Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-06

have returned 10 Fortress Monroe. and the feet,
under Admiral Porter, is expected there daily
The whole affair has been vretchedly bungled
The plan was a good one. but none Of its details
were properly carried out; and the failure has
been owing to circumstances and obstacles which
were foreseen and pointed out, but which could
not be overcome and also. in some degree. 10 ac
cident. which we're wholly unexpected. No de-
gree Of blame can fall upon Admiral Porter, IN
less IL be for putting too much reliance upon the
expected results Of the explosion Of the powder
vessel
All bis other arrangements were marked With
great prudence and wisdom. But this il notsay
ing enough. There are three scenes in the naval
history OF this war which deserve not only TO
live forever on the brightest page Of history but
also to be immortalized on canvas, and to bave a
place in the rotunda Of the capitol
The first j. the memorable contrast between
the rebel ram Merrimac and the original MOni
tor, commar ded by the gallant Captain John l.
Worden. The second Is the recent naval action
in Mobile bay, with that real hero. Farragut,
giving his orders from the main-top OF his flag
ship. And the third is the bombardment of Fort
Fisher, with Admiral Porter standing on the
wheel house of the steamer Malvern, trumpet in
hand. giving his orders 10 person to the different
commanders. and sending Off directions to dis
tant vessels by means OF two little dispatch
steamers ever In attendance on his flag ship.
The latter vessel wes constantly in rapid mo
ton, always in the front, and oftentmes within
musket shot OF the fort. Nothing escaped the
personal notice Of the gallant admiral; and the
sailors and gunners inspired by the presence Of
the houored commander Of the feet, fought with
splendid enthusiasm.
To give the devil his due, believe, in view
Of all the facts that can learn, that Gen. Butler
displayed more good sense, and acted with more
prudence and wisdom than on any other occasion
during his life. The facts. think, show that
the conclusion to which he came was fully just
fed And, regards Gen. W ethel, too much
cannot be said in his praise With heroic cOur
age which put aside all considerations for his
personal safety. he led the reconnaissance in
person; and be satisfied himself that it would
only be useless slaughter to order an assault on
such work Fort Fisher.
The explosion of the powder vessel failed to
produce any of the results that had been ex
pected. Admiral Porter himself, in speaking of
the explosion and its effects, says: "The shock
was nothing like so severe expected il
shook the vessel some and broke one or two
glasses bu, nothing more" This Was written
the Goth; two days siter the explosion. and the
day after the land forces had been re-embarked
IL any damage. therefore. had been done to the
fort BY the explosion, Admiral Porter would
have known il by that time
But that Is not all Al 3 O'Clock on the alter
noon OF the 18th, thirty seven hours after the
explosion. the troops having landed General
HeitZel made a close reconnaissance of the fort
ia person. and reported that the work was sub
stantally uniujured Here was the enormous
quantity OF three hundred tons OF gunpowder. ex
ploded within five hundred yards OF a hostile fort.
and vet no damage done. \ costly experiment
that. The country would like to know how
much money was wasted III that very Grant like
experiment.
Nor was the bombardment itself any more eff
fsctve Ii was kept up from the 24th TO the
18th. and yet on the latter date the fort was com
paratively uninjured, and its guns were III eff
fectve a condition ever. Only two guns had
been dismounted On our side, six or eight Of
our best 100 FOUNDER Parrot guns had burst,
killing nearly 100 of our best gunners. The fol
lowing are some Of the causes of the failure OF
the expedition Others have not vet come TO
light:
First. The impossbi,y OF getting the fleet
into Cane Fear river at all, on account of the
depth OF water which the iron-clad vessels aud
the larger wooden vessels draw, and the shallow
water in both of the inlets and the shifting ma
iure Of the channel
Second. The great strength Of Fort Fisher.
which has enabled it to stand the severest bonn
bardment of modern times. and vet to remain un
injured
Third The fact that the commander OF the
land forces was not under the orders OF Admiral
Porter. This fact great mistake on the
part Of the administration in organizing the eI
petition. If the troops had been placed under
the command of some general directed to report
10 Admiral Porter Tor orders the result of the
expedition might have been different