The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-27


during the advance Of our men, repre-.
scented that the enemy had been re en-
forced during the night. But we do not
know that this is correct. General Cox
was soon engaged with the rebel pickcts,
who, no donbt, seat word to General
!a:cod of his advance upon the rear Of
his work.
Tie combined movement had the ef-
feet to SO deAoralizo them that they con
Guided to abandon the work which they
did about s O'clock this morning. Co.
lionel Moore being confident that the
ene.1r had evacuated, ordered his men
10 charge the works ana open fire, which
they did about 4 o'clock. They captured
about twenty prisoners, officers and
men--the rest had got away.
We have eleven pieces OF heavy artil-
lsry, all in good condition. None were
spiked. They were evidently left in a
great hurry.
The way is open to Wilmington. The
gunboat, will be able to reach within
Smelling distance of the place.
The Admirars bogus monitor, doubt
less. was the Influential cause Of the pre-
cipitate abandonment by the rebels of
their strong defensive line on the river.
The affair was towed up close to the
fort at 10 O'Clock last evening, and then
cast adriit on the food tide. AS it
drifted past the fort the rebels opened
their guns on it, and set off their clectri-
cal torpedoes about it; but all to no ef-
feet. 1t passed all these dangers in
safety, and sailed on to a point about two
miles above the fort, where it met the
ebb tide. This at first, aided by the
wind, sent it across the river, where it
grounded, Immediately in the rear of
IIoke's lines at Sugar Loaf. The rebels,
Of course, considered themselves flanked
By our most formidable vessel, and, fear
ing a Joint front and rear attack, conclu-
dcd to run.
The following is Porter's official re,
port:
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP MALVERN,
Cape Fear River,
February 10th, 1865. }
Sir: have the honor to report the
surrender or evacuation of Fort Ender~
son.
General Schoficld advanced from
Smithyille, with eight thousand men,
on the 18th instant. At the same time
attacked the works by water, placing
the monitor Montauk close to the works,
and enfilading them with the Pawtucket,
Lenape, Unadilla and Pcquot, the tide
and wind 4hot allowing more vessels to
get under fire. The fort answered pretty
briskly, but Quoted down by sunset.
On the 18th, at s o'clock, moved up
closer, with the Montauk leading, fol-
lowed by the Mackinaw, Huron, Sassa>
Gus, Pontusuck, Maratanza, Lenape,
Unadilla, Pawtucket, Osccola, Shawmut,
Seneca, Nyack, Chippewa and Little
Ada, and kept up heavy fire through
the day until late in the afternoon.
The enemy's batteries were silenced
by three o'clock, though we kept up the
fire until dark. We also fired through
the night.
In the meantime, General Schofield
was working in the rear of the rebels to
cat tho:n CT. The latter did not wait
for the army to surround them, but left
in the nigh, taking five or six pieces of
light. artillery with them, and every thing
else Of any value.
\: daylight this morning, some OF our
troops that were near by went in and
hostod the flag Oh tac ramparts, when
the firing ceased from the monitors.
There were ten heavy guns in Fort
Anderson and a quantity Of ammunition.
We lost but three Killed and five
wo., i,1ed,
ain, Sir, your obediect servant,
DAVID d. Porter, Rear Admiral.
Hon. Gideon 'Te(ies, Secretary Of the
Navy.