Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-19
photographic.
OPTICAL DISPATCH.
Further from Fort Fishcr-She rman
m Moving-Affairs at savannah.


ed to me on board the steamer Spaulding,
off that place yesterday, January 10th.
[Signed] .sa.I-. Maj. Gen. TERRY.
An acknowledges and thanks for
that 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 on
Thursday night. Friday they were all land
ed under cover of heavy fire from the
squadron. A reconnaissance was made by
Gen. Terry ON Saturday. A strong defen-
sive line against the enemy's forces coming
from Wilmington was established and held
by 1000 men, chiefly colored troops, and an
assault determined on. The assault was
made on Sunday morning at $3.50. The sea
front of the fort had been greatly damaged
by a continuous and terrible fire of the
fleet for three days and the front was as
sauted in the manner mentioned, by COL
umn OF seanien and marines 1900 strong,
under command of Capt. Breeze. They
reached the parapet, but after sharp con-
tiict this column was checked driven back
in disorder, and was afterwards placed on
the defensive line, taking the place of
brigade that was to reinforce the assaulting
column of troops. Although the assault
Oh the sea trout failed, it performed use
full part in diyerting the attention of the
enemy and weakening the resistance to the
attack by the troops on the other side. The
assault on the other side OF the fort was
made by column of 5000 troops of the
old 10th corps, led by Col. Curtis, under 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 so constructed that every
traverse afforded the enemy a new defens-
i've position, from whence they had to be
driven. They were seven in number, and
the fight was carried on from traverse to
traverse for seven hours, by skillfully di-
rected fire thrown into the traverses, as one
after another they were occupied by the en-
emy. Admiral Porter contributed to the
success of the assaulting column by signals
between himself and Gen. Terry at brief
intervals. This fire was so well made as to
damage the enemy without injury to our
own troops. ....|.
At about 10 o'clock at night the enemy
were entirely driven from the fort towards
Federal Point, followed by brigade of our
troops, and at about II o'clock at night
Gen. Whiting surrendered himself and his
command to Gen. Terry unconditionally, as
prisoners ofwar, numbering over 1,S00, the
remainder of his force being killed and
wounded. Our loss was not accurately as
w
mated at between 700 and 800 in killed and
wounded, besides the naval loss, which did
not exceed 100 killed and wounded. Not
ship nor transport was lost. Col. Cur
tbs was severely but not mortally wounded.
Col. Bell died of his wounds Monday morn
ing. Col. j. w. Moore and Lieut.. Col. Ly-
man were killed. Col. Pennbacker was
badly wounded, also Lieut.. Col. Coan. "A
complete list of the killed and wounded will
be forwarded as soon as it can be prepared.
Gen. Terry reported to Surgeon General
Barnes that he had ample provision of
Surgeons, 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 was
an ample supply.
On Monday morning, between six and
seven o'clock, the magazine of Fort Fisher
exploded, killing and wounding 200 or 300
persons. After the capture of the fort all
the troops were withdrawn, except one bri-
gade, left in charge of the works. How
the explosion occarred is not known; but
Gen. Terry believes it was occasioned by
accident or neglect.
~ Gen. Hoke's division was at Wilmington.
"A portion of it was thrown into the fort
not long before the surrender, and demon
stration was made by Hoke against our
line; but it was found too strong for any,
thing more than skirmishing attack.
About eleven o'clock Monday A. M. a
heavy cloud of smoke was observed over
Fort Smith, and the south side of New In
let. The naval officer commanding that
station reported that the enemy had fired
their barracks, and evacuated that fort.
Perfect harmony and concert of action
existed between the land and naval forces,
and their respective commanders, Admiral
Porter and General Terry, We'd in their
commands. Each seemed more anxious to
do justice to the other than to claim any
thing for himself, and they united in the
highest commentator of the naval and mil
itary officers and forces engaged. 10 this
harmony of feeling, and the confident spir-
its, may perhaps be attributed, in some de-
gree the success of our attack, with nearly
equal numbers, against aresOlute enemy in
work unsurpassed, if ever equalled, in
strength, and which Gen. Beauregard, a
few days before, pronounced impregnable.
The armament of the fort was ~ guns,
some of large calibre and rihed, and one
Armstrong gun. The troops in the fort
had rations for sixteen days. Their loss in
killed and wounded was between 400 and
500. Gen. Whiting had three wounds
in the thigh; Col. Lamb, also, who had gone
into the fort with reinforcements, and was
wounded.
On Monday everything was quiet. The
dead were being buried and the wounded
placed in transports and field hospitals.
Gen. Sherman renewed the movement of
his forces from Savannah last week. The
18th and 18th corps went in transports to
Beaufort. On Saturday, 18th, the 18th
corps, under Maj Gen. Blair, crossed Port
Royal Ferry, and with a portion of General
Fosters command, moved on Poctoaliga.-
Gen. Howard, commanding that wing of the
army, reported on Sunday that the enemy
abandoned his strong works in our front
during Saturday night. Gen. Blairs corps
now occupies strong position across the
railroad, covering all approaches eastward
to Poctoaliga. All the sick of Gen. Sher-
mans army are in good hospitals at Beau
fort, where the genial climate affords ad-
vantages for recovery superior to any other
place. alrtaos sH
The order prevailing at Savannah since
its occupation by Sherman could not be SUR
passed. . Few male inhabitants are to be
seen in the streets, and ladies and children
evince sense of security. No instance of
disorder or personal injury has occurred.
Laboring men and mechanics, white and
black, are seeking employment. The troops
are cheerful and respectful towards every
one, and seem to feel themselves as much
at home and on good behavior as if in their
native towns. Trade is restricted for the
present to actual military necessity. Many
ships with merchandise from the North are
waiting at Hilton Head for permission to 90
to Savannah, but Gen. Sherman has admit
ted only a limited quantity OF supplies re-
quired by his troops. lai.'oo. aal c71e'l @'f