The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-01-26
The Capture Of Fort Fisher.

- ''I =. .-7
The subjoined graphic description
of this great achievement by the land
and naval forces of the United States,
is from the correspondence Of the Bal
timorc American.
FRIDAY, Jan, 13.
At eight bells e o'clock) this morn
ing We were aroused by a gun from
from the flag, ship and the burning of
the preparatory signal Of red and
green as an indication that it is time
to be up and stirring, preparing
breakfast and getting through with
the routine of morning duty, so as to
be in readiness at dawn to commence
the serious work Of the day. l..
The thrCng of vessels rest calmly on
the sea, the wind being too light to
stir or even ripple its surface. Truly
the elements promise to favor this
great enterprise, # r......... .......
At 5 o'clock a second signal was
given by the flagship to get under
way, when the work Of weighing an
chors commenced, and at half past 5
signals of the division commanders TO
t.move forward were given and respond
edto, causing y brilliant pyrotechnic
display. The gunboat Tacony was sent
ahead last night to anchor off the Flag
pond Battery, and day not having yet
dawned her lights can be seen as the
steering point of the fleet in short
about three miles ahead of us
The three frigates-the Wabash,
Minnesota and Colorado moved off,
the first led byoAdmiral Porters flag
ship. They were followed by the new
Ironsidcs and monitor fleet. The sig
mails from the army transports added
to tho scenic display. At the first
dawn of day the whole armada was in
motion. The wind had changed to
due west during the night, and, com
ing off shore, tends to render the
landing of the troops comparatively
easy. AT y quarter to Z o'clock the
Admiral signaled TO form the line of
battle; whcreupon the Brooklyn with
her line of vessels moved along close
to the beach, in the following order
Brooklyn, 2Jguns; Mohican, Z; Ia.
tony, 10; Kansas, s; Nautilla,::7; IIu-
ron, 4; Maumee, 5; Patuxet, 10; Sen
ecay4; Pontcoyuc, 10; NyaclS, Z; Yam
/ tic, z; Nereus, IL; total 1l6 guns
This division was ordered to prepare
for action and move in close to the
beach to shell the woods at the point
decided upon for the landing Of the
troops, about three and half miles
from Fort Fisher, near the deserted
Half Moon Battery. In few min.
utcs tho whole division was in posi-
ton, throwing shells into the narrow
strip Of woods, separating the sea
shore from Cape Fear river, about {
milo inland, parallel with the beach,
In the meantime the Ironsidcs moved
into position directly in front of For
Fisher, the Ironsides about three
fourtks Of u mile and the monitors
NJ. I.,.;J.a ~, D,,Jr,,,i
ORDER New lrohsluTS' S. S.olll heuloru AZ m' a
~ guns MoIi"'tnocNI It CUp', ,T atro'l 'l
j. guns oauE"S' Oo'l. Go'''"ll' suns
Cahonicus, guns M"ooPac guns
Before lhey gov lh'o PoSl'Ion 'he FOR
opened D on tneln} TN Du' c!SG sn1y ,, SoGuae' Inpn
sides opened on the Fort and was fol
lowed py tpo ,lo'ISolS r, WIN .''Gli ,,.i tro {
mehdouS shells' livery Shov laIoe' !
m tho emprasures, ana ana eNPIoulhi
threw CLOUDS oi s"'io h's'' 'n'o VI
:. am; IN. .a,
INC foft .occaSlohal'y IFSPonGeC
but did not seha more .nah u sue
: every Ten minutes, ppu ~ l..pes i9u"
At 'mPossio'o TO worH us guns Az
0 CLOCK inc po"ls ol inc & loIt WEI .i
7 called away 10 assisI IN i"nu''l. III
troops me WOODS hoG ~ ~, 'Io 'iie"t y
, tine been thoroughly shelISu' me- anu aIu II
enemy hau aPPeaFcu' l i,, ne ,ItlEE u
ports were ehaGieu 70 go Wl'hln I M IL"
, Il milo OF 'ne shore, anu were Woa SOY
surrounded Dy hot less lhah IVY o9"U
ShppHeQ from All NesSeIs vi llo hec