Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-02
THE ATTACK ON FORT FISHER.

HHAyY SlBEfs OF wHAfHER-KUNORED RETURN OF THE
! NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Oh . TORPEDO BOAT.
| The AatericiI contains the following partial =
counts ofthe attack on Fort Fisher, near Whining
ton. The Yankees were already in possession OF the
facts OF the total failure Of the expedition, gained
| from Gen. Brasg's despatch. From the accounts
published, it is easy to that the 'grand Armada"
IL in almost as bad way its old time Spanish pre-
| dccessor;
FORTRESS MONRoK, Dec. u, p. NJ.
! Via Washington, Dec %,
have Just arrived here on the steamer Santiago de
Cuba, Capt Gibson, from OF Wilmington. The at
tack by our feet Fort Fisher, commanding the en-
| trance 10 Cape Fear river, commenced at noon on
Saturday last the 2lh inst, and continued through
ont the entire day. 1t was resumed again on Sun
day and kept up with great vgor all day.
Fort Fisher Was much damaged. All the rebel
barracks and storehouses belonging to the work
burned 10y the explosion Of our shells, and the garr
N of the fertilization was driven TO the protection
of their bomb proofs the guns of the enemy
| ~ Yeuturing reply 10 our wel-directed shot.
a small portion OF our troops were landed on the
beach from the transports Sunday afternoon, and
skrmishing with the enemy ensued, our men behav-
ing with great gallantry, pushing up TO Fort Fisher,
and actually entering tho work. rebel bearer of
dispatches, who Was about entering the fort, was
killed by shot from one OF our men, and Leuten-
| ant Wailon of the H2d New York regiment cap
tured rebel flag from the outer bastiOn Of Fort
Fisher.
Our men also captured whole battalion of the
envy who outside of THEN works. but our forces
were Withdrawn from the shore.
When the Santiago dc Cuba loft lie OF operations
the bOmbardmeu OF the rebel works still continued by
our fleet.
On Sunday tho sailors from the Santiago de Cuba cap
tured tho Pound HIN Battery Of 1tyve men on shore,
| aud brought tie whole party on 10 the shipa.
The t0nedo boat successfully exploded on Saturday
morning at two O'clock but with what result is not
known.
The weather has been tho most violent ever experienced
Of this portion OF the coast At Newbem aud Roanoke
bland the Oldest inhabitants state they never knew such
storms 10 "a have lately been felt IN this vicinity
AT.
plscuIPT1oN OT rnE TORPEDO vBssH.
Tie following description Of The torpedo boat refened to
in te above desiach fuIuished by correspondent
in OF hS earliest etters but its publication Withheld
for prudential roasons:
While the vessels which are to make the attack about
twelve miles from shore, vessel named the Louisiana,
prepared for the purpose loaded with 0 tons Of gunpow
der Is rapidly in shore and beach directly in front
OF Fort Fisher Tho crew. after she has beached and the
fuse has been fred 10 take TO their small boa; aud
stand out for the fleet the fnse being so timed AZ TO Kermit
sufficient time for the officers and crow charged wiki this
peous undertaking to get beyond the reach OF the effects
OF the awful explosion which must should tie plan
prove success. The explosion Of such mammoth torpedo
for the vessel will be IN reality torpedo grand scale
WILL it is believed produce such conclusion as 10
greatly damage tha fort and para tina garrison 1t
question, however inasmuch as the fort il an earthwork
whether the conclusion resulting from such an unheard OF
constructed No doubt II they wege OF masonry the
might bs counted upon with certainty No donbt
however will at least gpgay "astonish the natives in
general In that part Reiedom aud the garrison In par
ticulaT and unea they something than mere mi
ltam0n will cause stampede In slor0
Meanwhile the fleet with steam up aud the transports
with troops are be twelve miles dsantbe latter that
distance up the eoasand as soon as the explosion takes
place all will steam rapidly forward to tho points desgna
led In the chart plan furnished 10 the commanders Of the
fleet by Admiral Porter The transports win land the troops
at point up the coast possible, and after the
feet have silenced the fort march against H. There Ii
small fort on waite. battery called Half Noon Battery
three or four miles above Fort Fisher and this work viii
mobaby inst be lenced BY the rocads and the troops
landed there.
TURxRD.
WAsHISGFox, Dec. Is p. Mt would seem 10 be
mistake IA reported hs morning. that the naval aud mill
Monroe Tho Navy Department has such intelligence,
but that one weasel only yesterday returned 10 the latter
place bringing dispatches from Admiral Porter. The
messenger has not yet reached Washington.
1t ID asceained from an authentic source, however uE
der date Of Fortress Monroe yesterday that the powder
ship was exploded within three hundred yards OF Fort
Faher about A. n tho 2itI mat saturday. Later
IN the day Admiral Porter attacked the fort and adjacent
dofenras, and renewed the bombardment Chrhtmas
day On each occasion drove the Rebels from their
guns to tie shelter of thor bombproois to etec-ual
~ silence their fire. In very few minutes after the III
gates and heavy ships got into position detachment OF
troops landed Sunday afternoon and skimshers push
ed up CALAMITY 10 the fort under Of me- Some
OF the flag. The bombardment Of tie feet continued
Monday. Tie Santiago de Cuba captured company OF
North Carolina soldiers in the outwOrks and brought them
or -, -
~ FROM GRANTS ARMY e .
correspondent writing from Gran army under date