Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-01-27
WARRINGTON, Jan. 20.
The Navy Department to-day received
the following report from Admiral Porter
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
u, \, FLAG SHIP MALVERN. :

W ARLINGTON, Jan. 20.
The Navy Department today received
the following report from Admiral Porter:
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
U. =. FLAG SHIP NALvERE,
Or 6MITHyIRLp, n. c., Jan. CO.
In my last informed you that Fort Cas-
well had been blown up and evacuated in
consequence Of the capture Of Fort Fisher
l sent Lieut.. Cushing around to the Mon
ticello to the Western bar, in order to ascer-
tain what had taken place, and to obtain aid
from the officers in command Of the New
York and Vicksburg
Lieut.. Cushing did not obtain the aid he
required. For what reason l have not yet
learned But with his usual energy he
pushed in and found that Fort Caswell had
been blown up. Bald Head Fort had been
destroyed, and also Fort Shaw, and Fort
Campbell, to the westward of Fort Caswell.
was abandoned. All these forts mounted .
and 10 inch guns-some Of which were $50
FOUNDERS.
Lieut.. Cushing then pushed into Smith
vile, after hosting the flag Of the Union
over Fort Caswell.
Smithville, which the rebels had left in a
preaching, leaving everything in the heavy
fort ,niniured, and two 9-inch guns only
spiked in the fort at Deep Water Point.
In the meantime had succeeded in get
ting one gunboat-the Lacony-over the in
terror bar. and sent her up to Reeves Point,
20 disable the guns at that place, about three
miles on the west side Of the river, above
Fort Fisher. Thus, in "a hours after the
fall of Fort Fisher and its outer-works
All the formidable chain OF Forts in this
river at its entrance, were built to keep out
anything that may have fallen into our
hands. They are garrisoncd for the present
with sailors can scarcely give a descrip-
ton Of those works The are certainly the
most formidable and the best built earth
works ever saw, and do credit to the cngi
neer who planned them.
Fort Caswell is Of the same shape as be-
fore ii fell into rebel hands, except that they
have covered its walls with earth on the out
side, and made them almost lmpervious to
shot and shell 1t is in many respects strong
er than Fort Fisher, and harder to take BY
assault-still it could be taken and the rebels
know it. Three or four gun-boats outside
would soon have started them out.
! have had great difficulty IN getting the
gun-boats over the bars, only succeeding
this morning in getting the last one through
The rebels left plenty of stores and pro
visions, and our men are now subsisting on
them.
| sent you list Of the ports that have
fallen into our hands since f. Fisher, with
the number and caliber of their guns We
have found here in each fort an Armstrong
gun with the broad arrow on it, and the
name of Sir VIM. Armstrong marked in full
as the British claims the exclusive right to
use them. 1t would he interesting to know
how they ca ne into Forts held by the
southern rebels.
find that immense quantities of prOvi
sions, stores and clothing, have come thro'
this port l am almost afraid to mention the
amount, but it is enough to supply over 60
COZ men. 1t is all English, and they have
received the last cargO-nO more will ever
come this way.
We picked up telegram from Gen. Lee
to his subordinate here, saying shat il Forts
Fisher and Caswell were not held he would
have to evacuate Richmond. He says most
truly and should not be at all surprised ii he
left it at any moment.
We have plenty of force to hold this place
against the whole Southern Confedemcy. l
have $50 guns bearing on the narrow strip
Of land where our troops are heavily en-
trcnched. There are vessels in the river and
outside, and We only hope they will attempt
to retake 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 out
side had the blockade runner lights lit
last night and was obliging enough to an
swer their signals; whether right or wrong
we don't know. The Stag and Charlotte,
from Bermuda, loaded with arms, blankets,
shoes, &c, came III and quietly anchored near
the Malvern and were taken possession Of
The Stag was commanded by Richard H.
Gayle, I.icutcant in the rebel navy, and be-
longs to the rebel government A number
more are expected and we will, | hope, cap
turc portion Of them. | entrusted this duty
to Lieut.. Gushing 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 over
board on finding they were trapped The |
Charlotte brings five English passengers,
one of them an English army officer They |
all came over, rs they expressed ii, con a |
lark" and were making themselves quite |
oily in the cabin over their champaign, fell |
Chatting themselves on their safe arrival
The Stag received three shots in her as |
she ran by our blockatlers outside.
Very respectfully, your ohcdient servant,
DAVID u. PORTER,
Rear Admiral.
To Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.
Fort MONROE, Jan. 81.
The gunboat Adrienne arrived from Fort