The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-31
ADMIRAL PORrEH's ORDER TO THE


NORrH ATLANNC SquApRoN, UNITED SrArRs
! FLAGSHIP MALyBHN, HAMPTON ROADS, D8ceu
Der 10, lo6i-Ihe chart pan OF the propose I
attack on the batteries of The tnemyat Nov Inlet,
mouth OF Cape Fear river, will explain itself
but the order Of taking position is as follows go
IL is hrst proposed To CndeIvOr to plra.yle the
garrison by an explosion, all the vessels rem lin-
ing Twelve miles out from the bar, and the tr8pU4
in transports twelve miles down the coast rea iy
to steam UP and be prepared to take the works by
assault, IN case the latter are disabled.
AT given signal all the bar vessels will run Oft
bhore twelve nj es, when the vessel with poYder
Will 60 in under the forts. When the cNpl1,i31
takes place all the vessels will stand in shore in
the order marked on the plan.
Inc Ncc HOHSides Will steam along shore
coming from the eastward, until the ntgsaU on
Fort Fisher bears southwest by west nilr.-sst
ana anchor (chain ready to Slip with her UrolI
side btaling on the largest Of tile enemys WORKS
ana open IRE without delay. The molltors viii
come up astern, anchoring not more than one
length apart directly in line along the shore.
leaving space only for guDbOa, TO ne outside of
them, ana fire between them Or over them. rue
Ne0 bOnIdes and monitors will lie in not less
than three and a half fathOms water which viii
place them about three iourths OF "A mile from
Fort Fisher, and little over a quarter Of a mile
from the beach.
In the meantime the large ships will lie formed
In line OF battle 20 the eastward Of the iryl.cl ads
and heading parallel with the land in a soutG
hal west course in live fathoms water.
when the signal is made TO "take position"
the Minnesota (the sternmost vessel will 70
ahead slowly ana anchor about a mile from Fort
tlsher, opening fire the moment she PASS tue
New lrOnsides and anChOring so that her stern
gun VIII fire just clear Of that vessel. Tue J.
Llcan Will then anchor ahead Of tine Minnesota
Colorado ahead of The MOhican, Iu,carora ahead
of Colorado, Wabash ahead OF Tuscarora, Sus.
quehanna ahead OF Wabash, Brook yn ahead of
Susquehanna Powhatan ahead of Bro1klyn.
Juniata ahead of POwhltan, with their cables
ready to slip, and with not more than fifteen
futlOmS OF oh ain. the Gltpnn
inside the haWse-hoe,
The Seneca, Shenandoah, PawtuXet Ticonde-
roga, Macklnaw, Maumee Yantic, and Kansas
viii take their positions De wecn aud out ide the
dlnercnt yesaels as marked on plan, anchoring
with their cables ready 10 -lip.
When the large SHIPS aHd intermediate ones
get ialriy into position, the NyIck, Unldrla,
Huron, a1d PequOt will take posittln between and
outside the monitors, IN the order marked on the
plan, Keeping up rapid fire while the monitors
are loldDg.
The following vessels will next take their
p sitons as marked on the plan.
Commencing with the Fort Jackson-which
vessel will anchor ahead Of the Juniata, leavuga
space between OF three iengths--S lutia 90 ue
CUBA, 1acony, OsceoIa, CaIppewd, Slssncus,
MaratAnZi, Rhode Island Monticello Mount
Vernon, Montgomery, 4 X, Cuyler, Qu .ker CITY,
and lOscO, win pass ON slowly, CON nen lag win
me rear, until they form the line marked on the
plan.
The reserves of each division will form In line
las per plan out OF gunshot, ready to act as oc-
CusiOn may require.
This is the main plan of the battle. Circum-
stances may require some deviation from IL; such
as partial attack (Oetore going seriously 70
work), To feel the enemy's strength, all OF which
will be regulated by sgual or by orders Gfeat
care and cOOlnCss will be required @ drop the
vessels III their right places, aud u too early cJm-
nenCemcnt OF fire on the part Of those goiug into
position may create confusion.
As we know but little about the calibre and
number OF Rebel guns, the vessels mast cOncen-
tote their lire Oh the heaviest batteries; but get
me range before hrlag rapidly. For i4syance,
the large vessels and irOn-clads c1nCsnrra.e on
Fort Fisher, while the Vanderbilt, Fort Jack sDu
and The vessels IN the ne with the Fort Jack SON
WI oLen on he fOrls within their reach between
Fort Fisher and the Mound
All the reserve vessels will prepare to attack
Ieeks Island Battery, by taking a position whsre
they can entade IL, which is wnen the fort bears
northwest. Vessels drawing fourteen feet can 20
within mile aud three-quarters with perfect
safety, and use their rifle guns with good efT,ct,
lbey can also reach the forts on Federal Point.
and prevent their firing accurately on the other |
portions OF the feet in closer range
ALI the movements of the different lines will |
he made by sending orders in tug as signals |
viii not be seen in the smoke.
AS II is desirable not To have superauous dlrec |
uons, eacn commander Will he furnished with a |
plao, ana the mater fully discussed, aud points |
explained az general meeting of cOmman iers
Vessels in distress and finding it necessary 20 |
ietrt IRON bnttie Will steer cut southe 49, except
ilg the headmost vossels-IoscO Quaker Civ, |
h. tuy.er, etc,-which had better keen on |
outnWest half south course until they clear an
eth foot shoal (at low wattr) outside Of them,
IL 10 not desirable tina the vessels OF the
squauron should show themselves to the enemy
unlll The lime comes for them to act aud th-y
v Ill Keep of shore about twenty five mi es or far
enough not 10 be seen, with NV Inlet bearing
west, In about the Id itude Of 80 So, longitude
u ZO-that viii be the rendezvous. Comm inisrs
)i divisions will assemble the vessels of their
liNlsiens, get them into liIe, and keep them so.
a'h division being far enough from the o her 10 |
NO" thtm TO manwuyre without Interfering
W hen the signal Is mAdr ~ given 70 form In line
u oAtlle, every vessel Will lake her sAti1n in lt1e
lccofding 70 the plan on the chart-the First
Division forming nrat, and the Others dropping
n in order. FF"9
As only low steam wall be required, those YES
els that move ana Work h.nliy wish ha { their
,olers VIII OILY use those on one side kee0ing
ne DOlIrs Ton the side near the enemy) full of
VAier aId without steam, with water warm only,
hd ready 70 make steam In case of necessity
SLOW deliberate firing is desirable; there will |
e smoke enough anyhow. Rapid and iniis-
rlmlnate firing will amount TO little or nOthing
nope no shot may be thrown away
DAVID ID. PORrER, Rsar.A r.A1miral
Commanding North Atlantic Squadron.
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