Evening star., 1864-12-29
THE ATTACK ON FORT FISHER
IDispatch to the Baltimore Americau

FORTRESS MONROE, Dec. 27, P. NJ, VIA
WAsHINGToN, Dec 2s;-l have just arrived
Gibson, from off Wilmington. The attack by
our fleet on Fort Fisher, commanding the en-
trance 10 Cape Fear river, commenced at noon
on Saturday last, the 9th instant, and con-
tinued throughout the entire day. 1t was re-
sumed again on Sunday, and kept up with
great vigor all DAY.
Fort Fisher was much damaged. All the
rebel barracks and storehouses belonging to
the work were burned by the explosion of our
shells, and the garrison of the fortification was
driven to the protection Of their bomb proofs,
the guns OF the enemy scarcely yenturiug q
reply to our well directed shot.
A small portion OF our troops were landed
on the beach from the transports on Sunday
afternoon, and skirmshing with the enemy
ensued, our men behaving With great gallan.
try, pushing up to Fort Fisher, and actually
entering the works. rebel bearer Of de-
spatches, who was about entering the fort,
was killed by shot from one of our men, and
Lieutenant Wallen, of the 1I2d New York
regiment, captured rebel flag from the outer
bastion of Fort Fisher
Our men also captured whole battalion
of the enemy who were outside OF their
works, but our forces were Withdrawn froA
the shore .r#
When the Santiago de Ouba left the scene of
of operations the BON bardment OF the rebel
works was stiIlscontinned by our fleet.
On Sunday the sailors from the Santiago de
Cnba, captured the Pound Hill Battery of 65
men on shore, and brought the Whole party Off
to the ships.
The torpedo boat was successfully exploded
son Saturday morning at two O'Clock, but with
what res ult is not known
The weather has been the most violent ever
experienced of this portion of the coast At
Newbern and Roanoke Island the oldest inhab-
itants state they never knew such storms to
occur as have lately been telt in this vicinity.
A. F.
Description Of the Torpedo Vessel.
The following description Of the torpedo boat
referred to in the above dispatch, was fur
mis- oh hU i'm nf hiS
earliest letters but its publication withheld for
prudential reasons:
While the vessels which are to make the st.
tack are about twelve miles from shore, a ves-
sci named the Louisiana. prepared for the pur.
pose. loaded with three hundred tons of gum
powder, is to steau rapidly in shore and beach
dire city in front OF Fort Fisher. The crew,
after che has heached, and the fuse has been
fired, are to take to their small boat aud stand
out for the fleet. the fuse being so timed as to
permit sufficient time for the officers and crew
charged with this perilous undertaking to get
hey yond the reach of the awful explosion which
must ems ue, hhould the plan prove a success.
The explosion Of such mammoth torpedo
for the vessel Will be in reality torpedo on a
grand scale-wiiI, it is believed, produce such
a conclusion as to greatly damage the fort and
ParalyZe the garrison. 1t is question, how
ever inasmuch as the fort is earth work.
whether the conclusion resulting from such
an unheard OF explosion will have any serious
effect upon ramparts so constructed. No donbt
II they were of masonry the effect might be
counted upon with more certainty. No doubt,
however, it will at least greatly s.astonish the
nativesn in general in tnat part of rebeldom,
and the garrison in particular, and unless they
are something more than mere militiamen, will
cause a stampede on shore.
Meanwhile the fleet will steam up and the
transports with troops are to be twelve miles
distant-the latter that distance up the coast-
and as soon as the explosion takes place all will
steam rapidly forward to the points designated
in the chart plan furnished to the commanders
OF the feet by Admiral Porter The trans ports
IN a Ia
near as possible, and after the fleet have ST.
fenced the fort march against 1t. There is a
small fort or water battery, called Half M oon
Battery, some tnrse or .ogr eGi, nIiss aoove fort
silenced by the iron- clads, and the troops
landed there ase ~ IE rs Ests 50 f.ta ~ p