The Portland daily press., 1865-01-17
By TELEGRAPH
90 Giaanso THara g l8s43n.
Portland Daily: Press.
IMPORTANT FROM BEAUFORT, NC.
The Attack on Fort Fisher Re,
g Sc neWed.
SAILING OF THE FLEET,
FROM BEAUFORT. s.si-
The Order of Battle Of the Fleet.
COOPERATION OF LAND FORCES.

kaas BALTIMORE, Jan. l6.,
The special correspondent of the Baltimore
American, under date of the 9th inst, com
municates the following important Information
relative to the renewal or continuation of ths
| great movement against the defences of Viii
mington, situated at Federal Point at the
mouth Of New Inlet. This correspondence
has been withheld from the public here unit
it should become known that an attack actu
ally had been commenced: sss - s
Steamship Santiago de Cuba, off BEAUFORT
Jan. 9.-Having ridden out a heavy southeast
storm at our anchorage during the past two
days off Beaufort harbor, we are now en-
joying one OF those periodical Gains peculiar
to this latitude, which can scarcely be expect
ed to last more than fourteen hours. Yester
day morning the wind having gotround to the
northeast and the sun shining out brightly, We
were blessed once more with quiet sea and
our boys were delighted also with The approach
of a feet of transports with troops furnished
by Grant to cooperate with Porter in the cap
ture Of Fort Fisher. z sR- iPFs
The first vessel that arrived was the fac
ship of the commanding General which crossed
the bar al. once and proceeded up Beaufort
harbor to communicate with the flag ship b
Porter. Next came the steamers Atlantic
and Baltic, each with nearly 1000 men on
board. Other transports also arrived soon at
ter, the names of which, however, did moi
ascertain. All the transport feet as now
write are anchored outside the bar along with
the naval vessels. The plan of the battle is
fully arranged. The commander of each yes
sci has been supplied with new chart indicat-
ing not only his exact position, but the pre-
else point of the works of the enemy on which
his fire is to be directed. The Santiago being
commanded by the senior Captain of the gun
boat feet, Capt. Slisson, Is stationed at the
head of the vessels of her class, eleven in num-
Der, aud whilst others of the line are to con-
centrate their fire on the outwOrks of Fort
Fisher, her guns are to throw flank fire into
the fort. -Fga Astfl 2tsk " = fy.4i 4
MY position to witness the fight will there
fore be most advantageous for having a full
view of the operations of the monitors and
heavy frigates on the right Of the line, and Of
the gunboat attack on the outer works of the
enemy, including Mound battery on the left
of our position. The positions OF the vessels
are nearly the same as In the former fight, ex-
cept the liron-clads are in position about a
quarter of mile nearer Fort Fisher than at
the first attack. 4ssN- 800
The Dictator will also join them with her
two Is inch guns, making the monitor feet
twelve guns strong, including four guns of the
Monadnock. Then the Ironsides, with her
tremendous 11-inch broadsides, and the Min
nesota, Wabash, Brooklyn, Susquehannah,
Tuscarora, Seneca, Ticonderoga, Mohican,
Colorado, Shenandoah, Pawtuxent, Mackinaw,
Mawmee, Powhattan, Juniatta and Kansas,
formed the second line
The New York, Unadilla, Huron and Pc
quot, which act as tenders TO the monitors, are
also in the inner line. ~
The gunboat feet is to form line in front
of the shore batteries, extending to the right
of Fort Fisher, in the following order. San
tiago de Cuba, Fort jackson. TACOMA Osceo-
la, Chippewa, Sassacus, Martinicus, Red ISL
and, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Quaker City
and ltasc0. rssNq ahsas 1927 qs IL vebasf ais 5
Is The reserve of the various divisions, con-
sisting of a smallerc class Of dunboats, are as
signed to position outside the line of battle.
A steamer has just arrived from the inner
harbor. 1t is reported that at noon to-day a
signal was hoisted on the flag ship of the en-
tire division to prepare for sea. The probable
ity, therefore, is that we shall sail tomorrow
morning if the weather should continue favor
able.i The feet outside are all ready to sail at
moments notice, and will fall in line as soon
as the forest of masts comes out of Beaufort
harbor.s The larger transports are also out,
side, about fifteen miles from shore, awaiting
the movement of the feet Y III