The New York herald., 1865-02-23

The object Of this attack merely 10 draw out the
enemy and divert their attention from the movement Of
our land forces At dark General Cox's troops were
within couple Of miles Of the fort had established
communication with the river abreast Of the eet and had
exposed their position by lighting camp fires.
which, communicating with the dead wood and thick
underbrush Of the dense pine forest In which they
operating sent up vast clouds Of black smoke covering
the whole country with pail With this, operations
ceased for the night.
After nightfa the effect Of the immense confederation
a. viewed from the east bank OF the river surpass.
ingly sublime Great sheets OF lvid fame darted sky.
ward and being reflected from the dark clouds above,
formed grand and yet terrible spectacle.
MOVEMENT GENERAL AkEs DIVISION.
During the evening orders received for the move.
mont Of Ames division Of Terry's force 10 smithvie
TO cooperate with Cox This movement was commenced
at midnight the troops at that hour being extreme
front before Hoke. BY sunrise this morning they were
in 5mhvile, prepared 70 cooperate however they might
bc directed.
GENERAL oox's ADVANCE RESUMED.
At daylight this morning scattered discharges Of mus
kerry the west bank Of tho pver indicated that Gene.
raj Coxs skirmshen had already engaged those Of tho
enemy Az daylight advanced the firing became more
earnest and sooh II became apparent that forces
were pressing the enemy INTO their works. BY eight
O'Clock, from Indications based upoh the Qing the
rebels had retired into their outer works snveiopn9
the fort
ATTACK or xHK uxnr
The admiral the nrst sound from Shore moved his
feet into action An the previous day the Monitor
Montauk took the lead, and this time went up
within - third Of mile Of the fort. The MACK
NAV, doubie-e -endcr, Commander Beaumont, followed,
going much than any wooden boat had before
vcntured She anchored, bow and stern, less than q
mile from tho rebel work. and was very quickly made
the target Of their concentrated nrc The Maratanza
Lieutenant Commanding Young followed soon after and
took up position abreast Of the Maoknaw and shared
with her the compliments from the fort which now
fell thick and fast about the two But the nre Of these
vessels and Of those further astern wen directed
and the rebel guns which bore upon them so much en-
posed, that the rebel garrison fred but wildly, and
although striking all about thcm and even passing over
and falling ss,en strange 70 say none Of the gunboa.s
were hit
The Lenape Lieutenant Commander Barns followed
the Maatanza into close action, and soon after the
Sasscus Pontusuck, Huron, Pequot and Chippewa be-
came engaged causing such Internal din with their
bursting shells In and about the FORT and throwing up
such dense volumes Of sand with every discharge that
the rebels again driven 70 cover.
During the carly part OF the action and before the fort
had cead respond the Admiral was pulling about in
his barge among tho hee nrst visiting vessel and
then another even going as far up the Monitor per.
sonaly directing tho rc Of each and experimenting all
their movements and positions
rrKvcEp.
AZ the fort ceased Are entirely and from that
time Till darkness closed the action the navy had all ts
way, batserng down their hugo traverses and at
tempting to knock their guns whether any guns
dsmounted is not definitely known, though IL Is
claimed that we're; but tho southern face Of the
fo sadly dIsngurcd BY the severe shelng TO which
II was exposed.