Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-18
The Fall of Fort Fisher,
BRAVERY OF OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT CT THE FIGHT.
ADMIRAL PORTERs DETAILED OFFICIAL
REPORT,


The following has been received at the Navy
Department:
u. S. FLAGSHIP MALVERN, Orr Fort
FISHER, Jan. Is, 196j.-Sir: have the honor
to inform you that we have possession of Fort
Fisher, and the fall OF the surrounding works
will soon follow. As informed you in nv
last, we had commenced operations with the
iron vessels, which bombarded while we landed
the troops On the 18th instant ordered all
tne vessels carrying eleven Inch guns to bonn.
Dard, with the 1ronsides--the BROOKLYN taking
the lead. By sunset the fort was reduced to a
pulp-every gun was silenced by being injured
or covered up with earth, SO that they would
On the 18th, General Terry and myself
arranged for the assault, and ordered 1,4OO
light, the iron vessels, Brooklyn, and eleven
inch gunboats commenced batterng the work,
while the troops made lodgment within 156
yards of the fort. At ten O'Clock all the yes.
sells steamed in and took their stations, opening
heavy fire, which was kept up till three %.
m, when the signal was made to assault, the
soldiers taking the land side, and the sailors
the sea face-the ships changing fbut not ston
ping their fire to other works.
The rebels met us with courage worthy of
o better cause, and fought desperately Abou ut
thirty OF the sailors and officers succeeded in
getting TO the top Of the parapet, amidst muir
derous fire of grape, canister and musketry.
swept away in moment. Others tried to get
up the steep "pan crupee." The marines could
have cleared the parapets by keeping up
sailors were repulsed.
Many a gallant fellow fell trying to EN- ulats
their brothers in arms who were fighting to OBJ
4 tain an entrance on the northeast angle IA II
appears on our chart.
The enemy mistook the seamen's attack for
The main body OF troops, and offered a most
vigorous resistance there; but / witnessed Al all
and think the marines could have made the
assault successful.
In the mean time our gallant soldiers had
fha nrfh
the fort, fighting like lions, and eostesting ey-
cry inch OF ground.
The IronsIdes and Monitors kept throwing
aneir smells into the trayerses not occupied by
our men, but occupied by the rebels.
In this way our troops fought from traverse
TO traverse, from O'Clock in the afternoon
until 10 in the night, when the joyful tidlngs
were signalled to the fleet, we stopped our fire
and gave three Of the heariest cheers 1 ever
heard.
1t has been the most terrific struggle ever
saw, and very much hard Iaobr. The troops
have covered themselves with glory, and Gen
Terry is my beau ideal OF soldier and Gen
eral.
Our corporations has been most harmonious.
and think the General will do the Navy ths
cIeoit 10 Fay that this time at least we ''sub.
.,ially injured the fort as defensive work.
General Terry had only few more troops
than we had on the last OCCASION when the
enemy had only $50 men in the works-this
time the works were fully manned, and con-
tanned about SO men at the time OF the assault.
1t is q great regret to me to see my gallant
officers and men SO cut up, but was unwill-
ing to let the troops undertake the capture Of
the works without the navys sharing with
them the peril all were anxious to undergo,
and we should have had the honor OF meeting
our brothers In arms In the works had the
sailors been properly supported. We have
lost about 200 in killed and wounded, and
amongst them some gallant officers.
regret to announce the death of Lieut.. S.
w. Preston and Lieut. Il. II. Porter. They
were both captured together in the attack on
Fort Sumter, and died together in endeavoring
to pull down the flag that has SO long Haunted
Lieut. r H. hanson was severely wounded,
he was lately associated with Lieutenant Pres
ton in his perilous adventure OF the powder
boat
Lieutenant George W. Bache and q number
of others were wounded, the former not dan
gerously.
The assault only took place q few hours ago,
and am unable to inform you OF our casual
ties they are quite severe from the assault
but we had no casualties from the enemy's can
non.
Knowing the impotence ofthe Department to
receive news from Fort Fisher, have written
these few hurried lines.
No one can conceive what the Army and
Nav have gone through to achieve this vic.
800 On hich should have been ours on Christ
mas day, " .thont the loss OF dozen men
This hs beep day Of terrific struggle, and
not surnassed by any events OF the war.
We are ali worn oat neai.vv. and you must
excuse this brief and unsatisfactory account:
will write fully by The Santiago de Cuba,
which goes North tomorrow to carry the
wounded.
Besides the men In Fort Fisher, there were
about 500 In the upper forts, and relief Of
l,500 men brought down by steamers this
morning So far believe we nave only cap
tured the garrison of Fort Fisher.
don't suppose there ever was WORK SUBJ
lectsd 10 such terrific bombardment, or
where the appearance OF fort was more al
tered. There is not q spot OF earth about the
fort that has not been torn up by our shells.
don't know yet the number OF killed and
wounded by our IRE, but one 15-inch shell
alone pierced q bomb proof, killing sixteen and
Wounding severely twenty five.
presume we are in possession OF all the
forts, as Fort Fisher commands them ALL 1t
ia so late now that / can learn nothing more
until morning.
l am, sir, yery respectfully. your obedient
servant. u u fohfsh, ~ h aI M 81.
Washington, ID. U.
- AIaxsnder Dumas Is coming to