Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-28

WILMINGTON hARBuS CtOSEu uF'
The correspondent of Baltimore american,
under date of the 9Th inst, communicates the
following important information relative to
the renewal or rather extenuation of the
great movement against the defences of Will
minston, situated at Federal Point, mouth of
New Inlet. This correspondence has been
withheld from publication here until should
become known that the attack had actually
been commenced.
STEAMSHIP " SANTIAGO DE CuBA,n
orr BEAUFORT, Jan. 9Th.
Having ridden out a heavy southeast storm
at our anchorage during the past two days,
off Beaufort harbOr, we are now enjoying a
calm peculiar to this latitude, which can
scarcely be expected to last more than "a
hours. Yesterday morning, the wind having
got round to the northeast and the sun shin
ing out brightly, we were blessed once more
with 4 quiet sea, and were delighted also with
tse approach of the feet of transports with
enc troops furnished by Gen. Grant TO co-Ope-
rate with Admiral POrter's feet in the cap
ture of Fort Fisher.
The first vessel that arrived was the flag
ship of the commanding General, which
Beaufort HarbOr to communicate with the
flagship of Admiral Porter. Next came the
steamers Baltic and Atlaltic, each with near
1000 men on board. The other transports
arrived soon after. Their names could not
however be ascertained. All the transport
feet, as / write, are now anchored outside of
the bar, along with the naval vessels.
The plan of battle is fully arranged, and
che commanders of each vessel have been
supplied with a new chart, indicating not on
" his exact position, but the precise point Of
the works of the enemy on which his fire is
80 be directed.
The Santiago being commanded by the Sc
Nor captain of the gun feet, Capt. o. 5.
Gibson, is stationed at the head of the line
Of vessels of her class, eleven in number, and
whilst the others of the line are to concen
trate their fire on the OutwoTks of Fort Fish
er, our guns are to throw a flank fire into the
Fort.
The positions of the vessels are nearly the
same as in the former fight, excepting that
the iron-clads will take position about
quarter of a mile nearer to Fort Fisher than
at the first attack, and the Dictator will also
Join them with her two l5-inch guns, making
the monitor feet twelve guns strong, includ-
ing the four guns of the .lfoRadllock. Then
tie IrOaSidss, with her tremendous lI-inch
lyn, lS1lsgueha1aa, IisscarOra, Seneca, I5coHde
roga, Nohiean, Colorado, Shenandoah, Par
tltcket, MacknGa0, WuHnee, POsrltGti,nl, .Jtltdtd
YGHfic and Kansas form the second line.
The Men York, UI,adida, Huron and PeqtOd
which act as tenders to the Monitors, are
also in the inner line.
The gunbOats and feet are to form a line
in front Of the shore batteries, extending to
the right of Fort Fisher. The reserves of
the various divisions, consisting Of the small
Ter class of gunboats, are assigned to posi-
ton outside the line of battle.
LATER-A steamer has just arrived from
the inner haFbOr, and repOsts that at noon to-
day signal was hOisted on the flag ship of
feet to prepare for sea. The probability is
that we will sail tomorrow morning, if the
weather continues favorable. The feet out
side the bar are all ready to sail at a mo-
ment's notice; the larger transports are also
outside, about Is miles from shore, awaiting
the movements of the feet
The following has been received at the
Navy Department from Admiral Porter:
FLAG SHIP Nj. VERNON, OPP Fl. FISHER. n. c.,
January II, 1865. !
10 Honorable Gideon Welles, Secretary Of Nary:
sIR 81 have the honor to inform you that ope-
rations have been resumed against the forts at the
entrance OF Cape Fear River.
quent to the withdrawal Of the troops, have beer
employed in filling the ships with ammu milton and
coal. The difficulties have encountered no one
can conceive. All our work had to be done with
the larger vessels anchored of the coast, you may
say at sea, exposed to the violent gales that blow
here almost necessarily. On these gales the enc
my depended to break up our preparations. We
have gone through the worst Of it, have held on
through gales heavy enough to drive everything
to and We have sustained no damage whatever.
After the troops arrived the weather set in bad
and the gale was very heavy. AS sson as it was
over got under way the 18th inst, and forming
the vessels in three lines, with transports in
pany, steamed for Fort Fisher. On the morning
Of the 18th the feet took its station in three lines
olose TO the beach and the boats sent at once
TO take of the troops. These we're landed, with
about IL days provisions at about O'Clock p. m.
This time pursued a different plan in attacking
the rebel works. sent in the Ne1O Ir0asides,
Commodore Radford, leading the Monitors SaHgUs,
cGHoHieUs, AOHadHOct and Mahopae. At 1850 a.
m. the forts opened on them they approached,
but they quietly took up their old positions within
l,COO yards of Fort Fisher, and when ready they
opened their batteries. tempted the enemy to
engage the Monitors that We might see what guns
they had, and seeing where they we're, be able to
dismount them by our fire.
Quite a spirited engagement went on between the
forts, and IroHssdes AID Monitors Il was soon APP
parent that the iron vessels had the best of It.
Traverses began to disappear, and the Southern
angle Of Fort Fisher commenced to look very di-
lapdated. The guns were silenced, one after the
other, and only one heavy gun in the Southern an
gle kept up its FIRE. The FIRE OF this gun not az
all accurate, as it inflicted damage n the iron
vessels, though trey were hit several times. By
way of letting the enemy had some shell
left on board the wooden ships, and did n intend
to take any unfair advantage of him by using the
iron vessels alone, ordered in q Line No II in
the plan. led by Capt. Alden Of the Brooklyn, and
Lins No. q" led by Com. Thatcher of the Col0rG-
do, 10 go 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 yes
sells shut up the enemy's guns at once, and after
firing till after dark, the wooden vessels dropped
out 20 their anchorage
The Irorsfdes and Monitors main tanned their po-
sition through the night, firing she'll now and
then. They are now lying within 1000 yards of the
fort, and the Monitors within 200 yards, and the
fort does not FIRE a gun at them, thinking, no
doubt, that it is a waste Of powder The firing
from the feet will commence soon as We get
breakfast, and be kept up as long the ordnance
department. provides with shells and guns.
There is a perfect understanding between Gen.
Terry and myself believe everything has been
dana 70 entsb howa hear n1af,, ay,d