The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-04

Esnd disrnpton. II Il hardly nscsssasy,
therefore, to point 10 the conclusion,
which inevitably fellows, thst i continua-
ton Of the military success which. has
brought about the present state Of Af.
fairs must necessarily prove the most
potent peace making influence which can
be brought to bear at this time. The
"last ditch" idea Of the Southern peo-
pie was always q fallacy, as regards the
chief part Of the population, and could
only apply to desperate few. Like all
other combatants, both ancient and mo-
derp, the Southern people, as q nation,
will stop fighting when they are well
whipped.
PoRTERs REPORT OF THE EVACUATION OF
FORTCAswELL AND OTHER WORKS NEAR
WILMINGTON.
Admiral Porter, in his usual STYLE
not a very dignified one,-scnds the
Washington Naval Department an ac-
count of the evacuation Of the forts on
Cape Fear river after the fall of Fort
Fisher. There were, according to his
account, eighty three guns found in
them. In his report, he says:
We have found here, ip each fort, an
Armstrong gun, with the broad arrow :"
on it, and the name "Sir William Arm
strong" marked in full on the trunions.
As the British Government claims the
exclusive right to use these guns, it would
be Interesting to know how they came
into forts held by the Southern rebels
| find that immense quantities of proyi-
sions, stores and clothing have come
through this port into rebeldom. / am
almost afraid to mention the amount but
it is enough to supply over sixty thou
sand men. 1t is all English, and they
have received the last cargo no more
will ever come this way.
We picked up telegram from General
Lee to his subordinate here, saying that
if Forts Fisher and Caswell were not
held, he would have to eyacuate Rich
mond. He says most truly, and should
not be at all surprised if he left it at any
moment.
We have plenty of force to hold this
place against the whole Southern Con-
fedcracy. l have two hundred and fifty
guns bearing on the narrow strip of land
where our troops are heavily entrcnched.
There are vessels in the river and outs
side, and we only hope they will attempt
to rctake it.
Ten thousand men in Fort Fisher,
with the guns of the squadron, would
hold this place long time.
We find this better place to catch
blockade runners than outside. l had
the blcckaderunners' lights out last
night, and was obliging enough to an
swer their signals, whether right OF
wrong we do not know. Two.of them,
the Stag and Charlotte, from Bermuda,
loaded with arms, blankets, shoes, t.,
came in and quietly anchored near the
Malvern, and were taken possession of.
The Stag was commanded by Richard
H. Gayle, lieutenant in the rebel navy,
and belonging to the rebel Government.
A number more are expected, and we
will, hope, catch portion of them. l
entrusted this duty to Lieutenant Cush-
ing, who performed it with his usual
good luck and intelligence. These two
are very fast vessels and valuable prizes.
They threw portion of their papers
overheard Immediately on finding they
were trapped.
enclose list Of guns captured by
the navy since the surrender of Fort
Fisher, and the names Of the different
works. This number, added to those
taken around Fisher, makes one hundred
and sixty eight guns in all, most of them
heavy ones, that have been taken.
enclose few papers that may be
interesting. The Charlotte brings five
English passengers, one of them an Eng
fish army officer. They all came over,
as they expressed it, ION lark" and
were making themselves quite Jolly"
in the cabin over their champagne, felici-
tating themselves on their safe arrival
The Stag received three shots in her as
she ran by our blockading squadron.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ISigned) DAVID d. PORTER,
ear-Admiral.