The Portland daily press., 1865-01-28
Admiral Porter,s Report.

Admiral Porter's Report.
This is very interesting document and
shows what trouble and CONSERVATION have
seized upon the minds of rebels and the great
losses and embarrassments the capture of Fort
Fisher has subjected them to. The result has
been. that Fort Caswell has been blown up
Bald Head fort destroyed, Fort Shaw ana Fort
Campbell been evacuated. All these forts
mounted nine and ten inch guns and Arm
strong 15O pounders. Smithville too has been
given up, and every thing left in good order
and condition. Two guns were only spiked at
Deep Water Point.
Thus in twenty four hours after the fall of
Fort Fisher, all the formidable chain of forts
on the river at its entrance has passed into
governed by sailors. Admiral Porter says these
forts are the most formidable and the best
built earthworks he has ever seen, and much
credit is due to the engineer who planned
them Among the guns in the forts the Arm
strongs are marked in full on the tunnels. The
British Government claim the exclusive right
to use these guns, and the question naturally
arises how they came into these rebel forts?
Thereby hangs a tale. The whole truth will
come out one of these days and bring to light
some accounts which must be settled hereaf-
ter between us and England. There are ma
ny things now hidden which must be reveal
ed.
Through this port immense quantities of
provisions and clothing have come into rebel
dom, enough, as Admiral Porter thinks, to sup
ply over 10000 men. But alas for Dixie! The
last cargo has come. 1t has all been English
So it seems John Bull has now lost a very
profitable trade and JEFF Davis is driven into
corner.
This cutting off Wilmington from rebeldom
is severe blow on the Confederacy which will
be felt through every part, Richmond feeling
1t as powerfully as any other section Of Jef's
dominions. We have sufficient force TO hold
these places and $50 guns bearing on the mar
row slip ofland where our troops are intreRch
ed. We need have no apprehensions of II :
capture, for the rebels have now more than
they can do to protect other important points
against the approach of Sherman's army. We
have captured SO guns besides those in Fort
Fisher and many OF them formidable pieces
Our gunboats are gradually feeling their way
up the river, and Wilmington cannot escape.
Verify the great rebellion is in very bad way,
and it almost excites our sympathies for jeff
Davis to read the editorials in the Richmond
papers In which he is skinned within an inch
of his life. No doubt he well deserves sncli
excoriation, but it seems as lift ought to come
from. another quarter, and not from those
friends who have so much despatched him
with fulsome praises in months past. 5A
Such condemnation from such sources OIL
most induce, us TO believe that he is about get
ting the stool of repentance. No doub
he has done his best for the Confederacy ant
against the Union, and now that all the ave
nues TO the outside world are closed up ant
the rebellion in the grip Of our forces, it is no
strange if he should at last feign repentance
or look about for a way Of escape. To no saru'
wounded in the house of his friends is indeed
me more we survey the whole ground IN,
stronger is our conviction that this so..--s,,
not contiuue tut r,z.s-sps.s 1onser w,
can now see in clearer light than ever beiort
the good results of Grants march to Rich
mond. He marched there in spite of all,reb
Ell opposition, and in doing so he did immens
damage to Lees army which has never beer
repaired, and never will be. l1Elln
If such damage could have been repaired
Lee would not quietly suffer Grant to watch
around the gates of the rebel capital without
makino Soma daenarofo atlantis 80 d.;.,of 1, -,
away. 1t is humbling to rebel pride to be OBJ
liged to see Grant thus located while the Fed
eral forces are inficting such tremendous
blows upon the rebellion. Lee may be ad-
vsnoed to Dictatorship, and Davis become
his understrapper, still Grant will hold on uL-
til the proper time comes for him to strike,
and when that time does come he will improve
it to the best advantage. Had not Grant
fought his way to his present position Lees
army would have been in a better condition
to fight him than it has been or ever will
be. 49,
1t must be highly gratifying to Grant to
witness the progress ofour arms in otherquar-
ters, while he holds the rod over Lees head.
The whole programme is a glorious one and
we shall yet see how admirably it has worked
To cap the climax and give a finishing stroke
to the rebellion, Richmond will be taken and
Lees army either captured or scattered to the
four winds of heaven. Bark is good dog,
but hold fast is better. When Grants plans
are fully executed as they will be, the PENN
sula campaigns will be thrown deeper into
the shade than ever. and the route taken by
Grant to reach Richmond will be seen in lis
true light. slatal
CoRREcrIoN.-Iu paragraph published in
the Press few days since, we stated that "a
leading manufacturer told US few days since
that he should not object to making foreign