, 1864-12-31
POSTSC RiPT.
The Military SItunttou-1nteFest1n
General News 1teIlss.


General News 1te11as.
--''
Especial Dispatch to the Western Press.]
NEW TonK, Friday, Dec. 30-Mldnighk
The Associate Press correspondent with
Porte1's expedition says it is the opinion Of
those best competent to judge In such mat
tc1s that Fort Fisher is the strongest earth
work in America. It may be briefly described
as squire Fashioned eartlw6rk, enclosing
about five acres, and mounting SO heavy guns.
In exploding the powder boat, fuses were at
ranged to be fred By clock work, and as q
further precaution, 1t was arranged to set the
vessel on fire ut point removed from the
powder. The explosion produced dull;
r1mbllng sound, us If two light pieces OF
artillery had been fired In quick succession, the
second report seeming merely the echo Of the
first. 4 slight, tremor was felt throughout
the fleet. A few moments after ths explo=
sion, heavy cloud rose and foated ont to
sea- AS It passed the fleet. . sulphurous odor
tained TINT the explosion caused any damage
to Fort Fisher. It WIS 12 O'Clock in the day
as the fleet got into position, and in just one
hour afterwards the battle commenced in ear
nest. The smoke from the feet was blown
steadily out to sea, giving . clear view Of Fort
f'snef. Our n11hg at AIst "as QUITE H4u3
mary lailnS snoft, M9Ae otners e4Plooeu
over and oeyond E1sher. - - soon as
me range was ! opsalnSo, tne p;9a;Ha: psnSilce
vas very GOOD: At t"o O'Clock the 9 building
IN ifont LOOK nre ana pntneu 1apa'y; hy
O'CLOCK INC enemy Nas comple!ciy sliencea
~ lne nrc rom Inc ueet, anu nutn1us ot
buildings. During the fght rebel steamer,
fight, just behind the fort, but she disap-
peared alter q few shots IRON tue Eunboats.,
Two other steamers were visible 1or fc'F
moments tn the SECOND Jays light. The shotAl
from tne MONITORS ana 1ea7J vessels Wefe a.
1nely thro"n, nearly aH .s1flklng Inc lo!t
Inc only response were from some o. tne1
enemy smosl distant easemates. A9a5tempt
asco anu ssfela! o. Lne s11atler sessels' a.
OF theih senong OUT email Doats 10 drag 1of
toTpeooes: -
Lieut.. CusnlnS' VINO oes1foyed .the ape
marie, attempted to sound and mark out
eney 30 hsss s@a 6oa did
strike them. While this WIS going on the
troops we're landing from transports and
forming for attack. Before the landing could
be effected three gnuboats engaged in dis
lodging the enemy from smnll work known
This was done in few moments, and thegar-
rison Of sixty-flSe surrendered to the sailors
from the Santiago de Cuba- The prisoners
we're armed With English rifles. The magazines
Of the earthWorks are found well filled with
ammunition. The troops advanced we'll up
to the Fort, some Of them going inside the
works. An attempt to assault It was aban-
doned In consequence of Gen. Weftzel and
Gen. Butler deciding that 1t was impossible
to achieve success.
The HtralHs correspondent with Porter's
fleet says: When the feet WAS about to move
to Beaufort and Fortress Monroe. two vessels
arrived laden With ammunition. The posi-
billty exists of the attack being continued as
soon as the ammunition can be distributed.
From Savannah.
The HerazFs Savannah special says: "Gcn,
| Geary has been appointed Military Governor:
| bis division being the first to enter the city'
| While Whcelcr's cavalry was STATIONED in ST.
| yannah It plundered many stores and com
| mittcd numerous outnges. After Harlee's
eyacIatlon, and before our troops occupied
| the city, mobs broke In several shops and
warehouses. some o4LrnEes 1ook pace alter
our troops eIte1eo. a4t9ses ~ VILE ano cnll-
ofT4 IT, seHn Ma,%. ~ aaranaah ,,t+o- ee~s. Thu
,tte r,d uoasaa asaam nt ~ Saf ndfs sa.a
~, Sba-+.e1,,s troons ~ Ho-Saa 1arnr,
;a a 4Sat ~ n1a t tt9o ~ ss.nt p14 T.!
| rsta,;nt;on % m Tha nnr1es,onda54 a:ve tbat -
Ha-1na;s nr,nv which at arat nnmha-n5
- ~ una radnccd tn I'm ~ Tho Gonro;a
.,o2fft;a or1 othnr n-no n;o t;an. -srnoaa5o3 -
d;Harnn+ - 4orts ~ 10 Gtotn iTrho so,n,.ant
! 4narchn5 ~ 1!ha ,1ae+nn