The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-08
Fall OF Fort Fisher, Capture OF VIII
mington and Charleston, the
Victory in the Gulf and
on the Rivers.
Important Reduction i'm the
Naval Force.
The Rebel Pirates and What
They Accomplished.
THE IRON-CLADS LAID UP.
&c. &c. DC.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 4, 1896

arR-in nv last annual report presented to Congress
and country such description the occasion seemed
require Of the of administration by which
naval force had during the preceding four years,
been created and organized with an account OF the
method and manner in which it had been applied In
auous and unexampled of action for the suppress
sion of the rebellion. The review then given of the
principal operations and brilliant achievements Of
our navy closed with the memorable recovery Of the
harbor and the almost impregnab!e deiences OF Mobile
In this report besides the exposition Of the ord-
nary business Of this department, including the sug
gestons and deemed necessary for tho
proper regulation of the naval service in the present
condition of the country it will DO my duty to com
pote the Official record Of the frumphs OF the navy in
the final operations and closing OF he war; to
indicate the arrangement and organization Of the
several squadrons consequent upon the termination OF
the blockade and the cessation Of active hosttics to
exhibit the vigilance and energy OF blockadng and
cruising service, testified by the number and value OF
che captures made in the upreaxng and successful efforts
OF Illicit commercial Intercourse with rebel ports
and especially to exhibit the policy and measures Of the
department in efecng OF tho earliest moment in view
OF returning peace reduction Of naval expenditures
while providing for the prompt reestabshinen at any
time Of our great naval power all efficiency to meet
tho oxgcnces of any possible crisis in which It's services
may DO invoked maintain the rights or vncicato the
honor Of the country
The demands upon the naval service which for four
years had boon exacng relaxed upon the fall Of
Fort Fisher. That event, and the possession Of Cape
river closed all to Wilmington tho port Of
rcb supplies put end TO Illicit tralc with the states
in instruction and exagushcd the last remnants or
that broken commerce which foreign Adventures had,
Notwithstanding constant and Losses persisted In
carrying by breach Of blockade The capture Of Will
mngtoa preliminary to the fall OF Richpond and
he or fhc whi
ward deprived Of supplies from abroad II released at
once q large portion or cur naval force, and led
to immediate for the reduction Of squad
rons, and the withdrawal of all vessels which could
DO dispensed with from the blockade Such Of them as
purchased and longer required by the govern
ment have from time to time been sold to meet the de-
mands OF reviying commerce, WATCH has rapidly OK
banded the country became queted and industry was
resumed at the South Trade and peaceful employment
have led TO the rcopening of the of commercial
and social intercourse and the steamers bought from the
merchant service for purposes have been To great
oxten. returned to their former pursuits
NORTH ATLANTIC AUTHORIZATIONS or WILMINGTON AND
DEFfNcEs.
As early 1882 the necessity Of closing the port OF
ment and was never reinquished but without military
aid and cooperation II could not BIO effected or even
wisely attempted In September, 1854, the Department
had such assurances OF military assistance TO feel
rnnted entering upon the necessary partitions for as
form It's part In accomplishing the work. In order that
there should be failure the department concentrated
asucicnt force to insure success TO place that force
under the command OF the first officer in the navy was
duty Vice Admiral FaraSut was therefore selected TO
conduct the enterprise but impaired health tho result
OF exposure and unremNed exertons during two years
OF active labor and unccasing efforts in the Golf
dorcd it mpruen for that distinguished and energetic
officer To enter upon the service he had moreover,
important work yet 10 be finished on the Gulf coast,
whore he was then operating aud was therefore Gu bis
request excused from this new command. Rear
Admiral Porter who had shown great ability as the com
mandcr OF the Mississippi squadron, and had identified
himself with many OF its important achievements
transferred to the Command OF tho North Atlantic
squadron which embraced within its limits C1pe Fear
river and the port Of Wilmington
A 1cst OF naval vessels, surprising In numbers and
equipments any which had assembled during the war,
was collected with despatch at Hampton Roads. Various
interviewed to delay The movement aud II not
until the early part of December that the expedition de-
parted for Beaufort N. O., the place Of randezvous
Some further necessary prcparaons wers there made
which, together with nnfayorable weather and other
incidents delayed the attack un the oath OF December
On that day Rear Admiral Porter, with boInbarding
wsro oneiads , and reserssd force Of n mns
OF Capo Fear river, and sI,cnccd them in ono hour
and quarter; bat there bong no troops to make an
assault or attempt 70 possess hem nothing beyond the
piished by tho Commandments renewed attack was
the succeeding day, butwth scarcely better results
The feet shcled the forts during the day and scnced
them, but no assault made or Attempted by the
troops which had been disembarkcd for that purpose
Major General Butler. who commanded the co-opernt
ing force, after q reconnoissancc came tho conclusion
that the place could not be carried by an assault He
Admiral Porter Of his Intention returned with his
mand 10 Hampton Roads. Immediate information OF the
mon, b% Rear Asmra Porter who renamed in the
vicinity with his entire feet, awaiting the needfu mill
tary aid Aware OF the necessity OF reducing these
works. and OF the great Importance which the Depart
mont attached TO closing the port OF Wilmington, and
confident that with adequate military cooperation the
fort could DO carried he asked for such cooperation, ard
earnestly requested that tho enterprise should not DO
abandoned. In this the Department and the President
fully concurred On the suggestion OF tho President
Lieutenant General Grant advised OF tho confidence
felt by Rear Admiral Porter that he could obtain
sancd Such military aid was therefore iny as would
insure the fall Of Fort Fisher.
second military force was promptly detailed, CON-
posed OF about 500 men, under the Of Major
0eneral A. H. Terry, and sent forward This officer
rvcd on Fort Fisher on the 18th Of January Offensive
operations at resumed BY the naval force
che troops were landed and iEirenched themselves
while portion Of the fleet bomberded the works These
operations were continued throughout tho 18th with
Increased number OF vessels Tho I6!h the day
cded upon for assault During the forenoon Of st day
forty vessels poured ncessnn IRE into the rebe
forts There was besides force Of fourteen vessels
reserve At three r. M the signal Tor The assault was
made Desperate dssns hS wars % WSra I
carried and the flag OF the Union noated over thtm
Fourteen hundred sailors and marines were landed and
participated In the direct assault.
Seventy I've guns many OF them superb rife pieces,
and nineteen hundred prisoners we're the immediate
fruits and trophiestof the victory but the Chief value
and ultimate benefit OF this grand achievement consisted
In closing tho main gate through which the insurgents
had received supplies from abroad and sent their own
produce 70 foreign markets In exchange.
TAght draught steamers were Immediately pushed over
tho bar aud into the river, the channel % which was
speedily buoyed, and the removal OF tope6oe4 forthwith
commenced The rcbeIs, witnessing the fall o. Fort
Fisher a. once evacuated and blew up Fort Caswch DO
eroyod Bald Head Fort and Fort Shaw and abandoned
Ton Campbell Within twenty-four hours after tho fall
Of ro Fisher the defence of Capo Fear river tho
entire chain Of formidable works the vicinity shared
IT, fate, placing IN our possession 1oo guns Of heavy
cabvo.
the heavier naval vessels being no longer needed In
shsS quarter despatched in different dIrections
70 James river and northern ports others 10 the
0xlf o. the South Atlantic squadron. An ample force
was retained, however 70 support the small but brave
army which had carried tho tFaversss Of Fort Fisher
and enable ~ when achievements should arrive 70 con-
tinus tho movement on Wilmington
always formidable In harbors and internal waters and
which have been dsstructixe 70 naval vessels