The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-01-25
CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER /
Port or wilmington Sealed Up

The second assault on Fort Fisher was
successful, and at l0P NJ Sunday, 18th inst
ii was possessed by the land foreos under
General Terry, and captured with its gar.
rison. The operations Of tho fleet com.
mencod on Friday, 18th inst. Our losses
are stated to be Eve hundred, but this is
probably too small. An accidental explo.
sion in the Fort on Monday morning killed
aud wounded two hundred.
The following account of the battle is
given by correspondent Of tho Baltimore
AmericdR;
| FRtDAv Jan. 13
we were aroused by gun from the flag
ship and the burning of tho preparatory
signal of red aud green as an Indication
that IL is time to be up and stirring, pre-.
pairing 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.
The throng of vessels rest calmly on the
sea, the wind being too light to stir or even
ripple its surface. Truly tho elements
promise to favor this great enterprise,
At 5 o'clock second signal was given
by the flagship to get under way, when tho
work of weighing anchors commenced, and
at half past signals of the division COM
manders to move forward wero given and
responded to, causing brilliant pyrotech-
mic display. The gunboat Tacony was
sent ahead last night to anchor off the
Flagpond Battery, and day not having yet
dawhed, her lights can be seen as the
steering point of the fleet in shore about
three miles ahead of us.
The three frigates-the Wabash, Minnos-
ota and Colorado-mOved off, the first led
by Admiral Porter's flagship. They were
followed by the New Ironsides and moni-
tor fleet The signals from the army trans.
ports added to the scenic display. At the
FIRST dawn of day the whole armada was in
motion. Tho wind was changed to due
west during the night, and, coming of
shore, tends to render the landing of troops
comparatively easy. At a quarter to seven
o'clock the Admiral signaled to form the
line of battle; whereupon the Brooklyn,
with her line of vessels moved along close
to the beach, in the following order;
Brooklyn, 26 guns; Mohican, Z; Tacony
10; Kansas, s; Nautilla, Z; Huron, 4 Maui
NEE, 5; Patuxent, 10; Seneca, 4; Pontoosue
10. Nyack, I: Yantic, I; Nereus, IL. Total,
/, III 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 deseItcd half moon Battery.
In q few minutes the whole division was
in position, throwing shells into the narrow
strip OF woods separationg the seashore
from Cape Fear river, about mile inland,
parallel with the beach.
In the meantime time the Ironsides NOV
ell into position directly in front of Fort
Fisher, the Ironsides about three-fOurths
of mile and the monitors about half a
mile off, in the following order: New
lronsdes, Com. Redford, 20 gunsi Monad-
mock, Com. Parrott, guns: Saugus, Com.
Colham guns; Can n Gus, 2guns; Mahopac
2 guns. Before they got into position the
Fort opened on them, but they secured
their anchorage, when at $3.50 the Iron
sides opened on the Fort and was followed
by the monitors with their tremendous
shell. Every shot landed in the embras.
ures AMI expo Ing threw clouds Of sand
high into the air. The Fort occasionally y
responded, but did not send more tllan a
shell every ten minutes, and at times found
it impossible to work lis guns. At
O'Clock the boats of the fleet were called
away TO assist in landing the troops. The
woods had in the meantime been thorough
ly shclled, and no enemy had appeared.
The transports were enabled to go with
in half mile of the shore, and were soon
surrounded by not less than 200 boats, sup
piled from all The vessels of the fleet. Sew
eral tugs also joined III the work, ana car.
ried the soldiers to within 100 yards of the
beach, where they were transferred 10
] q f, nd
were also landed, with several days pro.
visions for tho entire force, 5000 strong.
AT nine o'clock the boats from all the
transports moved for the shore, and in
few minutes the first 500 men stepped on
the beach and planted their regimental
flag on one OF tho highest sand hills, amid
cheering from the transports and feet.
There was nota sign of the enemy at this
in any direction. At ten o'clock about 4 600
troops having been landed, skirmish line
was sent forward on the beach, Admiral
Porter signalled to Captain Glissoa com.
manding the Saratoga, to move with his
gunboat division OH each side of the line
of frigates and shell the beach in advance
of the skirmishers. The woods in advance
of the pickets were thoroughly sheled up
to Within y miles OF Fort Fisher.
| The firing on the fort from the monitors
and the New Ironsdes was magnificent
sight. From 8 O'Clock in the morning up
to four o'clock in the afternoon the moni.
| tors poured in their murderous shell at the
rate of four per minute. The whole num-
Der thrown in at that time was about two
thousand. Every shot struck tho embras-
ures or parapet of the fort, aud the gnnuery
exhibited was never surpassed During
this time the fort possibly threw 300 shells
in return, but the difficulty they had in
manning their guns amid the explosions of
our shells and the clouds of sand that con-
stantly enveloped the work from our we'll
directed shots, doubtless worried their
| gunnery, as most Of their shells struck be-
| yond or short of the mark. All of our yes
sells however, re ,eived honorable scars in
the fight. The damage to the fort by out
ward appearances. was most distinct.
About four clock dense and continued
smoke from the inside of the fort indicated
that some of the rebel huts had been fired
At 4 o'clock the Admiral sigualled to the
vessels in line of battle No. l., to take the
positions marked outfor them on the Chart
and Join in the bombardment. Following
rapidly was an order to line of battle No
2to take position aud join in the lombard
ment. 1t Immediately moved forward, pre-
senting an array of the largest vessels in
the service, and a magnificent spectacle
of old wooden wals with their ponderous
armaments.
r.