Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-31
Second Edition
< FOUR ,oLooK. y. N. 3
THE ATTACK UPON IT. FISHER
THR NlITlRYfSIDE on YHE QUESTION.
Premature Explosion Of the
Powder Vessel. ne
One story Good until Another u TsId
DESCRIPTION OF FORTFISHER

UEoChIfIlUN Vf fUhf tDuEh
The following ertrsess we take from the
Norfolk Nss Regime Of the a9th inst., the edi-
tor Of which accomplished the military portion
Of the expedition against Fort FIshsr. 10 sx-
plains many thlrgs about the stack mot before
undersood here, becsuse The non-sppearanee
Of Gen. Butler's report, and refutes many re-
ports brought 70 this city tending greatly 10
the injury OF Gen. Butler. Weak the special
attention OF our readers 70 whst ths editor OF
the Nss R>cimx says, ss follovsiG HiF ,suo.
Late on Fridsy night (Dec. 9s) s'tospedo''
steamer Louisiana, Capt. A. o. Rhlnd, wss
sdv.nced In the direction OF Fort Fisher. She
had on board two hundred and thirty fve tons
disposition Of the powder on board the "tor-
pcdo," whether Il was in bags Or compsrt-
ments, or whether u was mainly above or below
the water line. For these Interesting fActs you
must wait until the oficisf statements reach
you. Il was hoped, I know, that the efploeiou
would take place within -four or nve hundred
yards Of the shore, that BY n tho nssn IN Fort
Fisher would bs rendered incapable Of resist,
ance for two or three hour, ,Athst during this
period Of stupor IN the gsrrison, ample time
would be afforded for the nIet 70 enter Caps
Fear river at the mouth OF which Fort Fisher
stands. Il was part Of the hope, too, had the
effect OF the cxploslon been such % 70 disable.
ths men, that the light drsft gunboets should
ascend the river and remove the Distractions
But the atorpedo'' was exploded at one O'Clock
on Saturday morning (Dec. 2i) at q nsomeaf
phsN hs naval fee ,ses stzfssn or fcsHfv saass
ssav, and Ne srmy fsst ras riding eat ne ssoris
IN Beaufort harbor. i9liw dfl1I iAlfg y.
Il would be interesting 70 know how the
fuses were applied, whether all the powder On.
ploded instantaneously, and how Capt Rhind
and the brave fellows who helred him In the
periious work, got away from the fred ship,
but these details have not. Nor DO Ieknoa
whether the Louisiana was within harms
length OF the work which Il was her mlssion
70 destroy whether she was within four hum
ircd yards or four miles from Fisher--thcsei
details have not. I only know that Admiral
Porter began his bombsrdmeat at 10 IS on
Saturday afternoon---fpslvs hours qftsr the ar
power Of chloroform or the force OF hell upon
the rnen-ifthey could have been stunned BY
the explosion--surely there sas room enough iai
ne long fcelss hoars ehieh had fssssti aaosy for
them 70 have aroused and gathered up asainI
their scattered senses. Ieh Iili G1iibf ,s1sE a.
Amer describing the movements Of tho navy
the writer proceeds, lGof Hn rs1t sHi
Now let us Join the army again. AT twslvs
O'Clock on Sunday the signal was nadeto
land General Ames's brigade OF troops. in
anticipation OF such work General Graham
had made full preparation. : As far back %
September, he had ordered Capt. Fitch, OF his
marine brigade, 10 select from the crews OF
the gunboats attached 10 his command about
four hundred picked men for instructions In
the naval launch exercise, and subsequently, In
the naval howitzer drill. I. lo f-r 7iJi ~
At half-past two O'Clock, D. M, Q thousand
men had reached the shore In the launches.
The sky was clear, land all seemed promising.
The Malvern came alopgside, and tho Admiral
saluted the General, and asked; "How are you
today" The General replied, with his cap
uplifted, "I amvery wellj how nre you" The
two ships were drining apart nloxiy, % the
Admiral, through his trumpet, cried aloud
agnini1o 'N" nlA uf1iosc9D Tof hfEcd
"General, there 10 not rebel within i've
miles Of the fort. You have nothing 70 do but
throw In troops and occupy t.nTsY ~ 5HIctl
Tho General bowed, and turningto some ono
near him, remarked, In an under tone, ~ have
fellow on shore, there, one 'Weilzel, who Will
hnd that out" At this time, Gem sWeitEei,
with jackson and Graves Of his stah, and
young DoKay Of Gen. Butler's stat, were push-
Ing up the beach with beco.ning speed. In the
direction OF the fort-the troops under Graham
and 0urtis having first taken possession Of the
two sand works, Flag Fond and Half Moon
bstteries.e II 10 OF no moment 70 state who was
hrst or last In these enorts, further than 10 Say
that q captain and lieutenant and iskxty-nys
| men were captured and sent on board nava