Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-18
THE CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER.

among others, the following Interesting par.
ticulars:
The army transports, including the great
ocean steamers Baltic and Pacific, numbering
not less than fifteen steamships, carrying ten
thousand troops, led by the flagship OF Brevet
Major General Terry. their commander, also
The number of vessels visible from our deck is
not less than eighty. The troops embrace the
same that came down with General Butler,
with one additional brigade, and a new COM
manding officer. The navy are proud OF this
fact, indicative as it is that the Government
has sustained Admiral Porter, backing up his
opinion not enly that Fort Fisher can be taken,
but that 1t must be taken, and that it can be
taken by the same troops under different
commander.
called away to assist in the landing OF the
troops, the woods having in the meantime
been thoroughly shelled by the Brooklyn and
its division of gunboats, without any sight of
an enemy. The transports were enabled to 60
within about half mile of the shore, and they
were soon surrounded by not less than two
hundred boats, each vessel OF the fleet having
supplied its complement the several tugs In
attendance also joined in the work, carrying
the soldiers to within hundred yards OF the
beach, and then transferring them to the small
boats.
Tents and camp equipage were also landed,
with several days provisions for the entire
force, 5000 strong.
At O'Clock, boats from all the transports
moved simultaneously tor the shore, and in a
few minutes the first five hundred 1hen stepped
on the beach and planted their regimental flag
on one of the highest sand. hills, amid cheering
from the transports and the feet. They were
oyerjoyed to again get from shipboard, and in
few minutes had cut down cedars sufficient
to make rousing fire to dry their clothes,
some Of them having gotten wet to their knees
in getung through the surf The bands were
soon playing and the men running about and
rolling in the warm sand like school children
enjoying holiday. Not sign OF the enemy
could be seen in any direction.
At4 O'Clock the Admiral sgnaled to line-of
battle No. to take the positions marked out
for it on the chart, and join in the lombard
ment 1t moved forward in the order given
above, the fourteen vessels, led by the Brook
lyn, carrying 116 guns.
Following rapidly was an order 20 line-sf-
battle No. 2 to take position and join In the
bombardment 1t imme edately moved for ward,
presenting an array OF the largest vessels in
the service, magnificent spectacle on the old
sswooden walls,' with their ponderous arma-
ments.
At twenty minutes of five O'Clock these two
immense divisions, carrying 302 guns, in addi-
tion to the iron -ciads, joined in the grand can
nonade. 1t was spectacle that will probably
never be witnessed again during the present
age. The number Of shots fired while this great
bombardment lasted, one hour and half, clos
ing at ten minutes past six, could not have been
less than four per second, broadside after broad
side being poured in without the slightest in
termission, occasionally interspersed with the
dense bass Of the Is. inch guns OF the monitors.
Four per second during this time counts Hp
21,60G indeed, have no doubt that up to the
Withdrawal OF tQo 'WOOO6n walls" this 0ye-
ming, not less than 25, 600 shells were fired into
Fort Fisher. lAfterthe general bombardment
commenced, but one shot was fired in return;
consequently none Of the wooden vessels were
injured.
The closing of this extensive pyrotechnic de.
monstratiOn was during sunset and after dark.
The fort, Of course, was invisible, from the
smoke Of bursting shells, but the flash Of tn
guns and the explosion OF the bombs in the
darkness will long be remembered by those
who we're fortunate enough to witness it.
hn md Ntnra n n vryskt
draw when the signal was given to the "wood.
wallis to cease firing, but kept at work
throughout the night throwing one she'll every
ten minutes into the fort to prevent the repair
ing OF damages, as well, doubtless, to harass
the energies of the garrison.
The camp fires Of the troops on shore, to-
gether with the burning of signals and the dis
play Of red, white and green lanterns by the
fleet, present grand spectacle to. night The
troops have advanced to within about a mile
and q halt or Fort Fisher, their camp fires ex.
tending down the beach for more than a mile.
An order has Just been received from the Ad-
mlral-it being found impossible 10 bring our
division into the fight, the anchoring room
being too contracted-to. proceed in shore to
cover the encampments of the troops from any
assault by Bragg from Wilmington. Should
he come, Captain GlissOn will, with the 1913
guns at his command, give him warm recep.
uon.
l regret to learn that one Of the 15.inch guns
of the Mahopac was burst to. day, but am
pleased to add that none of her iron clad crew
were injured by the explosion. She remained
in the fight throughout the day. Some good
shooting was made by the rebels, aHd all the
iron -clads have numerous lndentations of
their armor and perforations Of their smoke
stacks.
Fort Fishef is, to outward appearance, a
mos sngularly constructed work. Instead of
being an earthwork with embrazures, it con.
slsts of a series of moundlike bomb. proofs,
seventeen Of which half face the sea approach
to the work, between each Of which q gun is
mounted. 1t is so situated that these guns
command not only the sea, but can be used as
well to resist land approach along the beach.
Each Of these hillocks, which are about thirty
feet high, is a bomb. proof into which the men
working the guns can escape at will. The
guns however, are exposed, and is thought up
10 o'clock the IRON clads had dsmounted full
half of them. Some could be seen thrown
over, and others were not visible. After II
O'Clock no guns were fired except from the fif-
teenth, sixteenth and seventeenth of the most
distant of these peculiar embraZures, several
of the nearest Of which were leveled
may here also state that Fort Fisher is the
largest and most formidable earthWork of the
many have seen during this war. Itembraces
not less than fifteen acres Of land, and its erec-
t1on has been work OF great labor, its height
being not less than thirty feet. Your readers
may form some idea Of its dimensions when I
assure you that it is at least six times the size
OF Fort Federal Hill, whilst it has a dozen or
more smaller batteries extending along the
coast south OF it to the Mound, a distance Of
nearly a mile. This mound, which has two
classmates in 1t, with heavy guns, is said to be
fifty feet high, from the top of which was a
lookout to signal blockade runners, and guide
them to the inlet 1t was called by the people
of Wilmington "Lambs Folly" having been
erected with great labor by Colonel Lamb, the
commandant Of the fort.
The black smoke Of number of blockade
runners could be seen on the Cape Fear river,
having come down in the expectation OF ram
ming out tonight after the cannonade shall
cease. The whole peninsula from the sea to
the river being, however, in possession of Cen
eral Terry, he may probably plant battery
commanding the river this afternoon
Saturdays York.
This morning the sun has risen In cioudless
sky, and is already driving off the chiiliness OF
the atmosphere.
The monitors and the Ironsides have con-
tinued throughout the night to throw shell
every ten minutes into Fort Fisher. discontin.
uing their work only at daylight. The troops
on shore are having a fine time this morning,
forasing party having returned to camp with
nearly one hundred head of cattle and horses
which they had picked up during the night.
They came in Just at break of day, each man
carrying in his hand blazing pine knot
making quite picturesque procession.
The military have advanced during the night
to the abandoned rebel Fort Anderson, and