Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-17
The Fight at Fort Fiaher.

situated at Federal Point, at the mouth of
New Inlet. This correspondence has been
withheld from the public here until it
should become known that the attack had
actually been commenced:
STEANsHIP SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Jan. g.
Having ridden out southern storm at
anchor during the past two days off Beau
fort harbor, we are now eujoiug a calm
peculiar to this latitude, which can scarce
" be expected to last longer than "a hours.
Yesterday morning the wind having got
round to the north east and the sun shi-
ming out, we were blessed once more with
quiet sea, and our eyes were delighted
also with the approach of the feet of
transports with the troops furnished by
Gen. Grant to Cooperate with Admiral
Porters fleet in the capture of Fort Fisher.
The first vessel that arrived was the
nag ship of the Commanding General,
which crossed the bar at once, and pro-
ceeded up Beaufort harbor to communi-
cate with the flag ship of Admiral Porter.
Next came the steamers Baltic and Allan.
tic, each with near 1000 men on board
Other transports also arrived soon after
Their names could not, however, be ascer-
| tanned. The transport feet are now an
chored outside the bar, along with the
naval vessels.
The plan of battle is fully arranged, and
the commander ofeaoh vessel has been sup.
piled with new chart, indicating not
only his exact position, but the precise
point of the works of the enemy on which
his fire is to be directed.
The Santiago de Cuba, commanded by
the senior Captain of the gunbost feet,
Capt. o. S.!lGleason, is stationed at the
head OF the line of vessels of her class,
eleven in number, and whilst others of the
line are to concentrate their FIRE on the
outworks of Fort Fisher our guns are to
throw flank fire into the fort. The posi-
tlons of the vessels are nearly the same as
in the former fight, excepting that the iron
clads will take position also at a quarter
of mile nearer the fort than at the first
attack, and the Dictator will also joiu them
with her two Is inch guns, making the
monitor feet twelve guns strong, inclu-
ding the four guns of the Menadnock; then
the Ironsides with her tremendous ll-inch
broadside and the Minnesota, Wabash, Brook
lyD, -Susquehanna, Tuscsrors, Sentry, I'll.
conderogs, Mohican, Colorado, Shenan-
doah, Pawtucket, Juniata, Yantee and
Kansas form the second line. The Huron
and Pequot, which act as tenders to the
monitors, are also in the inner line. The
gunboat feet is to form in line in front of
the shore batteries extending to the right
of Fort Fisher. The reserves of the vari.
GUS classes, consisting of the smaller size
of gunboats, are assigned to a position
outside of the line of battle
LATER.
a steamer has just arrived from the In-
ner harbor and reports that at noon to day
signal was hoisted on the flag ship of
the entire feet, to prepare for sea. The
q ia no NUa HryilI
noon, if the weather continues favorable.
We also have the gratifying intelligence
that General Terry has arrived and is in
command of the troops. His presence is
hailed by the feet as an assurance that an
energetic and determined effort will be
made to prove that Fort Fisher can be ia
ken. The feet outsides the bar are all
ready to sail at moments notice. The
larger transports are also outside about 10
miles from the shore, awaiting the move.
ment of the feet.
WAsHNGToN, Jan. l6.-The Navy depart.
ment has received the following:
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, q. S. FLAG
Snip, MALVERN, BEAUFORT, N. @. Jan. L.
Sir. l have the honor to enclose YOU a
letter from Lieutenant commander Temple,
containing interesting matter relating to
Fort Fisher. 1t is important as a matter
of history and tells the whole story.
Your obedieut servant,
(Signed) DAVID D. PORTER,
Rear Admiral,
To Hon Gideon Welles, Secretary of the
Navy.
U. S. STEAMER PoNToosUC, OFF New IN
LET Jan. 2, 1865-Redr admiral David D.
Portsr-Sir: 1t may be of assistance to
you to receive, together with the rebel dis
ma Chnn maintained in laftaH of . Sotn
the following memoranda of information
ELECTED from one of their number, Corporal
Thos. Lawley, of the Marines.
He says he was stationed during and
since the bombardment in the naval bat
terry Buchanan, commanded by Lieutenant
Chapman, and situated near the Mound;
that there were between five and six hun
dred men in the forts on the two days of
the attack, and no troops in Wilmington or
in its vicinity, to reinforce them; that the
fra from the feet was 30 fierce as to drive
the rebels from their guns and into the
bombproofa throughout hegreater portion
Of their works soon after the commence
ment of the action; that two of their best
guns bursted, killing and wounding some
20 men, and we dismounted eight of their
guns, bes ides iDjuring several of their gun
carriages; that we killed ID of their men
duu HOuhhGu AOj Guhb NSus w ulLluR sup
posed the boats which were sent into the
bar on the bar on the 18th, to be storm
ing party of seamen to which he would
have been obliged to surrender; that toe
rapid bombsrdment at sunset was terrific;
that when our troops appeared in front of
the Fort Immediately afterwards the gar
rison only awaited their assault to sur
render without resistance; that they could
not imagine why the attack had been
abandoned; that matters remained in the
same condition on the morning of the 26th
and throughout that day; that We could
easily have Eposaession ourselves of the
Fort late in the afternoon.
Gen. Bragg arrived at Wilmington with
5000 men from Lees army at Richmond,
and that finding our troops were re-em-
brrking, Bragg decided not to modest US.
Respectfully,
WIZ. G. TEMPLE,