, 1865-02-26
THECAPTURE OF FORT
ANDERSON.
TRE RECONkOfSSANCE OF THE
FLEET,
The Attack Of the Fleet,
OPERATIONS Of the Array.
A Bogus Monitor Did the
Work,

[From the Correspondent Of the N. T. HERALD
MOVEMENTS PRELIMINARY TO TIE AD-
VANCE.
On Thursday night Cox's division Of the
Twenty-thi1d Corps WIS transferred from
Fcdcral Point to Smithyil1e. The movement
was IN undertaking Of no fnconsIdezable
magnitude. Besides the strength Of the d.
| vision, which it would be manffestly improper
to state, their entire equipaEe. land trans
portation, ammunition, couimissary stores
aud irnpediments In general, had to be for
wardcd. The ferriagc was distance OF eight
miles. The facilities Of cmharkution consist
cd Of d single small dock, ut which but one
vessel could lay at a time. The army vessels
adapted to the service consisted Of four small
steamers-lhe Eliza Hancox, G. ". Thomas,
Christopher and Howasd. Admiral Porter
very politely placed three lighters of bis
movement. With these facilities the whole
task was accomplished before DAYLIGHT, Brig
cdicr General Dodge, Chief Quartefmastcr Of
the department, giving it his personal super
1ntendcnce until Its full accomplishment.
THE MARCH 10 TIE REAR OF FORT ANDERSON.
At daylight on Friday morning the diyis-
ion moved from smithv1lc, and at p. m.
were In the rear OF Fort Anderson. The
| march was made through IN unexplorcd coun~
try, over indifferent roads, with many swomps
aud marshes besetting the way. The details
Of the march and Of the subsequent opera
tions Of this branch Of the expedition will
be given you by tho correspondent who &C.
comranied the movement.
TIE nEcoSSo1ssAxcE OF TIE FLEET.
Soon after noon on Friday, Admiral Porter
moved up force Of gunboats and engaged the
| fort with considerable carncstuess at close
qunrters until dnrk. The Monitor Montauk,
/ Commander Stone, led Oft In this attack, TAX
mile from the fort, and retaining 1t until the
close Of the action. Her heavy tlftcen-inch
! guns were worked from this position with
unc11ing certainty and great effect upon the
sand establishments Of tue fort. For time
the Tort replied to her vigorously, but finding
On the iron monster, It dcsisted from the
waste Of ammunition. Here was deyeloped
the exceeding utility ofthis class Of vessels.
No other boat known to maritime architect
urc could possibly bayc laid at anchor tn such
q position. under The very guns Of a heavy
fort and yet not q person was injured on
board the prcsuIniuE Monitor, although she
was hit over and over again In every part Of
her, nor was the vessel damaged in fheslight-
est degree.
Untcr cover Of the fire Of the monitor, the
wooden gunboat Pequot moved up into close
range, and exhibited some excellent practice.
Others followed. and soon heavy fire was
ehowcsed upon the fort compelling the rebel
| proofs.
During the action and before tho rebe1s had
retired from their gune, d Nhitworth bolt
| struck stanchfon on the Pequot, scatterin.
ep1tnters In every direction, severely wound
| illc five men, of whom two have since died.
| The object Of this attack was merely to
| draw ont the enemy and divert their atten-
ton from the movement Of onr land forces.
| At dark Gen. Cox's troops were within
| couple Of miles Of the fort, had established
communication with thc river abreast Of the
feet, and had exposed their position By light
| Ing numerous camp tres, which, conmuni-
eating With the dead wood and thick under
| brueh Of the dense rine forest In which they
| werc operating, sent up vast clouds Of hlack
+! smoke. covering the whole country as with q
| nail. with tits, operations ceased for the
night,
confacratien, asytcwd feom the east bank Of
the riycr. was surprisingly sublime. Great
sheets Of liyid flame darted skyward, and be-
ing reflected from the dark clouds above,
fo1mtd grand ard yet terrible spectacle.
MOVEMENT OF GENERAL AAES DIVISION.
During the evening orders TcEc rccctycd
for The movement Of Ames' division OF Ter
rye Ectce to Smithville, to cooperate viii
Cox. This movement was commenced at
mitnicht, the troops ot TINT hour being it
our extreme front before Hoke. By sunrise
| this morning they were In Smlthvillc, pre-
pared to cooperate however they might b
directed.
GENERAL Cox's ADVANCE EEsuAED.
At daylight this morning scattered dla
charges Of nluskctTy on the west bank OF tn
river indicated that General Cox'e skirmish
c:s had alrta engaged those ot the enemy