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

interess by the ofbcers and crew Of tho feet ., .
distance of somo twelve miles fe~ q ,hom
bedng willing 10 forrgo tho sigh, for the sake
Of nights sleer. Al first there was great msss
of lurid light ovepprcsdins the heavens in ,hc di-
rection of the fort The light -comcd 70 rsdis.c
rrom tie c-ntrc Ike fan, the handle extending
down In The horizon, and the periphery snfc'iins
hsh the heavens In gare q Gre This continued
ioI scout minute when the light vamahcd into
ptehy darkness and all still for few mo-
tnenn In thirty seconds from the DISAPPEARANCE
OF the light two loud reports RAPIDLY follow ed each
othor, about ~ loud as the report q .
,hirty,tw pornder concussion Of The air, iusi
enough to flap the lnzy lagging sails or coors of .
vessel accompanied the report. The whole feet
nduiged In the most curious speculatlons reepect-
ing the real object of the explosion, lew persons
seins in tho secret. bu, all seemed 10 understand
mat -omothing impoitant was oxpected from the
direction Of For. Fisher. Half An hour after thc
espoeion dense cloud " powder smoke cams
hoaiigg towards the feet, aud tor more hsn
40 hour afterwards the AIR was hnsd
CAsey, Of the Corps Of Engineers was specially
detailed by the War Department W witness tho
explosion, and make fun report d Its elects and
phenomena connected with a.
Saturday morning opened bright aud fair, and
was most propitious for the operstons of the day.
Not cloud was N be seen in tho sky. By day
light the vessels besan to got underweigh. A. one
and in short time all the other vessels took
part In tho engagement pouring tor
nble aud wihef1ng fire OF shot aud shell into
Fort Fisher. In about hour the wooden bar
racks In The fort burst into flames. and soon sfter
the rebel flag was sbot away. Al 4 o'clock every
vessel wss engaged, and hundred and sixty pro-
jcchlcsa minute werc thrown In, producing hor-
rbe and indescribebe whiz. that seemed 10 NIL tho
air with cry like tho prolonged shrek Of dying
world. Towards nghi the vessels began 70 draw
on, and anchored out of range " the retel guns.
SUI some of the Vessels continued 70 shell the fort
during the night in order 10 harrsss the garrison.
Christuss morning was foggy, and the shore
could not be from the ships Tho vessels
were, however ordered to take position, and si
Ven O'Clock the firing commenced, and the entire
n'ct soon becsme engaged. Tho transports, with
ly VIC m.n.ary 'orceS now eessn 10 arrive, and me
preparations for landing the troops commenced A
small bost was launched from THO Malvern, under
command OF Lieut. VIM II. Cushing and tbIrtocn
seamen. This cran headed for the shore under
the retcl batteries twelve men pulling the oars,
and one man Standing in the bow and COOL taking
soundings. The retels seemed psrslyLcd with this
act Of sudsciy which attracted the admiration OF
The eutiro eot but they directed their fire 10
close around But the boat SPED forward,
| aud soundings were taken under the very
| muzIes d the guns of the Fort. Al last when
| the little craft was within . hscuit toss OF the
Teach, Lieut.. Gushing slgnalled the men 70 cease
fowins- and standing up ln tie stern Of the Loaf,
took deliberate survey Il the surroundings aud
II the interior oi tho Fort, afer which the boat
urned 10 the flag ship having taken accurate
Sundngso Of the proper landing place Tor ,Ls troops
| no landing commenced at two o'clock, and took
| laee amid die enthusiasm of bo.h the land and
| nval forces. The soldiers cotnpetod with each
| oter In trying to leap first aAhore, and ihe
| salors who were not assisting In the work
| kpt up cheering on board the ships,
| while the csnnons.ie still wen, ON, the whole
| presenting scene that will long 10 remembered
by hose who witnessed 1t The troops, as fas, as
they formed in regiments on shore, moved out OF
| sigh Of the Heet behind some piue openings. Tho
| utmst anxiety and interest was manifested by
| ever, one on board 10 witness the commencement
q th' assault which expected W take place and
the disappointment and bitterness OF seeing
| the tooI- commence to embark again, In place of
AndiR the remainder, who still on
| bosrdshiJA can hardly be described
Thstroops were commanded by General Welt
| LeL With Generals Ames and Paine as division
| comm ndcrs the whole under the direction Of Ma
| lor Goeral Butler as commandment chief of the
land foces Of the expedition. The brigades under
GENERA. Curtis and Bell formed on shore and al.
| vanctd'bout n mile, when mssked battery opened
upon thin. Beyond the battery battalion 81 North
Carol nltroops was discovered. The two brigades
| opened the right aud lcf Of the "Iohnnies -
and qtnely captured the whole lot, 20 the number
| of two Kindred. Gen. Weitzel now rowed
along thdeach, and, after an examination Of the
works, dhared that they could not be carried by
assault zen. Curtis, however, was Of different
opnion, Ad begged permission t. make tho At.
tempt Lere was granted, and the brave General,
followed Il equally brave and eager soldiers,
rushed for'arJI the fort aud clsmbered over the
Tnrspct. A,older Of the li2d New York Volun,
teers tore down the rebel flag and carried 1t of
Another 81 orderly, coolly seized his drpatct,
es oontann, as II subsequently proved, much
valuable information, and even took po sses sion OF
his horse. LIT by this time the rebals tegan tc
concentrate ter FIRE against our brave boys. Our
nss7ultug comm was too weak and thin 10 rush
forward and seize the victory that was within
grasp, and o. soldiers were forced b. retire. II
Was now gaiug dark, and the brigade Oh
falling back found Ao other troops al
really emburklg. The fleet began to Stacker
tie cnnuonadt and the rebels at the sam,
tIae incressed thoir frr, emerging from he
bombpTOots aud Rrassi ng our men far more in IN,
retreat than dung the stack our troops yiyor
ouHly replied. he gunboAtE, guided in the lark
10y the fssls oil rebel musk ,try In the woods
sheed them = Keep them back The VIM
had changed T. the eastward, and q heavy
surf iesan 10 dse The rain also doscepdet
IN torrents andt was impossihle to row boat
through the sur; iew were swampcd bu
fortunately none ere lost. At 3 o'clock Oh Non
day morning. it iound necessary 10 de6is
? from tae embarkatr, leaving nearly a thuusaut
men still ashore. hey under the cover OF tn,
giInhO and wertO be removed ss soon as III,
swell subsidized. 'le entire rebel force in For
Fisher Is eAtnaied one thousand men IN the for
Iihcatonsl aud iouithousand ncn encampod il
the vicinity
tBytiegraph)
The Fleet Nc TO be Withdrawn
II WdshiHgtoa, Dee There 10 no probability 0
the naval force undeTAdniral Porter, discontinu