Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-18
THE NEWS OF FORT FISHER II
ENGLAND

The London journals publish elaborate ac-
counts Of the capture Of Fort Fisher The
stme Gamer that took out the news of General
Terry's victory con veye ed the report OF General
Buffers speech at Lowell-a coincidence upon
which the Daily News comments. IL Is added,
however, that the explanations OF General
puueI are interesting, as giving some knowl-
News says:
"On the whole, though it is difficult to antici-
pate all that may follow from this success the
oifllculty is rather from the number OF conse-
quences than from any dou bt of the in nortance
of any of them In its results It is a bio " as
staggering 10 the Confederate rule tn at which
delivered Savannah TO its ne " masters"
The London Times, remarking on the success
at Fort Fisher, observes that usually the winter
bad been q time OF involuntary armistice, hut
now, in the depth OF the season, and amid the
dangers of sudden tempest and fatal coast,
the Federals have won their last victory, and
the last considerable port OF the Confederates.
To give the South no terms OF respite, no opper-
tunity for fresh preparations, no breathing
time W hich should refresh IL for new exertions,
is the policy of the Cabinet It is difficult to
believe that the capture of Fort Fisher Will not
lead to other successes, which Will either place
Wilmington in the hands of the Federals or
render II useless as port for blockade. runners.
IT will be seen then how far the South is capa-
bic of doing without that which England has
hitherto furnished her. The vast efforts which
have been made by the Federals to shut up the
Southern ports, and the perseverance, with
which the design has been pursued proves
hat, in the opinion of the best informed. the
isolation of the Confederate States is necessary
for the successful termination OF the war.
Exultation of the North Neticed-Powep
and Accuracy Of the Union Fleet.
From the London Times of February H.
To the student OF the art of war we com
value, and TO the general reader for the exceed
ing interest of the narrative.
The fall Of this place, after long and terri
BILE fire, may not be a deadly low to the South.
but the Federals will look upon 1t with tnsttce
as brilliant success and be encouraged by il
to persevere in their operations against the sea
coast towns which still remain in the hands OF
The enemy. In this second expedition, there
was, thanks to the sternness OF the Washing
ton Government, no disagreement of opinion,
or, any rate, of action between the commando
erS. From first to last the navy and the land
force were fully in accord, and when the place
had been crippled by the incessant fire OF the
strongest fleet which has been engaged during
the war, the troops OF General Terry advanced
to the attack with spirit which showed tha:
the disgrace of General Butler had not failed
as warning. Yet the praise is not all on the
one side. As the details become more fully
known, there is increasing reason to admire
the courage and pertinaci;y of the Confederates.
Seldom has go small garrison in so limited a
space had to support such a fire for so great n
length of time. The bravery or General Ter
rvs troops is undoubted, hut they only ad-
vanced to the attack when their opponents had
been almost crushed by the bombardment Of
the Federal iron clads.
The effect OF this occurrence on the contend-
ing parties can hardly as yet be estimated Ac-
cording TO their usual habit, the Southerners
do not attempt TO conceal their caagrin at such
loss, and one of their organs confesses. what
some have been disposed 10 deny, that the cap
ture OF Fort Fisher will make the port of Will
miDgton useless for the purposes of foreign
trade. But how far this new defeat will in
crease their disposition for peace, remains as
yet unknown. Not SO, however, with the
North. The exultaton produced by this VIC
tory rather exceeds what might have been ex-
pected at time when the Federals have
achieved SO many successes. This is perhaps
to be explained by the previous failure, which
had itself followed the bootless naval opera
tions at Charleston. The revuIsion In public
feeling tends to make the North oyeryalue its
last exploit.
TIE power of the fleet, the accuracy with
which it was brought into action, frigates ana
gun boats, ironsides and monitors, each taking
up their position and doing their work with
the precision of machines, the successful as
sault on the place coming hard upon the dis
couraging arguments of Gen. Butler, the fierce
ness of the struggle, and, finally, the prospect
of closing the last great port of the South, have
combined to fill the North with new confidence
The Navy, especially, is highly grathed al
part II is the exploits Of thus branch of the
service which will be ct most 54 4t14aasrtsff66d
that the fire of the fort had little effect on the
hulls of the American iron.clads. They are
said to have suffered little, the marks Of the
Confederate fire only certain indentations on
their sides and the shooting away OF their boats
and the lighter parts OF their equipment Ira
trusted, Admiral Porter believes that he pos
sesses a vessel which could destroy any ship
OF the British or French navy, lay our towns
under contribution, and chase away anything
which we might send to blockade American
ports. The iron -clads lay for five days within
SEQ ards Of Fort Fisher, an d received no ma
terIal injury. II the Confederate guns are ca
pable OF comparison with our own, the Ques-
tion Of ships against forts may prove to have
been considerably advanced by there expert
ments. Every fight across the ocean should be
a lesson for Us, and this last deserves TO be
studied with unusual attention.