The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-12-31
The RcpuIse Mt For, Fisher.

The Rcpulse mt For; Fisher.
Admiral PoRrEE's graphic account OF the attack
on Fort Fisher, published yesterdays suS, AZ
forls a clear explanation " tho causes Of the re-
pulse Of the finest expedition tha, has been
ganizel upon our continent There has becn
lack Of skin and bravery the part d tie subor-
duste officers aud men, but there was m evident
disagreement, among tho commanders Admiral
PorrrE cndoavors to shin the blame on the militia
~ aud General BUrLER tries 10 make General
wEITz.L responsible FOR the failure to assault the
enomy's WORKS. The news Is still too mesgrc to
enable us 10 apportion the exact dcgrce Of ceu-
sure that attaches to each, but II would up
pear that Admiral PoRTEu and General BurLv
"a chiefs " the naval and military forces, mus.
divide the responsibility. Ia tic dr5t place Admi-
raj PorrEE In too great a hurry 10 Commence
tic action before the arrival OF the land forces
under General BurLEE and the powder ship, from
which much was expected, was exploded at the
wrong time. The Intention was ~ explode II
when the land forces would be ut hand for assault
Ing purposes, and then take advantage o. the con-
sternAtou OF the garrison and the breach In the
Cecucos which expected to occur. H. place
of this the powder ship Louisiana was run IN ON
Thursday night aud exploded about two o'clock on
Friday morning, before the transports carrying
tie troops had even appeared In sight stll more,
tue eot was ten miles distant from the place where
the explosion took place under the fort, aud "
every gun had been dsmountcd, and every gunner
killed, tho enemy would have had time ~ bring
up fresh artillery aud troops to oppose any
attack, in the interval OF two or three
hours that would necessarily clalsc before the
ships could steam up ami land the stOrrniny party.
Thus the rebels were enabled to recover from any
damage hat might have been inflicted I: 50 hqp.
pens, however, that tls project so far failed 10 in
lure the rebel works toat it was reported In the
Richmond papers q mere commonplace disaster
to one a our gupboats. The premature explosion
IS therefore cnly " importance rs Illustrating
tie want Of combination displayed in the opera
tons. The bombnrdment by the feet on Friday
afternoon and Saturday was equally l'judiclous
aud premature. The object o, tho bombardment
was to silence the eucmy's guns, to render m
assault practicable to the military when the
troops landed at last, ON the afternoon Of Christ
mas Day, the enomy was found IN good position,
and in three hours FROM the time OF landing, our
soldiers re-cuharkod. The reasons assigned by
N'h'ie hAlIhA lNi AAla iAkFhAElllhfN IlFh-
ceeding are likely to prove unsatsiac-
tory 10 the nation as they were 10 Admiral
PonrEn. General BUTLER tells us that the eucmy's
works, after a reconnaissance were discovered un.
injured, and that the uus of the fort covered the
only practicable appIoa,A-''uot wide enough for a
thousand men in line ot battle" Tho connection
Of the brave General wE1zEL's name with this
statement scarcely relieves It from contempt An
| approach vide enough for u thousand mon in line
Of battle seems ~ teu-acre Tot In comparison with
the narrow approaches through which the French
troops rushed To the capture Of the Rcian. The
fact that the scouting party advanced within fifty
| yards OF the fort aud that few brave
spirits rushed over the psrapct and through
the sslly'por killing an orderly aud bringing oil
his horse anu dispatches and tue colors Of the fort
VIII increase the general regret that the assault
was not at eas: attempted. Il wns natural enough
| Tor Admiral PorraE to wish that some more OF our
l'aant fellows had followed the brave soldiers thu.
| rouyht the hors, and culora out Of the fort |,
| was a mayim of ,he great NAPOLEON that an army
coul follow wherever two men cuuld obtain a foo,
hold, and J. seems as If there waa dcpl rrnbc lscl
81 gcneraship In not supporting the scouting party
with our whole force. The failure 90 capture Port
Fisher IL the more to be regretted NJ 1t "a likely y
seriously dcrEnr 20 the plans OF General GRASr. wi,
evidently counted upon victory, aud only ere,
In eutrusling the military comngad to a lawy,-,
general who Is accused Of beng respond
s.hlc for the failure to capture Petersburg
BuIlrR Is better detective tan a general
and It would to az well 20 reserve him II
future fr proyos,-marsAal duty, for which he IA
better qualltiei 10y experience, than ,or the com
mand Il an army in the field. We ho,ieye tina
Wilmington can and will be taken but it nov
looks Us 4 he honor o. capt lnuy it were reserved
for General snErHAS the hero of Atlanta aud sa
yannah. This reverse viii only ntp.re tie natior
to el.ce it, recollection by glorious succos.
Perhaps even now the stain may have bccu wipe
out by the feet which at last accouuts was con
tinuns the attack. Further news upon this SUI
ject VIII be looked COR with eager interest. an,
perhaps enable the nation to rejoice in the "Ney
Years present" which the navy - still auxlous +
Oder to the President and the people.
Away With Secret POliucnl Societies.
TnE Springfield Mass BlruBLcAS - -cspJnsi