Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-27

WAsHIsGToS, Jan. 20. - The Navy
Department to-day received the follow
ing report from AdnirAl Porter
NoRTH ATLAsT1C SQUADRON,
-

WAsHIKGToE, Jan 20. - The Navy
Department to-day received the follow
ing report from AdnirAl Porter
NoKTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
u. s FLkG-SHIP MALVERN,
OF Smithville, n c., Jan. 20.
In ny last | informed you that Fort
Caswell bad been blown up and evae-
uAtsd in consequence Of The fall of Fort
Fisher. I sent Lieut. Cushing around
in the Monticello to the Western bar to
ascertain what had taken place, and to
obtain aid from the officers in command
Of the New York and yicksburg. Lieut.
Cushing did not obtain the aid be re-
quired, for what reason / have not jet
learned, but With his usual energy be
pushed on and found that Fort Caswell
had been blown up, Bald Head Fort de-
stroyed, Fort Shaw and also Fort Black,
to the westward Of Fort Caswell, abaa-
doned. These forts mounted 9-ineh
guns, and Armstrong l00-pounders.
Lieut.. Gushing then pushed on to Smith
vile. after hosting the Gag Of the Onion
over Fl. CaswelL The next thing s.w
was eur flag waving over Smithvillss
which the rebels left when they saw oar
boats approaching, leaving everything
in the hurry. The fort is unimpaired,
and two pinch guns only were spiked in
in the fort
In the meantime / had succeeded in
getting the Taeony over the interior
bar aud sent her up 10 Reaves's Point
to disable the guns at thai place Thus
in q hours after the fall Of Fl Fisher
and its earthvorks, all the formidable
chain Of forts on this river at its entrance,
built 10 keep oct anything, have fallen
into our banda They are garrisoned at
present with sailorA / can scarcely
give description Of these works They
are certainly the most formidable and
I B, ct built earthworks ! ever saw, and do
G edit 10 the engineer who planned
Item. Fl Caswell is Of the same shape
| Il was before it fell into rebel hands
except that the rebels have covered Its
walls with earth on the outside, and
| made them almost impregnable. Il i
in all respects stronger than Fl Fisher
/ and tarder TO take By assault; still, il
could be taken, and the rebels know it,
for fear gunboats outside would soor
have started them out.
/ / have had great difficulty in getting
the gunboats over the bar, and only sue
ceaded this morning in getting the les
one throagh. The rebels left plenty 0
good stores and provisions, and our mel
are now subsisting on them.
send you list Of the forts that hsv
( fAllen inta orr hands since Fort Fishe
fell, With he number and calibre Of thei
} guns. We have found here in each for
a Armstrong gun, with the broad 81
, row 70 ID and name, 1t Wm- Armstrong
marked in full AS the British Govern
nent claims the exclusive right % u.s.
these gaEs, il would be interesting :
know how .hey came into forts hoioinI
: the Southern rebels. / find that IN
mense quantities of provisions, stores
and clothing have come through III
: port an almost afraid TO msntlo
{ the amount, bat il is enough to suppl
i over 50. o08 men. It "a all English, an
1 thev have received the last cargo. \
more will ever come this way.
4 We picked up telegram from GEL
|. Lee 70 his subordinate
He says that if Forts Fisher and Ca