The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-10

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for him they answer to his call. Away they went
after him, and soon they in line ready to meet
the enemy The sharp crack of the rifle is mixed
in with the loud noise of the cannon. The yam
KEGS can be creeping away on their bellies
like crawling worms. Lieut. Hunter, with his
Whitworth rifle, is doing good service; Colonel
Tansl and Maj Saunders are among the Junior
Reserves encouraging them on; fainter grows the
caunonade; the musket firing has ceased; the ieet
is drawing off; the land attack has been repulsed.
The days fight is over; and thank God all is well.
! Everything about the land front Dow got in
readiness with the expectation that nj ht attack
would be made by the land force to storm the fort.
| A bright look out was kept up and our plckets
were thrown out. Everything quiet however
until about II O'Clock, when pickes discover
ed the Yankees landing on the extreme right of
! the Fort, near the mound. The night was dark
| ard heavy rain had set In. Col Lamb at the
head of his infantry engages them, and Ter awhile
the rattle of musketry was heavy, but the enemy
are at last driven off and quiet is again resumed.
! Our casualties to day 39-4 killed and IS
wounded.
! MONDAY 26TH.-The morning was very toggy,
and the feet was hardly visible. The tall taper
ing masts Of the trgates could be discerned in the
fog looming up like phantom ships. The boom
ing of cannon could be heard in the distance up
the beach, and it was supposed that the enemy
were landing their forces, which turned out to be
true. About 10 o'clock by looking through a
glass could be column of the enemy stretch
cd out across the land front Anderson. The
long roll was beat and the lined the palisades
and manned the guns From some cause however
the enemy made no advance; and nothing happen
ed about the fort during the day. The men were
all i'll fine spirits; aud Col. TAFT with his fine bat
talon had arrived to take part in the fray. The
firing up the beach continued all day, aud also
during the right. The men were hard at work
to-day in repairing the damages to the fort.
TUESDAY 9TH The morning opened bright
w. The glorious sun came forth from great old
ocean in all its splendor. The ripping waves,
crowned with their white caps, rushing on each
other as in playful gambol, sparkled in its light.
All nature seemed lovely. And 10! there On the
bar is the blockade runner "Banshee.' The feet
her and two of them start after her, but she Is
too quick, and proudly she comes in the inlet
while the men crowd tile curtains and cheer after
cheer greets her, which are answered with vim
by her crew. During the night another had come
in whose name | have not learned | wonder how
Mr. Admiral Porter felt at that time, With feet
of upwards of 60 vessels not able to cfcctuouy
blockade New Inlet
It was soon seen that some important movement
was going on: among the feet near Anderson
Boats could be seen passing to and fro from the
vessels to the beach. Whether the enemy were
still landing troops evacuating could not be told;
but it was supposed by some that they were doing
the latter, which proved to be correct. About Il
o'clock the feet stood out; the Ironsides, which
had been lying nearer the Fort, got up steam and
started out, and soon the whole fleet out some
distance where they anchored. a bright lookout
was kept up at night, but nothing Of Importance
occurred
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2S-Another beautiful
morning. Half Of the fleet has disappeared the
rest going off. $50 o'clock, 7. M.-The rest
have disappeared hot hing tut the usual blockade
squadron are now visible
|. The FoRT.-The condition of the Fort now is
as strong as it ever was. Having withsood the
heaviest 5ombardment that has ever taken place
on this continent, it has proven conclusvely that
earthworks are stronger and hundred times less
liable to injury than any other. The works
built by principles unknown before the war; and
which have been fully sustained. Gen. Whiting
has shown his great wisdom in allowing the works
to be put up, not according to any regular engl-
neerlng plan, but as the different desguS Of the
Commander, whose uutiring energy and industry
have been always employed to Illustrate all attacks
Of the enemy by land sea, end who has received
the applause and approval of his gallant General.
rs the Wilmington Journal truthfully remarks,
the names Of Gen. Whiting and Col Lau.b will
always be associated with the defence Of Fort
Fisher.
INCIDENTS &c.-It would be impossible to give
an account of the innumerable incidents that oc-
Cured during the two days fight. | will only
mention one or two. During part Of the heaviest
firing on Sunday, Gen'l. Whiting and staff walked
up from Buchanan Battery, distant about l miles
from the Fort, and it is miraculous that any of
them escaped without injury. Col Lamb was all
about tbs works. from one end to the other. Too
much praise cannot be paid him; on the memora-
bic Christmas evening, when the enemy were pre-
pairing to attack the works, his daring will never
be forgotten. Rushing the parapets, sword in
hand he called for volunteers to rapulse the attack;
with yell his men rushed after him; aud that yell
caused the retreat of the yankees under cover of
their feet.
AT one time a shell fell Into one of the batteries
manned by Capt. Patterson; the fuze was burning,
and in few seconds would have exploded Pri-
vate Brisom picked it up and asked Private w.
Turner to pour some cold water on its face to cool
its anger, which he did, and then threw the she'll
over the battery. Every one did his duty nobly
and CALAMITY. Great praise is due to the Medical
Dept, under Surgeon Singleton.
TALLY HO
Il has been stated battalion of Junior Reserves
was captured by the enemy outside of Fort Fisher.
The Wilmington Journal explains how that &C.
CURED as follows:
"Of the Juniors ordered TO Fort Fisher, some
were put in the bomb-proo:s aud some were order.
ed to another poiut. Of these latter, something
like $50 under command Of Maj. Reece, were sur
rendered to yankee Captain and five men, who
demanded the surrender, Informing the Major that