Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-19
THE CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER
SECRETARY sTANTON's DISPATCH
TO PRESIDENE LINCOLN.

The rebel flag of Fort Fisher was de-
me on board the steamer Spsl-
| ding, of that place, yesterday morning,
January l6.
[Signed,l Msj.-Gen. TERRY,
An acknowledgment, and thanks for
that gallant achievement, was given in
your name, to Admiral Porter and General
Terry, from whom the following psrticu-
lars were received:
The troops arrived of Fort Fisher on
Thursday night. On Friday they we're all
landed, under cover of heavy fire from
the squadron. A reconnaissance was made
by General Terry on Saturday. A strong
defensive line against any of the enemy 5
forces coming from Wilmington was es-
tablished and held by 1000 men, chiefly
colored troops, and an assault was deter
mined on. The assault was made on Sun
day afternoon at half past three o'clock.
The sea front of the fort had been great
" damaged aud broken by continuous
and terrible fire of the feet for three days
and the front was assaulted at the hour
mentioned by column of sesmen, 1900
strong, under command of Captain Breeze.
They reached the fort, but after a short
conflict were checked and driven back in
disorder, and were afterwards placed on
the defensive line, taking the
place of brigade that was
brought up to reinforce the assaulting
column of the troops.
Although the assault on the sea front
failed it performed a very useful part in
diverting the attention of the enemy and
weakening their resistance to the attack
of the troops on the other side.
The assault on the other and most diff
cult side ofthe fort, was mado by column
of 1000 troops, of the old 10th corps, led
by Curtis, under the immediate supervision
of General Terry. The enemys force in
the fort was over 1900.
The conflict lasted seven hours. The
works were so constructed that every ira
verse afforded the enemy new defensive
positions, from whence they had been driv-
en-. There were seven in number, and the
fight was carried on from traverse totrav-
orse for seven hours by skillfully direct
ed fire thrown into trsverses. One after
another were occupied by the enemy, Ad-
mirsl Porter contributed to the success of
the asssulting column by signals between
himself and General Terry at brief inter-
walls.
This fire was so we'll msnsged as to
damage the enemy without injury on our
own troors at about 10 o'clock at mig ht
the enemy were entirely driven from the
fort, and forced down towards Federal
Point followed by brigsds of our troops !;
and about IL o'clock at night General
Whiting surrendered himself and his COM
msnd 10 General Terry Internationally as
prisoners of war, numbering over 1900.
The remainder Of his force had been killed
and wounded. Our loss was not accurate
" ascertsined on Monday afternoon, but
was estimated at between seven ard eight
hundred in killed and wounded, besides
naval loss, which was slight, not exceed
ing one hundred killed and wounded. Not
q snip nor q transport was lost.
Colonel Curtis was severely but not
mortsliy wounded.
Colonel Bell died of his wounds on Mon
day morning
Colonel J. W. Moore and Lieutenant
Colonel Lyman we're killed.
Colonel Hennypscker and Lieutenant
Colonel Coan were both badly wounded.
A complete list of the killed and wound
ed will be forwarded as soon as it csn bo
prepared.
General Leroy reported to Surgeon
General Barnes that he had an ample
provision of nurses and hospital supplies
for the wounded.
The wounded will be sent north to their
respective States IS fast as they can be
placed on transports, of which there was
ample supply.
On Monday morning, between 6 and I
o'clock, the magazine Of Fort Fisher ex-
ploded, killing and wounding about three
hundred persons.
After the capture Of the fort all the
troops were withdrawn except one brigade
left IN charge of the works.
How the explosion occurred was not
known, but General Terry believed it was
occasioned by accident or neglect.
General Hoke's division, reported at FIVE
thousand, was at Wilmington. A portion
Of it was thrown into the fort not long be-
fore the ASSAULT, and while it was going on
a demonstration was made by Hoke
against our defensive line, but it was
found too strong.
About eleven o'clock Monday morning
heavy cloud of smoke was observed over
Fort Smith, on the south side of New
Inlet The naval officer commanding that
station reported that the enemy had fred
the barracks and evacuated that work.
Perfect harmony and cencert of action
existed between the land and naval forces
and their respective commanders, Admir-
al Porter and General Terry. They We'd
in their commendstion each of the other.
Each seemed more anxious to do justice to
the other than to claim anything for him
self, and they united in the highest COM
mendstion of the affairs and tho forces en-
gagged.
The armament of the fort was seventy
two guns, some of them of large calibre
and riled, and one Armstrong gun. The
troops in tho fort had provisions for sixteen
days.
Their loss in killed and wounded was
between 400 and 500. General Whiting
had three wounds in tho thigh. Colonel
Lamb also, who had gone into the fort with
reinforcements and to relieve Ger eTal
Whiting on Sunday, is wounded.
On Monday everything was as quiet as q
Sabbath day. The dead were being buried
and the wounded placed in transports and
field hospitals.
General Sherman reviewed the move
ment of his forces from Savannah last
week
The 18th and 18th corps went in trans
ports to Beaufort on Saturday the 14th.
The 18th corps, under Msjor General
Blair, crossed Port Royal Ferry, and with
q portion of General Fosters command
moved on Pocotaligo. General Howard
commanding that wing of the army, re-
ported on Sunday that the enemy had
sbandonded his strong works in our front
during Saturday night
Gen. Blsir's corps now occupies q strong
position across the railroad covering al
approaches eastward to Pocotallgo. All
| the sick in General Sherman's army are in
good hospitals at Beaufort and Hilton
Head, where the genial climate affords sd
| us14ocoa for -eoovnriuor n cf1porior ~ opv