The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-01-26
WILMINGTON.
Capture OF Fort FIsher---A Sig
nal VictOry---Partic CT
the Affair.

The following account is given of the
operations resulting in the capture of Fort
Fisher by our troops =
The troops arrived off Fort Fisher on
Thursday night, 18th, and on Friday they
were all landed, under cover of heavy
fire from the squadron. A reconnaissance
was made by Gen. Terry on Saturday. A
strong defensive line against any of the
enemy's forces which might come out
from Wilmington was established, and
held by 1000 men, principally colo-ed
| troops, ard an assault was determined on.
| The assault was made on Sunday after
noon, at $50 o'clock. The sea-frout of
the fort had been greatly damaged and
broken by the continuous and terrible fire
Of the feet lasting three days The front
was assaulted at the hour mentioned by a
column of seamen and marines 800
| strong, under command of Capt. Breeze.
They reached the parapet, but after a
short conflict, were checked and driven
back in disorder, and were afterwards
! placed on the defensive line, taking the
place Of a brigade which was brought up
/ to reinforce the assaulting column Of
/ troops. Although the assault on the
front failed, it effectually served to divert
/ the attention Of the enemy, and weaken
their resistance. 20 the attack Of the troops
on the others side. The assault on the
| other aud most difficult side Of the fort
was made by a colGmn Of troops of the old
/ Tenth Corps, led by Colonel Curtis, under
the Immediate supervision of General
Terry.
The eaemy's force in the fort was over
! 5000. The conflict lasted seven hours
! The works were so constructed that every
traverse afforded the enemy new defen-
D. sive position, from which they had to be
driven. They were seven in number, and
the fight was carried on from taverse to
to traverse for seven hours.
At about 8 O'Clock, the enemy were
utterly driven from the fort, and forced
down towards Federal Point, followed by
a brigade o. our troops, and about II
o'clock at night, Gen. Whiting surren-
dered himself and his command to Gen.
Terry, Internationally, as prisoners of war,
numbering over $500, the remainder of
the force being killed and wounded Our
loss is not accurately as3ertained, but is
estimated at between 700 and 500 killed
and wounded, besides the Eaval loss, which
was slight, not exceeding 100 killed and
wounded. Not ship or transport was
lost.
Early on Monday morning, between 6
and I o'clock, the magazines of Fort
Fisher exploded, killing and wounding
between 200 and 800 persons. After the
capture of the fort, all the troops were
withdrawn, except one brigade, left in
charge of the works. How the explosion
occurred Is not known, but Gen Terry
attributes it to accident or neglect
Hoke's division, reported at 500, was at
Wilmington. A portion Of it was thrown
into the fort not lon5 before the assault,
and while that was going on, demon
stration was made by Hoke against our
defensive line, but it proved signally IN
successful At IL o'clock Monday NOR
ming, heavy cloud of smoke was observed
over Fort Smith, on the south side OF
New Inlet. The naval officer command
ing that station reports that the eacmy
fred their barracks and evacuated that
work
Perfect harmony and concert of action
existed between the land and naval for
ces, and their respective commanders,
Admiral Porter and Gen. Terry, We'd in
their courtesies. Indeed, each seemed
more anxious to do justice to the other
than to gain anything for himself, and
both unite in the highest commentator
of the naval and military officers and the
forces engaged. To this harmony of feel
ing, and the confidence of the troops, NAV,
/ perhaps, be attributed IN a great degree
! the success of our attack, with nearly
equal numbers, against a reSolute enemy
in work unsurpassed, if ever equalled,
in strength, and which Gen. Beauresard,
a few days before, pronounced impregna-
ble. The armament of the fort was sew
enty-two guns, some Of large calibre, ard
/ rided, and ore Armstrong gun The
troops in the fort had rations for sixteen
! days. Their loss ia killed and wounded
was between 400 and 800.
| WILMINGTON AND ITS pEFExcEs.
The city of Wilmington is situated
thirty four miles from the mouth of the
Cape Fear river, N c., which is navica-
bic for steamboats, for distance of one
hundred and twenty miles, to Fayetteville.
| Forts Caswell and Johnston are situated
at Smithville, which is on the west side
J of the Cape Fear, two miles from its