The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-24
FROM WILMINGTON.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
WILMINGTON, NORTH CARoLIsA,
January 1G. 1866.

Correspondence of the Richmond Disratch]
WILMINGTON, NORTH CARoLlsA,
January Is, 1865.
was at Fort Fisher part of the time,
and witnessed the fight and its fall. -.
Just as the sun rose on Friday, the 14th
Instant, the enemy, from the fleet, COM
menced to shell the woods and shore
ineyf iee1y Is shss shhtssa@ng close up io Hroft Fisher
and with the iron-clads and large steam
ers-Brooklyn, Colorado, etc.-are pour
ing into the fort a most awful and tre-
mendous fire. The Yankee troops,are
landing some four miles above on the
sea side. We arc. all asking where is
Bragg? l hear he, with nearly all his
forces, is eighteen miles oil.
Saturday, 14th.-Rragg's forces came
down the riycr, and by land, yesterday.
General Whiting telegraphcd to Bragg
Yesterday afternoon that the enemy had
landed in heavy force, and imploring
him to attack them. The sun has set,
and no attack yet from Bragg.
Surday, 15th.-Last night, Fisher was
reinforced by sending about one thou
sand of Hoke's division, in steamers, to
the fort. The enemy kept up slow fire
all night; this morning the bombard>
ment is terrific. The fort proper does not
reply, but the Mound and Battery Bu~
chanan commanded by the navy keep
up steady, and hope deadly, fire.
But not a spar of the Yankee ships is hit
or cut away, as l can discover. 1t is
precisely o'clock. The signal "a shril
whistlc) from the fleet is heard, and in
one minute the roar of the cannon ceases
but in an instant the sound of small arm:
is heard. The assault is made, and the
main attack is on the sea face of the fort
Halfpast 4 P. M.-The northwest corner
of the fort is now attacked by a heavy
force. They are fighting hand-to-hand.
sec, through the glass, four tlags
waving from the parapet: three arr
Yankee flags, one Confederate-l see on'
torn down; two men are graphing tht
second; it is down the third is in tn
Dust, and only the Confederate now float
on the ramparts.
Just receiveda q telegram that Bragg i
advancing on the enemy. A few shot:
fired, and all is silent in his direction
The sun is setting, and the firing Q
small arms is still going on in the fort
The Naval Battery and Mound still keeI
up heavy and steady fire. Ten o'clocl
| P. Ma rocket is sent up from tn
fort, and in . moment is answered fron
all the feet. The fort is overpowere'
by numbers, and surrenders. All is still
and silent as death; the never-ceasin
roar of the ocean is all that is heard
Last night, one steamboat, Daded Wit
| Hoke's veteran troops, failed to reac
| Fort Fisher, and are now here.
| Bragg has fallen back to fdnder Hat
two miles above Sugarloaf.
/ II left Richmond about two week
since, and have made it my business I
ascertain, as far as possible, public opil
ION, in and out Of the army, IN relatio
to. putting slaves. in the army; and
have met but once man opposed to i
and his reason was that it would keep
home some Of those old fellows tina
ought to be in. / have never seen sue
change since / was here in November
saw today whole company ever
officer and man in it arc in favor OF pn
ting in tho slaves
:, i have Just seen gentleman ftol
| Virginia, who lately arrived from q
| Yankee Inca where no hAdsheen impl
soned. lie siates that 40 iSar ihss !