The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-27
P1,OSIOy OF The MAGAZINE.

EXPLOSION OF me WAUAAANE'
The Wounded, the Dying and
the Dead.
Repulse of the Rebel Gen. Hake.
THE QUIET OF SAVANNAH.
Secretary s,an,on'S Dispatch to the
President,
FoRr MONROE. Jan. I7-7r.M.
To the President:
The rebel flag of Fort Fisher was delivered
to me on board the steamer Spaulding off that
place yesterday morning, January 10th;
(Signed) Major General TERRY.
An acknowledgment and thanks for the
gallant achievement, was given in your
name to Admiral Porter and Gen Terry,
from whom the following particulars were
obtained.
The troops arrived off Fort Fisher Thurs
day night.
Friday they were all landed under cover
of heavy fire from the squadron. A re-
connoissance was made by Gen. Terry on
Saturday. A strong defensive line against
the enemy's forces coming from Whining
ton was established and held by 1000
men, chiefly colored troops, and an assault
determined on. The assault was made on
Sunday at 3:30P.M. The sea front of the
fort had been greatly damaged by con-
tinuous and terrible fire of the fleet for
three days, and the front was assaulted at
the hour named by column of seamen
and marines 1900 strong, under command
of Capt. Bruce.
They reached the parapet, but after a
short conflict this column was checked
and driven back in disorder, and was af-
forwards placed in the defensive line, TAX
ing the place of brigade that was brought
up to reinforce the assaulting party of
troops
Although the assault on the sea front
failed, it performed very useful part in
directing the attention of the enemy and
weakening their resistance to the attack by
the troops on the other side. The assault
on the other and most difficult side of the
fort was made by column of 5000 of
the old 18th corps. led by Col. Curtis, un-
der the immediate supervision of Gen.
Terry. The enemy's force in the fort was
over 1900. The conflict lasted for seven
hours. The works were 80 constructed
thst the traverse afforded the enemy new
defensive position, from whence they had
to be driven. They were seven in num-
Der, and the fight had to be carried on from
traverse to traverse for seven hours by
skillful, decided fire, thrown in the traver-
ses, as one after another they were occu-
pied by the enemy.
Admiral Porter contributed to the sue
cess of the assaulting column by signals
between himself and Gen. Terry, at brief
intervals. This fire was so we'll managed
as to damage the enemy without injury to
our troops. At about 10 O'Clock at night
the enemy were entirely driven down to-
wards the Federal Point, followed by
brigade of our troops, and about IL O'Clock
at night Gen. Whiting surrendered him
self and his command to Gen. Terry un-
conditionally as prisoners of war, over
1,800-the remainder of his force being
killed and wounded.
Our loss was estimated at between 700
and 800 in killed and wounded, besides
the naval loss, which was slight, not over
100 killed and wounded. Not ship nor
transport was lost Col. Curtis was Sc
verely hurt, not MORALLY wounded. Col.
Bell died of bis wounds on Monday morn
ing. Col. J. w. Morse and Lieut.. Col.
Lyman were killed. Col. Penny Packer
was badly wounded, also Lieut. Col. Coan..
A complete list of the killed and wound
ed will be forwarded as soon as it can be
prepared.
Gen. Leroy reported to Surgeon Gen.
Barnes that he had ample supply of Sur
geons, nurses and hospital supplies for the
wounded. They will be sent north to their
respective States as fast as they can be
placed on transports, Of which there is an
ample supply.
On Monday morning, between and z
O'Clock, the magazine of Fort Fisher ex-
ploded, killing and wounding 200 or 500
persons.
After the capture of the Fort all the
troops were withdrawn except one bri-
gade, LETT in charge of the works. How
the explosion occurred is not known, but
Gen. Terry believed it was occasioned by
accident or neglect
Gen. Hake's division, reported at 5000.
was at Wilmington. A portion of it was
thrown into the fort. Not hong before the
assault, snd while that was proceeding, a
demonstration was made by Hake against
our defensive line, but it was found too
strong for anything more than skirmish-
ing attack.
About IL O'Clock Monday morning a
heavy cloud of smoke was observed over
Fort Smith, on the south side of New In
let The naval officer commanding that
station reported that the enemy had fred
their barracks and evacuated that fort.
Perfect harmony and concert of action ex-
listed between the land and naval forces
and their respective commanders.
Admiral Porter and Gen. Terry We'd in
their commentator, each Of the other.
Each seemed more anxious to do justice
to the other than to claim anything for
himself, and they united in the highest
commentator of the naval and military
officers and the forces engaged. To this