Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-18

LiO RhAI AhLN n
OF Fort Fisher, II @, January lax
Sir-I have the honor TO inform you that ope
rations have been resumed against the forts al
the entrance of Cape Fear river. Since the first
attack on that place and the subsequent with
drawal of troops, | have been employ ed in filling
the ships with ammsnition and coal. The diff
culties we have encountered no one can con
ceiye of. All our work bad to be done with
larger vessels anchored on a coast, you might
almost say, at sea. to violent gales that blew
almost incessantlv. On these gales the enemy
depended TO break up our preparations We
have gone through the worst OF it here. and held
on through gales heavy enough TO drive W to
to sea, and have sustained no damage whatever.
After the troops arrived the weather set in bad
and the gale was very heavy. As soon as il war
over | got under way on the 18th, and forming
the vessels in three lines, with the transports in
company, | steamed for Fort Fisher on the morn
Ing Of the 18th The feet took its station in
three lines close To the beach and the boats were
sent at once to take off the troops. These were
landed with about twelve DAYS provisions at 2
p IN. This time | pursued Il different plan in
attacking the works. | sent in the new Iron
sides, Com Rsdford leading the monitors. At
1880 the forts opened on them a. they approach
ed, but they quickly took up their old positions
within 900 yards of Fort Fisher, and when
ready opened their batteries. In this way
tempted mn attack on the monitors that We might
see what guns they mad and ind where they were
aud be able TO dismount them
Quite a spirited engagement went on between
the fort and monitors, but 1t was soon apparent
that the latter had the best of it. The ~traverses
began to disappear and the southern angle OF
Fort Fisher commenced TO look very dilapidated
Guns were silenced one after smother till only one
heavy gun in the southern angle kept up its fire.
The fire of this gun was not at all accurate, as it
inflicted no damage on the ironsides, which were
hit several times. By way Of letting the enemy
see We had some shell eft on board the wooden
ships, and did not intend TO take any unfair ad-
vantage OF him by using iron vessels alone, | or
dered into line No | IN plan led by Captain Al
den of Brooklyn. and line No. , led by Com
mande. Thatcher of Colorado. TO go and attack
the batteries. This was done in the handsomest
manner, not a mistake being committed. except
firing too rapidly and making too much smoke.
The heavy fire of the large vessels shut the
enemy's guns at once, ard after firing till after
dark the wooden vessels dropped out to their an
chorage.
The ironsides and monitors maintained their
position, though. at night firing a gun now and
then. They are now lying within 900 yards of
the fort, and the monitors within 100 yards. The
Tort does not IRE a gun at them, thinking, no
doubt, that it would be a waste of powder. FL
ring from the fleet will mmen as soon as we
get breakfast. and kept up as long a. the ord
nance department furnishes US with shells and
guns.
There Is a perfect understanding between Gen
Terry and myself. | believe everything has
been done to suit him. | have heard no com
plants. and know that we have felt every dis
position to help the army along.
4 detailed report of our operations here will be
sent IN when we get through.
see no reason to doubt our success The
forts will be used up a. soon "a We have a re
spectacle force landed on the strip Of land which
our guns completely command, and a place OF
defense which will enable us TO hold out against
= very large army.
will report to you at every opportunity.
Your obeiient servant,
d. ID. PORTER, X A.