Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-21
TEE STORVIEG on TORT FIsHER.
Splendid Courage Of the TrOOps---FuII
and thrilling Details OF the As
sRuIf


The TTi6lt1s's correspondent thus de-
tails the stOsming of Fort Fisher:
At three o'clock precisely, the General
signaled to the Admiral that all was ready,
and almost instantsneouslY the fire from
the feet redoubled the monitors and gun
boats boomedwith increased rspidity. The
old frigates poured in their heavy broad
sides, and the he'll of bursting shell inside
around, and over Fort Fisher, was the
most magnificent and terrific sight that
the world has ever seen. AT once the
brave soldiers of General Curtis command
sprang forward to the charge upon the
double. quick, and with a ringing cheer;
Col. Pennypacker's Second Brigade soon
after followed, and the marines, under
their heroic leaders, went charging up the
beach. The rebsls, in spite of the pande-
monium of raining shell, few to the guns
and poured thick successive discharges of
canister and grape on our advancing
liDes, while their shRrpshooters poured out
q murdeTous fire through every embrs.
sure.
General Terry accompanied by Lieut..
Colonel Comstoek, of General Grants
staff and surrounded by his staff in full
view of the whole magnificent movement,
and exposed to the bullets from the fort,
which feW buzzing like bumble-bees over
head, gazed with fearful suspense upon
the scene. Onward poured the ssrried
lines, and onward Haunted the colors borne
by the unfinching heroes they reach the
ditch, which, at the right is crossed by
narrow bridge, from which the rebels had
hastily torn the plank, leaving only the
string pieces 70 cross upon. Upon this the
shaFpest fire of their sharpshooters is
concentrated, as our man go pouring on.
They cross with renewed eheaIs,s and swarm
w tho parapes and the ll7th New York,
followed by the Sd, are the first to plant
their colors on the northern traverse Of
the fort.
Meanwhile the brave Lieutenant g. B.
| Porter, Lieutenant Commander Preston,
of the Admiraps ship Malvern, and Assist
antsSurgeon VIM. Langsnorn Of the Min
nesota, fell mortslly wounded at the head of
the marines, and the murderous shower of
grape and canister poured from the bas-
ton Of the fort forced the latter to retire.
Curtis and Pennypscker's brigade were
fighting stubbornly, and were met by the
enemy in a no less brave and determined
resistance, who fell back from traverse to
traverse, contesting each one as they went
with the most desperate vRlor. Twenty
one prisoners were sent in by the lI7th
New York about hslfpast three o'clock,
and were followed by another squad of up
ward cf seventy soon afterward, as well as
several smaller lots. Colonel Bells Third
Brigade, consisting Of his own 4th New
Hampshire, the 16sth and ll5th New
York, and the 18th Indiana, were now
ordered up to the support of the First and
Second Brigsdes.
Fort Fisher consists of one inclosed fort
or bastion, from the opposite angles of
which spread out at right srgles 70 each
other high parapets or curtains of Garth
work, the sea face to a distance of 900
yards, and the north face about third OF
this distance AT regular intervals, these
curtains are crossed by high trsverses,
which, at the same time, serve as bomb
proofs, and between which are mounted
sometimes one and at others two heavy
guns. On tho north face were fifteen Of
these traverses. and when our men sue
ceedei in capturing the first of these the
second was an earthwork, behind which the
LbDbls AOLA4l IdLAGdhl1 uAA0 EO Dll EugLC5sANbll
until our men reached the bastion, which
was inclosed on ali sides, and here the
rebels would evidently huddle for their
final struggle.
Colonel Bell led on his gallant fellows,
and the First and Second Brigsdes, aug
mented with this additional strength
fought nobly, desperately on,until SIX Of the
fifteen trsverses were won, and here the
advance for time was checked, and thus
the matter remained until about five
o'clock. ......-
The frefrom the navy had of course
been slackened when our men reached the
parapets at the northern end of the fort,
and now was resumed, but concentrated on
the bastion and the sea, or southwest
front. Gen. Ames sent word to Gen. Ter.
ry that the gallant Curtis had been serious.
ly, and as was then erroneously thought
mortslly wounded.
Colonel Bell was killed, and Penny
packer severely if not fatally wounded,
| while every member Of General Ames'
staff and nearly every regimental com.
msnder was either killed or wounded. The
loss of all, or at least SO large a number
of his officers had disorgsnized and con-
fused his men, SO that it was almost i'm
possible to get them Into the closing labors
| which, with some three hundred fresh and
organized men to rally his men about, it
was the opinion of the General might be
successfully and gloriously accomplished.
Simultaneously with the message of the
Admiral sent another, saying that the en-
emy appeared to be landing reinforce
ments at Fort Buchanan, and word was
received from General Paine that Hoke
had driven in his pickets at the northern
defensive line.
General Terry reflected moment with
an anxious eye, held hssty consultation
with Lieutenant Colonel Comstock, and
then told General Ame's messenger to
assure the latter that in an hour he should
have the aid Of General Abbots brigade
and TO hold the ground he had. a cour-
ier was instantly dispatched for Colonel
Abbott to move up with his brigade and
notify General Paine to so dispose his
forces as to fill the gap ocessioned by the
withdrawal of Colonel Abbott's troops
in other Worda, to sttenuato his line sufi-
GENTLY to occupy the entire northern de-
fensiVe works which be could do with safe
ty, owing to the added strength given
them by the six hoitzWers prudently
planted there the night before. General
Terry ordered the assault to be made
upon Fort Fisher.
An anxious hour was spent until, about
dark, when the Colonel dashed up close
behind his gallant men. They advanced
Immediately up the. river beach, and
Though the moon soon after rose, but little
past its fall, we could see nothing but the
fash of musketry in increased frequency
upon the dark outlines of the fort. An
other hour, two, three, of cruel anxiety
went by, and our hearts sank with the
chill Of disappointed hope. Our men were
still slowly advancing, and a dispatch
stated that two-thirds Of the fort was ours.
We had all the north part of the work,