Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-04
WAR NEWS,
we give bslow synopsis of the war news from
various quarters for the past week.

we give below synopsis of the war news from
various quarters for the past week.
The Attack ON Wilmington.
IL mad been supposed for . week or two that the
large heet fitted out at Fortress Monroe under
Commodore Porter, was intended for Wilmington.
including number of powerful iron clads The
transports numbered about ninety. The fleet left
Hampton Roads on the 18th December and on the
Gath fire was opened on Fort Fisher, below VIII
mington. On the 25th the fire on the fort was
terrific, and the enemy landed, as was supposed
about six thousand troops with the view of storm.
ing the fort But-picket lines were only thrown
OUT towards the fort, and no regular attempt was
made to storm it. On the 9th Gen. Bragg tele-
graphed to the President that the enemy had re-
embarked under cover of his guns, and that mis-
further movements were not developed. He states
that he had visited the fort, and found damages
slight except as to buildings not necessary for de-
fence. The marks remaining showed that the
bombardment had been very heavy.
We are not informed whether any regular con-
ct took place between our forces outside the fort
and the six thousand landed by the enemy. We
presume not however Our loss, Judging by the
accounts in the Wilmington papers, amounted to
some ten or twelve killed, and fifty or sixty wound
ed 1t is also reported that battalion Of junior
reserves, numbering some two hundred, commanded
by Mai Reese, was surrendered by that officer to
a small force of the enemy. We do not know
whether any blame Justly attaches or not to this
officer, but it is reported that he acted in inei
cient and cowardly manner. This is the only Incl
dent which mars tho character of the defence-
With this exception, if indeed it be an exception,
officers and men behaved remarkably we'll in defence
Of the fort and the town of Wilmington; and it is
not to be supposed if the surrender referred to was
made, that it was from any want of courage or
readiness to meet the enemy on the part Of the
junior reserves who composed the battalion
1t is not to be supposed, however-and the Viii.
migntoa papers concur in this view-that this IS
the end Of the expedition. 1t is supposed that the
enemy lost some six hundred of their artillery
horses, which they were compelled to throw over
board in storm off the coast in order to save their
Transports and it is conjectured that they retired
to obtain, among other things, another supply of
horses. Or the attack may have been merely in
the nature of reconnaissance to what they could
de in the event of regular and systematic assault
on the forts. Fort Fisher is a very strong place,
and can be taken only by assault In ADDITION to
this, the Notifications below and around Whining
ton are Of formidable character, and few deter.
mined men, well Commanded could hold them
against heavy Odds. If the enemy had made Sc
rious attack on the late occasion, he would have en-
countered not only these fort6cations but vsteran
troops who have won an immortal name on other
fields by their steadness and courage.
This feet is one Of the largest and probably the
lest provided, which has yet been fitted out BY
enemies Sixty-fve war vessels, with ninety trans
mort shins for men and provisOns constitute A