The New York herald., 1865-02-16
Brisk Skirmishing and Re-
treat OF the Rebels.
GALLANTRY OF THE C0L0RED TROOPS.
The Monitor N6ontauk AammeT1ne
at Fort Anderson.
PARTIAL LIST OF CASUALTIES,
&c. Sc. sc.
MIR. jaime. G. Fit.patrIck'e Despatch.

CAPE FEAR RIVER, N. O., Feb IL, 1855
reconnaissance In force made this morning by
the troops Of General Terry Preparations had been IN
progress several days. and the soldiers were eager
for any change which would relieve the monotony Of
sand surf salt which characterises the sur.
roundngs Of Fort Fisher
The line OF battle was formed with the division OF
General Ames the right and that Of General Payne
the left In other words, General Ames held the POSI-
tion with the his right flank whle General
Payne had the river on his left.
The pckets or videttcs of the enemy encounter
cd within a hundred yards OF our line OF outposts.
They we're small force, and gave way without Offering
much resistance.
On the right they fell back the main body reserve
of the picket ne which cnsconced behind breast
work. a swampy piece Of ground at the southeriy OK
tremy Of Masonboro, or Myrtle Sound Here charge
ordered and the line carried with slight loss,
some nfty OF the enemy falling into our hands They
belong to the North Carolina regiment OF
Kirklands brigade, which seems to have been In the
rebel front during the day. They say that Clngmans
and Colquetts brgades in the rear occupying the
| main line Of works defending the approach 70 VII
| mngton.
On the left the coored troops under General Payne,
| pushed tho enemy with great galantry, driving them
from every stump and tree where they sought to mako
stand. On this part OF the limo 1t was sort OF run
I ming fight In which the colored soldiers seemed 70
pursue their enemy with relentless animcsity, driving
them at last to tho Of their main works The
diminishing throughout the day was most lively and tho
voeys at very heavy The brunt of the lighting
was with our he attckng) side the enemy manfestns
little inclination oppose progress The loss does
not exceed (up 10 this time, three O'Clock p some
sixty or seventy mostly Of General Paynes division In
recompense for this have nearly hundred prisoners
/ OPERATIONS
Admiral Porter heartily co-operated with General Terry
In this movement, which has given us possession OF
few moro miles OF rebel territory, together with some
insight Of the opposition which may
expect In our further advances toward Wilmington.
| The Admiral sent the Montgomery, Captain Dunn,
Quaker City, Captain Spicer, and others OF the outside
feet 10 move up beach line just ahead Of the land
| forces and shell before them
On river sido danger being feared from Fort
Anderson which, from location, could enfade the ad.
vancing column, attack upon the fort made BY
portion of the feet in the river with the view Of divert
ing It's attention and FIRE at tho same time
The Unadilla led off in the morning, and was sup
ported in the stages Of the attack by the Mack
nav. A desultory fire at long range was kept
up until near noon, when the Monitor Montauh
steamed up the river and passing all the rest Of the
feet took position within a thousand yards Of the
fort The long experience which tho gunnors Of the
Montauk have had before Charleston, and their target
practice on Forts Sumter and Moultre quickly mani.
|
guns upon Fort Anderson Every shot struck with
remarkably accuracy One after another they glanced
along ramparts burst its glacs sending the
sand In clouds TO the sky The fort opened response
about noon, but its fire was weak and its shots struck
wide OF Their mark The orpedocs-the great obstacle
all operations in Southern rvers-failed to explode
this occasion that is II the rebels endeavored to
them; but the probability is that those planted in ths
river are in tho channel confronting and within fsw
| ,afs Cost that nos
today get within reach OF their destructive power.
|
This little craft also took part for n short mc In the
action The wooden gunboas went back after tho
infantry had attained their object shore The Moni
TOR Montauk however, having successfully pushed her
way far up the stream, seemed determined not 10 give
up inch Of the ground and as write, she Is sll
pegging away at the fort During the past week, may
add, the Parrot guns TO which much objection has
been raised replaced most Of the doubieenders
| by eleven. inch Dahlgrens
A STEAMER
During the afternoon rebel steamer which, as she
hove In sight from the direction OF Wilmington by
many supposed TO bc tho Chicamsuga came down the
the vicinity OF Orton Point Light H6c where she
anchored when officer board began signalling very
vigorously probably communicate orders from
Bragg to Hokc which lattcr officer said 10 be in
command OF the division Of rebel troops front
ERsrLr.
The days fighting has resulted In advancing our Line
few miles, while the navy has been enabled to form
estimate Of the strength OF Fort Andsr-a worc NOT
for the torpedoee which represented denscy
In the channel guuboats cocd sodu this work In
few hours
gHE cA7rAfrlEl
The following IS 0 partial let % the cssualties:--
Killed
Lieut. Fields Co A. 9Th tnised States colored troopA
Wo. nded
Capt Geo A. Herbert, Co ", 3O'h ooiorvd troops
Lieut. d. II Healey Co >. 9th eolorcd trools, thigh.
Lieut. j. Noble, 9Th colore1 troops
Lieut. C. A. Fisher, Co. c. 30th eolored troops arm
Captain Benz Brook, Co. B, 7eth icnnsy ltana, rghs
Patrick Kelly, Co. II, 3D. New Han pshire scalp.
@ II. Weymouth, Co. B, sd New Hampshire, len leg,
smputated.
John Harmas Co. X, 7cth Pennsy ,ania, both legs.
Captain Tea Of the United States steamer TonavGnds