inlet, and the former
The iron-clad feet, led by the frigate Iron-
sides, and accompanied by the gunboats acting
as their tenders, will aPprcaCn o1o.a e, rorL asner
the Swash channel until they come within
three. .onarters Of mile Of the fort or as near
that point as the dSp,h broaSside towarS ens
snr, and the monitors ranged in a line, bows
ny .t con yenient distances behind the frigate.
In In this position they will hre over the land at
tns he frieates, sloops. war and other larger
vessels will move in shore, forming crescent
sbaped line Of battle about one mile from the
forts. or as near to the enemys works as possi-
BILE, and pour their concentrated batteries into
the forts a la Farragut-
A0nr wooden hulis have been actively pre-
parinr for this tight for some time. "Ohain
arnnorn nsplinter nettings," and other expe-
dieits to promote the eficiency Of the vessels
and protect them and their crews, a. far a.
nossihle. from the enemy'sr guns. have been
adopted, and it is hoped we shall soon have
nother great naval victory to chronicle.