American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-01-25
Fall of Fort Fisher.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IT.

| FLAGSHIP MALVERN,
Orr FoRT FISHER, N. G,
January II, 1865.
Sir, | have the honor to inform you
that operations have been resumed against
the forts at the entrance of Cape Fe ar
River. Since the attack on that place,
and the subsequent withdrawal of the
troops, | have been employed in filling
the ships with ammunition apd coal. The
difficulties we hav encountered no one
can conceive. All our work had to be
done with the larger vessels anchored ON
the coast, exposed, you may almost say, at
sea, to the violent gales that blew here al
most incessantly On these gales the en-
emy depended to break up our prepara-
tions. You will see we have gone thro'
the first of it-have held on through gales
heavy enough to drive everything to sea,
and we have sustained no damage what
ever. After the troops arrived, the wea-
ther set in bad, and the gale was very
heavy. As soon as it was over, got un-
der way on the 18th inst, and forming
the vessels in three lines, with the trans.
ports in company, steamed for Ft. Fish
er. On the morning of the 18th, the
feet took its station in three lines close to
the beach, and the boats were sent at once
to take off the troops These were land
ed, with about twelve days provisions, at
about ? o'clock p. IN.
This time | pursued a different plan in
attacking the rebel works. | sent in the
new Ironsides, Commodore Radiord, lead
ing the monitors Sanguso Canonicus,
Monadnock and Mahopee. AT half past
seven in the morning. the forts opened
on them as they approached, but they our
etly took up their old positions within j.
900 yards of Fort Fisher, and when rea-
dy they opened their batteries. In this
way | tempted the enemy to engage the
monitors, that we might see what guns
they had and what we were able to dis
mount by fire Quite spirited engage
ment went on between the fort and the
Ironsides and monitors.
1t was soon apparent that the iron ves-
sells had the best of it. Traverses began
to disappear, and the Southern angle Of
Fort Fisher commenced to look very dill
patcd. The guns were silenced one after
the other, and only one heavy gun in the
southern angle kept up its fire. The fire
of this gun was not at all accurate, If it
inflicted no damage on the iron vessels.
They were hit several times. BY way Of
letting the enemy see we had some shell
left on board the wooden ships, and did
not intend to take any unfair advantages
of him by using the iron vessels alone, |
ordered line No /, led by Capt. Alden,
of the Brooklyn, and line No. |, led by
Commodore Hatcher, of the Colorado, to
90 and attack the batteries This was
done in the handsomest manner. Not a
mistake was committed, except firing too
rapidly and making too much smoke
The heavy fire of the large vessels shut
up the enemy's guns at once, and after
firing till after dark the wooden vessels
dropped out to their ancorage.
The Ironsides and Monitors maintained
their position through the night, firiug a
shell now and then. They are now lying
within one thousand yards of the fort and
the monitors within seven hundred yards
t and the fort does not fire a gun at them
: thinking, no doubt, that it is waste oi
/ powder. The firing from the feet vii
commence as soon as we get breakfast
and be kept up as long as the Ordnance
Department provides US with shells and
| guns. -
There is perfect understanding between
Gen. Terry and myself. believe every
thing has been done to suit him. l have
heard no complaint, and know that W.
have felt every disposition to help the ar
nv along. A detailed report Of our ope
rations here will be sent in when we ge
through. | see no reason to doubt ou
l success. The forts will be used up soon
We have respectable force landed on
strip of lond which our naval guns com
z pletely command, and place of defense
which would enable US to hold on agains
4 a very large army. l will report to yo'
every opportunity.
o | have the honor to be, very respectful
e ". your obedient servant,
DAVID u. poRrEn,
+ Rear Admiral.
e To GIDEON WELLEs, Sec'y of Navy
SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE.
. A number of the troops advanced dun
ing the night to the abandoned ebet n
r Anderson, and now holds the Who'll
A breadth of the peninsula to Cape Fea