Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-01-26

time to be up and stirring preparing break
fast and getting through with the routine of
morning duty, SC as to be in readiness at
dawn to commence the serious work of the
day. The moon is still shining brightly in
a colorless sky, brilliant with stars. The
throng oil vessels rest calmly on the sea, the
wind being too light to stir or even ripple
its surface; this toe, it should be remember
ed, just out OF cannon shot of the dreaded
coast of North Carolina. Truly, the ele-
ments promise to favor this great enterprise,
AT 8 o'clock the second signal was given
by the flagship, Get under way" when
the work of weighing anchor commenced,
aud at 81 the Signals of the divisional com
mander to move forward we're given and re-
sppnded to, causing brilliant pyrotoehuic
display. The guuboat Tacony was sent
ahead last night to anchor off Flsgpond
Battery, and the day not having yet dawn
ed her lights can be seen as the steering
point. Of the heet in shore. about three miles
ahead Of u.s. ar r ..g tal- g..
The three frigates Wabash, Minnesots
and Colorado moved off first, led by Admi
raj Portor's flagship. They were followed
by the New Ironsides and monitor feet. =
The signals from the army transports added
to the scenic display. At the first dawn Of
day the whole armada was in motion. Tie
wind has changed to due west during the
night, and, coming off shore, tends to rem
der the!landing oftroops comparatively easy
At quarter to seven the Admiral sig
naled Form line-of battle" whereupor
the Brooklyn with her line of vessels moveC
along close to the beach in the following or
der: Brooklyn, 26 guns; Mohican, Z; Ta
cooy, 10; Kansas, s; Unadilla, Z; Huron
4; Maunee, 5; Patuxent, 10; Seneca, a
Ponteosuc, ~; Nyack, 7; Yantic, 7; Nereus
IL; total, IL guns. This division was or
dered to prepare for action and move il
close TO the beach, to shell the woods at th'
point decided upon for the landing Of III,
troops, about 49 miles from Fort Fisher
near the deserted half-moon battery. In |
few minutes the whole division was in posi-
tion, throwing shells into the narrow STRIP
of woods separating the sea-shore from Cap,
Fear, about mile inland parallel with tn,
beach.
In the meantime the iron cads moved in
to position directly in front Of Fisher, tn,
Ironsides about three quarters of a mile
and the monitors about halt a mile off, il
the following order: New lronsides, Com
| Radford, 20 guns; MonadHook, Com. Il. &
Parrott, guns; Sangus, Com. Il. X. Col
ham, 2 guns; Canonicus, Lieut.. Com. Geo
). Belknap, 2guns; Mahopac, Lieut.. Com
9. II. Porter, 2 guns rt
Before they got into position the for
opened on them, but they needed it not un
til they had secured their anchorage, wheI
at 8: 80 the Ironsides opened on the fort, ant
was followed by the monitors with thei
tremendous shells. Every shot struck oil
the embrasures, and exploding, threw cloud
OF sand high. into the air. The fort occa
sionally responded, but did not send NOR
than one shot every ten minutes, and a
times so rapid was our firing they found i
impossible to work their guns.
At 9 O. clock, the boats of the feet wcr
called way to assist in landing troops. TIL
woods had in the meantime been thorough
ly shelled, and no enemy had appeared. :
| The transports were enabled to 20 withi
half mile of the Shore and they wer
soon surrounded by not less than two hun
dred boats, supplied from all the vessels 0
the feet. Several tugs also joined i
the work, and carried the soldiers to withi
one hundred yards Of the beach, where the
were transferred to small boats The tent
and camp equipage were also landed wit
several days provisions for the entire force
which was 5000 strong.
At Q O'Clock the boats from all the trans
ports moved simultaneously for the shore
and in few minutes the first 500 me
stepped on the beach and planted thei
regimenta flag on one OF the highest sand
hills amid cheering from the transports an
the feet.
Tue men were overjoyed to again get fror
shipboard, and in few minutes had Gu
down cedars sufficient to make rousin
fire to dry clothes, snme of them having 60
wet to their kuees in getting through tn
surf. aif.
The bands Of music soon commenced play
ing, while the men could be seen runnin
about and rolling in the warm sand lik
schoolchidren enjoying holiday.
No, sign Of any enemy could be seen q
this time in any direction.
AT 10 o'clock, about 4 200 troops havin
been landed skirmish line was sent fol
ward on:the beach,
Admiral Porter signaled to Capt. Glis
son, commanding the Santiago, to NOV
with his gunboat division inside of the lin
of the frigate, and shell the beach in ad
vance Of the skrmishers. The division
moved in the following order: