The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-12-28
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS.
The Press Despatch.
OK BOARD STEAMER SANTIAGO ps CunA


Orr BEAUFORT, N. c., Dec l4-P.M.
In order TO Afford your readers clearer conception OF
the operations OF tho feet and to
cies incident upon the hasty preparation OF the letter
which sent you BY the pilot or Cape Henry, recapu.
late TO extent the description have given the
locality selected Tor the operations Of the cet
positions tho vessels out upon the
chart prepared for tho occasion by order Of Admiral
Porter
THR POINT OF ATTACK.
Tho main point OF attack Federal Point the marrow
strip OF land which bounds the side OF New Inlet
and forms part q the east bank OF Cape Fear river.
Federal Point is held BY series OF works the possession
Of which will At once give command OF Cape Fear
river and virtually close up the port Of Wilmington and
By cutting or Fort Caswe which stands the mouth
tho river render s possession by the rebels longer
Of any avail Hence tho Importance Of selecting New
Tho principal works comm ,ndng Now Inlet are along
the shore Of Federal Point, the strongest being Fo
ing Il 10 supposed, thirty six heavy guns some then
rifles, having range OF oser three miles This work
stands about two hundred yards from the shore Fol-
loving tho limo OF the shore Tor about three quarters
mile, IN southwest direction from Fort Fisher,
loe or batteries. Ave In number, connected BY rne-
pits Three OF these batteries casema,ed and two
open. The number OF guns mounted in them 10
not known. but some Of them rifles Of long range
Some three huodred yards northwest Of terminus
OF this line OF batteries stands what designated
Battery Lamb, Mound battery called from lie for
nation, Il being artificial mound OF earth some ory
feet high. mounting Two largo gums which are promnens
%oSna Ssc or s,s sso ss.sns. On 10 ms
blockade runners 10 making the inlet at night. The
mound was thrown up, supposed for the purpose OF
obtaining IN esvaton frsm which 70 throw pupging
shot at any light drausht Monitors. should thoy
attempt 10 cone up the channel The guns OF this bat
terry command the mNn channel, while most Of tho guns
OF Fort Fisher and OF the intervening batteries command
not only the main channel but also tho swash channel
which runs close al NC The beach In northeast drec
tIou. The sttcr work stands about at the Of
the swash channel
About two miles southeast from Fort Fisher, on
2ecke's Island which forms the southern rhore Of New
Inlet, n another battery OF acme strength; but Fort
hs po.so and PeScrs Pom, once IN our hands. fare
well TO blockade running at least 80 Tar 40 Wilmington
concerned.
THE PLAN or rrAcE.
Notwithstanding the evident strength OF theS works.
Il IN confidently believed that they cannot oag Withstand
the terrible Gre that DO brought bear upon them.
The combined armament Of the fleet numbers fully Ave
hundred and ninety guns most OF them OF the largest
caibrs and carry weight OF metal safe 70 say uppre
ccdenied In the annals OF naval warfare At least two
hundred gus can be brougb. 70 bear Al one time upon
the works.
Abou, three or four mlcs up the beach from Fort
Fisher small water battery called Half Moon Bal terry
numbering somc two or three guns but doubtless II
oaer very little resistance
THg ORDER or THE NAVAL ATTACH.
fbs iron clad feet, led by the frgate kousdes, and
accompanied by the gunboats acting AZ their enders,
viii approach Fort Fisher from northeast, stsudnz
coee In In the swash channel until they coma
within three quarters of mile OF tho FORT or as nser
that point depth OF water will Jerm tho ironsdss
stanans broadside tow ards the fort Monitors
RANGED 10 limo bows convenisot distances beatna
she frgate. In this ston they viii are over the land
Al the rebel stronghold.
Tho ireaes soops-of and otaer larger vessss wiz
move In shore, forming crescent SNAPPED line ~ battle
about mills from Iorts or a. near 70 the enemy
works as posshle and pour their concentrated batteries
into the forts Farrsgu our wooden bulls have beer
actively pr sparna for hsht for some TINA 'Che
armor tsplu,sr nestnas,n and other oxpedients, Il
promote The efficiency Of tho vessels and protect then
and tssir crows, - far a. poesibe, IRON the encmy
nave another great pavsi victory 70 chronicle
TIM LAND roRCB.
The troops composing the lard forcc are uuder com
maud Of MAJOR General Butlcr, cmposcd of the Firs
division the Twenty NTH and second division Of
Twenty fourth corps, and are embarked on board III