Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1865-02-02
,szs,sssa From the Daily Confederate
THE FALL OF FORT USHER.

,katessa From the Daily Confederate
THE FALL OF FORT FISHER.
We have received the following account
from the lips of a gentleman who, we are
sure, is az accurately informed concerning
the late engagement between our forces
aud the enemy, at Fort Fisher, aa any
one. zes "a es sEs 49, sss :
The movement of the enemy was sud-
den, as we all know. After the previous
failure, it was not anticipated that SO quick
a repetition of the effort would be made.
Gen. Hoke had been withdrawn towards
Wilmington, or above it. On Saturday,
Mr. McMillan-as our informant heard
discovered from near Topsail Sound, the
approach of the enemy, and sought to
communicate by telegraph to Gen. Bragg,
tho tact but the operator was not in a
condition TO send the despatch, and it be-
came necessary to transmit he news by a
messenger. In two hours after the intel
!igence was received, Gen. Uoke was on
the march to confront the enemy at his
point OF landing. On Friday, the enemy
landed under cover OF his fleet, near Bat
terry Gatlin, about nine miles from Fort
Fisher. While he was landing, Gen.
II Ike appeared, and drew up in line par
allel, to watch his movements, and inter
cept them when possible to do SO. It was
not possible to prevent the landing, owning
to the situation of the point chosens The
enemy landed on the banks, just above
the neck of the Sound, tins interposing a
small surface of water between them and
an attacking force or compelling such
force to circle around the lower extreme
of the SouEd-eit}1er of which movements
woulG have stI be done under the fire Of
the whole feet. +
Wien Gen. Hokc. fonnd this to be the
situation, he established line facing the
sea, and threw ont what cavalry he re-.
CURED, 1T he had it, on his right flank,
towards Battery Anderson, which was
down the beach, towards Fort Fisher
about four miles. The Intervening coun
try here is broken and the low places
are grown up, with thick bushes, aud are
marshy. The purpose of this cavalry was
to observe the movements, and give the
signal OF the first advances OF the enemy
towards establishing aline across the neck
of land to the river, it being the order
and purpose of Gen Bragg to have Gen.
Hoke attack him as soon as he advanced. |
In this condition matters rested until
Friday pight. During the night, the en-
emy, passing between the cavalry, and
threading their way through the thick
aHdfsAy aHdcISIOWius uIsas1G tiiOliSs WHJ W /
the river, and on Saturday morning, Gen.
Hoke found an intrenched line on his
right flank, extending across the peninsn-
/ lar, from the sea to, or near to-, the river.
He succeeded, however, in maintaing his
base at Sugar Loaf, Immediately changed
his line, and informed Gen. Bragg of the
status. Then Gen. Bragg gave the order
to charge the enemy in their works: mi
the meantime, Gen. Hoke had made
close reconnaissance, under the fire OF the
enemy, and discovered the strength Of
their force and position. On receiving
the order to charge, he contaminated the
result of his observations, and asked Gen.
Bragg to reconnoitre in person, hich he
aid; and both these officers concurred that
was not proper to assault the lines. 1t T
was then determined to oreinforce the Fort,
and steps. were taken which, but for a
'atarai, but 90 far Us wescan see, unblam:
eoie miscarriage, ought to have succeeded, +
allied to q great extent. BY this titns tllef
Foeny, tour Thousand strong, were secure