Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-03

guns but the slot fell short All the vessels steadily,
steamed on, and the Canonicua finally overlook and
passed the ironsides, both vessels and :the Mo-
nadnOck again firing a, SHOT at the fort. The
sixth attempt was more successful, land the
shell bRst fairly upon the glacis Of Fort Fisher.
The Canouicu5, keeping the lead, went valiant
" on and ut length; selecting position, deliberate
ly aud regularly opened fire: The Ironsdes ventred
as far as her draught OF water permitted and, an
choring with her head of shore, opened her terrific
broadside. The Monadnock and Mahopac noScane
up aud also anchored In the meantime the fort had
deigned no reply to the first shots; but al nearly
quarter past one O'Clock the guns Oh the easterly
face suddenly belcbed FORTH and were quickly fol-
lowed by others from the line batteries and tho
.'Mound," The interchange of shots soon became
fast and deafening. The water IN the channel was
tossed up in,tountains of spray, and the beach IN
clouds Of sand.\ The light Had now earnestly begun
but on our part was as yet sustained by the ifon
cahs only The rest of the fleet, however; was
steadily advancing directly inward TO the shore Ike
a flock of glls Wingng their fight over the sea.
The SECOND phase Of the fight presented itself wheI
the next line of battle, comprising the irlgates
soops0fwar and the heaYief wooden vessels, caIaC
into position, and with the iron cads Joined in the
attack. The Minnesota was grst into line and, ma
lesticay turning broadsIdc 10, she opened fire from
her double bank Of guns, awakening the slumberng
echoes With the thunder of the explosion, and start
ing up anew the clouds of sands, earth and water
around the fort. Following came the Colorado, her
umes OF smoke which hung lazy on the water the
Wabash the Brooklyn, the PowlIutan Susqse hanna
Junata, and The remainder OF the sloops-ot-war
their large hulls and forest Of masts and rigging
forming streng contrast 10 the turrGs OF the MOh
tors. When all the vessels OF this GLASS had taken
position and opened fire. te ceIe had reached
'tage of exceeding grandeur. -.
THF FORT oN FIRE. 3 - =: IS.
About O'clock flames we're observed in the yicn-
ity of the fort. A close Inspection through6ur glass
revealed the fact that our shells had fired the
wooden barracks 10 the west of the fort. Tie flames
wcrd accompanied by heavy masses OF dark smoke
showing that the buildings had been constructed On
the North Carolina pitch pine. The lire spread with
the utmost rapidly, and ERE long the smoke almost
concealed the fort foui view. #.[E
Towards sunset Tho fire broke ont anew in the bar.
/ racks, and burned aIiotI her section.
The le--squadto6 Was now engaged, and the
scene attained its grandes heahty. The heavy fri
gates-hidlen half Tue time in the clouds OF smoke
which, imptlled by the brisk westerly wind, Sufged
through their nasls and rigging. thundcred- away
with their bfoasidfs while the Monitors and gun.
boats kept up sitaGy bri less frequent eannonade.
The roar Wss dca1ehing. A continued thunder storm
seemed rolling through the heavens. The sdndrous
humming OF the passing shot and shell sounded like
the rafting Of a. thousand railway trains, The air
was dense with the fumes If guupoYdCr aeI stretch
ing several miles Seaward was tle drifting smoke of
the battle lying in uAbroken cloud apon the surface
Of the water. hail Of mlsses foil 10 and around
the fire gPlled GJrt.: The atmosphere above was
filled with littlg white globes OF smoke from the ex
plOding she'll and the sky seemed as 1t sprpkled with
pellets OF th6most DOGGY wool. Ii was grand sight
-magnifcently So. 80
/: Under the combined discharges Of the whole
squadron, the fort SlacRehed fire. aud duriug the
rest of the days Engagement responded but dom
The gnHbodts onths efpt Che circle or line OF bat
rlc brought enliladng fire to bear upon the north
east face ofthe work, and drove the rebels from the
parapet but were unable todisable the gums owing
70 the complete shelter afforded by extensive ira
verses. Ib6 sun vent down men the battle, and
night iouud US still fighting, fifth the departare Of
daylight the vessels slowly Withdtowto tie other
chahtel and the engagement terminated. though the
rebels contlEedo ire an occasional shot at the re-
firing feet -..ls I
AAotlPy correspondent. writing on the 18th, de-
s:ribes how Butler marched up toSthe fort and then
marched back again. After describing tue landing
on Christmas day, under protection of heavy fire
from the feet. and the gradual approach to the fort,
capturing batteries, &c. the correspondent says -
. ANOTHER FORT REACHED. .
About quarter of mile from Fort Fisher small
fort was cached whiGh was evacuated by the eJemy
on the approach OF cur troops, and immediately td-
ken possession of by General Curtis The skirrnish-
ers lad now approached within full sight Of Fort
Fisher, some OF them being enabled: TO LOOK intoit.
Nothing was TO be sven except tho neIG working the
der Of the girrson having found safe shelter in the
easements aud boihbproois.nntil such time as they
might be called upon to,raskIR stoFHlpg tarty of in
lantry The telegraph wire was aghn cut wthn'a-
short distance Of Fort Fisher BY Lieutenant George
Simpson, of General Curtis al, who climbed pole
and cut the wire with Ratchet. Traces OF the re,
cent march Of small bodies Of troops to reinforce the
fort were found in all the roads. .
pEgERAL SE,Tari Oh SHORE. o.
General Wezel, accompanied by Col. Comstoek
of General Grant staff had landed simultaneously
with General Curtis troops and made 8 careful re
conn1iss0nce Of tue fort. Both these officers came
10 the conclusion that an attack By our land forces
wodla DO Iazardous Ia the extreme. Tic works
were of the strongest possible description and had
evidently been constructed on the most scientific
principles, and there could be 40 donbI but that
they were heavily gatYis0neyl. IN addition fromthe
statements Of several prisoners, it was discovered
that the enemy had reviewed timely notice Of our
approach and had thus been enabled to draw consid
cradle rernorcements from Richmond. The Whole
of Hokes division. Of North Carolina troops, was
said TO have arrived from Richpond and to he men
acns on rear g.. g,
:, MORE TROOPS LANDED. Il
In the meantime General Ames had disembarked
Bells brigade, and taking command in person, had
pushed forward to support Curtis. lie found the
latter general with his skrmshers in front OF Fort
Fisher. Curtis was. directed to move on, and 1t il
found at all practicable, to at once assault the
fort. 49,.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TROOPS. ~
Night had gradually approached and an order was
received from General Butlertow jtidraw tie roOps
This was rendered all the more necessary from the
danger of being cut off at any moment by reinforce
nents from Richmond Tie Weather was beginning to
wear a threatening appearance, and in the event Of
a storm the naSy would Of course be obgedto putto
sea, leaving whatever troops might remain on shore
at hemercy Of enemy who could at their pleasure
overwhelmthem by numbers. -
THE; PRISONERS TAKEN
were very poor specimens of soldiers and mostly be-
longed TO til, junior reserves; Many of.them were
apparentynot over fifteen; althougb all claimed to be
between the ages OF sixteen and eghteen They
seemed rather pleased than otherwise at their cap
ture, and AL looked, even when they first fell into
our hands, as If they had been utterly unaequanted