Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-18
FLAG SHIP MALyERyl
Or FoRr F1sBER n q JanII :

OFF FoRT FISHER, N. c., Jan. IA.
SIa: have the honor to inform you that
operations have been resumed against the
Lorts at the entrance of Cape Fear river
since the first attack on that place, and
subsequent to the withdrawal of the
troops, have been employed in filling the
Ships with ammunition and coal, The
difficulties we have encountered no one
can conceive. Our work had to be done
with the larger vessels anchored on the
coast, exposed you may almost say at sea
to the violent gales that blew almost in.
cessantly. On these gales the enemy de.
pended TO break up our preparations. We
| Will see. We have gone through the worst
OF it. We have gone on through gales
heavy enough to drive everything to sea,
and we have sustained no damage what
ever. After the troops arrived the wealth.
er set in very bad, and the gale was very
heavy. As soon as it was over got under
way on the 18th inst, and forming the yes
sells in the lines with the transports in
company, steamed for Fort Fisher On
the morning of the 18th the feet took it's
station in three lines, close to the beach,
and the boats were sent at once to take off
the troops. These were landed, with
about twelve days provision, at about two
O'Clock in the afternoon.
/
attacking the rebel works. 1 sent in the
new Ironsides, Commodore Radford, lead
ing the monitors Songus, Canonicus, Mon.
aduock and Massapoe at 7.3O a. M The
forts opened on them as they approached,
but they quietly took up their old positions
within a thousand yards of Fisher, and
when ready opened their batteries. In this
way we tempted the enemy to engage the
monitors, that we might ascertain the guns
they had, and see where they were and
be able to dismout them by our fire. Quite
a spirited engagement went on between
the fort and the Iroasides and MONITORS
1t was soon apparent the Ironsides had the
| best of it. Traverses began to disappear
and the southern angle of Fit. Fisher com
menced to look very dilapidated. The guns
were silenced one after another and only
| one heavy gun in the southern angle kept
up fire. The fire of this gun was not at all
| accurate, as it inflicted no damage on the
iron vessels. They we've hit several times.
By way ofletting the enemy see we had
some shells left on board the wooden ships,
| and did not intend to take advantage of
him by using the iron vessels alone, Or
| dered line No. l in the plan led by Capt.
Alden of the Brooklyn, and line No. 2 led
by Com. Thatcher of the Colorado, to go
and attack the, batteries. This was done in
the handsomest manner; not a mistake was
committed except firing too rapidly and
making too much smoke.
The heavy FIRE of the large vessels shut
up the enemy's guns at once and after
firing till after dark the wooden vessels
dropped out to their anchorage. The Iron
sides and Monitors maintained their po-
sitions through the night, firing a shell
now and then. They are now lying with
in 100 yards of the Fort. The Fort does
not FIRE gun at them, thinking, no doubt,
that it is waste of powder. The firing
from the feet will commence as soon as
we get our breakfasts and be kept up as
long as the ordnance department furnishes
US with shells and guns. There is per-
feet understanding between General Terry
and myself believe everything has been
done to aid him. 1 have heard no com.
plants. have not the slightest doubt of
our success. The Fort will be used up
soon. We have respectable force landed
on a strip of land, which our navel guns
completely command and place of de.
fence which would enable US to hold on
against very large army. will report
to you every opportunity. l have the
honor to be, very respectfully, your obedi-
ent servant, DAVID D. PORTER,
Rear Admiral.
To Hon. Gideon Welles, Sec'y Navy.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Navy De-
partment has received the following:
OFF FIT. FISHER, Jan. Is, via FIT. Mon
ROE Jan. 17.-Hon. Gideon Wells, Secre.
tauy ofths Navy Sir: Fit. Fisher is ours.
send bearer of dispatches with brief
account of the affair. Gen. Terry is en-
titled to the highest praise and gratitude of
his country for the manner in which he has
conducted his part of the operations. He
is my beau ideal of a soldier and General.
Our cooperation has been most cordial
The result is victory, which will always be
ours when the army and navy go hand in
hand.
The navy loss in the assault was heavy.
The army loss is also heavy.
(Signed0 D. D. Porter,
Rear Admiral Commanding.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 1.-THE correspondent
of the American gives the following de-
tailed account of the capture of Fort Fish
er:
On Friday, the 18th, at four O'Clock in
the morning, we were aroused by gun
from the flag ship, and the burning Of the
preparatory signal Of red and green as an
indication that it is time to be up stirring
and preparing breakfast, and doing away
with the routine of navy duty so as to be
in readiness at dawn to commence the Sc
rions work of the day, The throng Of
vessels rest calmly on the sea, the wind
being too light to stir or even ripple the
surface. Truly the elements promise to
favor this great enterprise. At o'clock
the second signal was given by the flag
ship to ''get under way" when the weigh
ing of anchors commenced, aud half past
five the signals of the division commander
to push forward were given, and which
was responded to by brilliant pyrotech-
mic display. The gunboat Laconey was
sent ahead last night to anchor off Flag
Pond battery, and the day not having yet
dawned, her lights can be seen, and the
steering point of the feet in shore about 3
miles ahead. They were followed by the
New Ironsides and the monitor feet.
The signals from the army transports