Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-02-03

ducted his part of the operations before Fort
Fisher as to deem it worthy Of a spsci-l dis
patch. He says a tinid man would have he
STATED to attack works by assault, no matter
what assistance he might have hal from 9TH
er qusters, but Gen. Terry never for an in
slant hesitated, and though feel somewhat
Aattefed az the confidence be reposed in my
judgment am quite ready to believe that he
acted on his own ideas as to what was proper
to be done in the matter, and was perfectly
qualified to judge without the advice Of any
one. Throuk hout the sfhr his conduc' was
marked by the greatest desire to be success.
full, not for the sake Of personal considers-
tions, but for the cause in which we are all
alike engaged.
The Navy Department to-day received ths
folio wing report from Admiral Porter
NoRrH ATLANTIC SeUADRoS, 4
U. S. Flag ship Malvern,
off Smithville, N. c., January 20 J
Dear Sir In my last informed YOU that
Fort Caswell bad been blown up and evscu.
sted in consequence OF the fall Of Fort Fish
er. sent La W. B. Gushing around 10 the
Monticello to the western bar to ascertain
what had taken place and to take advantage
Of the occasion. 1t. Cushing did not obtain
the aid be required, for what reason have
ushed on in his boats and Fort Cas- ell had
been blown up, BALI Head fort destroyed.---
Fort Shaw also And Fort Campbell to the
westward OF Fort Csswell had been evacu-
ated. All these forts mounted and l0-inch
guns and Armstrong so pounds. 1t. Cush-
ing then pushed into Smthvile, after hoist
ing the flag Of the Union over Fort Caswell.
He says " The mex thing | saw was flag
a. r.k Il. b.A
leis in a great hurry after they saw our boats
approaching, leaving everything in the beau
tiful and heavy fort uniniured aud two e-inch
guns only were spiked in the Tort at Deep
Water Point"
Porter Gays: "In the mean time had sue
ceeded in getting one gunboar, the Tacon,
over the rig and interior ba-. and sent her
up to disable the guns at that plaee-sbout
tntee miles on the west side Of the river above
Fort Fisher.
Thus in twenty-four hours after the fall
OF Fort Fisher all the formidable cnain Of
forts 10 this river at it's entrance have fallen
into our hands They are gariis1ned for the
present With sailors. can scarcely give
der scrptioE Of these works. They are GER
taiuiy the most formidable aud best built
esrthworks | ever saw aud d. credit TO the
engineer who planned them One would
suppose that The whole Southern Conisdefscy
bad been throwing up mud add sand. and
Gen hitting certainly had an abiding faith
in this durability Of the Coniederacy, as hs
show. his opinion by his work., which have
been four years building and we're taken in
US many days. fort Caswell is Of the same
shape as before it fell into rebel hand, ex.
cept the rebels have covered it's walls with
earth on the outside an / made them almost
impet vious to shot and she'll IL is Ia many
respects stronger than Fort Fisher, aud hard
et to take by assault. Still IL cogid be- taken,
and the rebels knew it, Three or four gun
boats in the river could have soon started
them out.
have had great deal OF difficulty in get
ting the gunbosts over the bae, aud only sue
ceeded this morning in getting the last one
over. The rebels left plenty of good stores
and provisions, and our men are now su bsists
ing on them.
send you = list OF the forta fallen into our
hands since Fort Fisher fell, with the num-
Der and calibre OF their guns. We have found
in each fort 81 Armstrong gun VITA = broad
arrow on it, and the name Of " Sir William
Armstrong" marked in full on the Iunnions.
As the British Government claims the exclu-
sive right to use these guns it would be in
teresting to know how they came into forts
held by rebels.
| find that immense quantities of provis-
ions, stores and clothing have come through
this port into reoeldom ; am almost afraid 10
mention the amount. but il is eaough to sup
ply over 60 900 men. 1t is all English. and
they have received their last cargo. No more
will ever come this way.
We picked up telegSsm from Lee to his
subordinate here saying II Forts Fisher and
Caswell we're NOT held ne would have l. evsc-
uate Richmond. He says most truly. and
should not be at all surprised If he lett it any
moment. We have plenty OF force TO hold
this place against the Southern Cuniederscy.
have $50 guns bearing on the narrow strip
Of land where our troops are heavily intrench-
ed. There are vessels in sthe river and out
side, and we only hope they will attempt to
retaks it Oae thousand men 10 fOrt Fisher,
with the guns of ths squadron, would hold
this place long time.
We find this place better TO catch blockade
runners than outside. / had blockade rum
ner lights lit last night, and was obliging
enough to answer their signals. Whether
right or wrong we know not. t .a.t
Two Of them, the Stag and the Charlotte.
from Bermuda, loaded with srms, blankets.
shoes, ETC., came in and quietly anchored
near the Malvern, and were taken possession
OF. lhe stag belongs to the rebel GoYsrn-
msnt. A number more are expected and We
will. hope. catch 8 portion OF 70 IN. ! en-
trusted lh.s duty 10 Lieut.. Gushing, who per-
formed il with bis usual good lack and intel
ligence. These two are very fast vessels and
valuable prizes. They threw a portion OF
their papers over eroosId Immediately on and
ing lucy we're trapped. Tue number Of gun.
taken altogether lie l68. TIE Charlotte brings
five English pAssengers-one an Enslish
officer, Ihey all came over as they exPress-
ed f" on lark" The Stag received three
shots ia her as she ran by our blockade OUT
side. DAVID d. PSErER,
Rear Admiral.
BALrIMoKE, Jan. 20.
A special dispatch to tne Amerlcan from
Annapolis says Hon. Mr.. Blair arrived here
at pm. He left Richmond yesterday. Hs
lie is understood to report that among many
Of the leaders in Richmond, JEFF. D4yls in