Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-01-26
Details of tho Capture of Fort
r. Fisher.

STEAMER SANTIAGO DE CUBA,
Jan. II, 1865.
Yesterday afternoon the steamer Aries ar
rived from Fortress Monroe, bringing dis
patches to Admiral Porter from the Presi-
dent and Secretary Of the Navy As the
dispatch steamer crossed the bar into the
inner harbor, all eyes were strained to dis
cover some indication that authority had
been received to push forward the renewal
Of tho attack on Fort Fisher. The FIRST in
dcation observable outside was smoking
from the firing up. of the forty suaboats at
anchor inside, and soon somo Of them were
zen heading toward the bar. There could
be no mistaking this indication of the char
act0r Of the dispatches from Washington.
FRIDAY, Jan. l3.
Before the commencement of active ope-
rations this morning, the following order
from Admiral Porter was read on the quar-
ter deck of the Santiago de Cuba by Lieut..
Norman IL. Farquhar, Executive Officer Of
the flagship Malvern:
JAN. 4, 1865
Before going into action, the commander
of each vessel will detail as many OF
the mon as he can spare from the guns
as landing party, that we may have a
share in the assault when it takes place. =
Boats will be kept ready, lowered near the
water on the off side OF the vessel. The
sailors will be armed with cutlasses we'll
sharpened, and with revolvers. When the
signal is made to man the boats, the men
will get in but not show themselves. When
the signal is made to assault, the boats will
pull round the stern of the monitors and
land eight abreast of them, and board the
fort on the river in seamanlike way. The
marines will form in the rear and cover the
sailors. While the soldiers are going over
the parapet in front, the sailors will take
the sea face of Fort Fisher. We can land
two thousand men from the feet and not
feel it. Two thousand active men from the
fleet will carry the lay. Two boat-keepers
will be kept in each boat
DAVID ID. PoRrEa, Rear. Admiral.
Capt Gibson informed the men that he
wanted thirty five blue jacket volunteers,
all that could DO spared from the guns, and
no wanted only such men as would go will
lingly with the determination to plant the
flag of thcakh htiago first on the ramparts of
Fort Fisher. Those who desired to volun-
teer'were invited to advance to the port
side of the vessel There was q pretty gen.
eral rush, which Capt Glisson stopped, as
there were some thirty-sight more than
were wanted already in the line. Among
them we're four swarthy, broad-shoudered
Sandwich Islanders, and the entire crew Of
the Captains gig. At the time l write,
the grind stone is at work sharpening their
sabres, and the storming party exhibit as
much gleesome hilarity as party Of chill
dren preparing for picnic. The same
spirit has been manifested on all the ves-
sels If Fort Fisher is not taken, there will
at least be some bloody work.
Capt. Gibson and all the officers of the
!. ship have volunteered to accompany the
storming party, which, with the marines, is
to consist Of fiftythree men; but as only
two officers can go, the Admiral will proba-
bly, decide who shall have the honor Prob
ably Executive Officer Farquhar and Act
isg. Master Bowers will lead the party.
The Santiago with the Canonicus in tow,
at three O'Clock this afternoon, had distan-
ced all the vessels Of tho feet some ten
miles, when signal from the flagship di
rected us to hold mp. and keep in line with
the Brooklyn divisions In about an hour
the line was clnsed, and again moved on
slowly The distance frsm our destination
was then twenty-cight miles. The weather
continued clear and beautiful and the sea
calm. .
AT o'clock the hag-ship joined US and
directed the Captain to hoist two white
lights and take the lead to the anchorage
off Flag Pond Battery, two miles North of
Fort Fisher. AT 9 o'clock we reached the
point indicated aud soon the immense fleet
spread over the ocean in our wake closed
up, presented a most magnificent spectacle
with its display ofinnnmerable lights. Not
cloud was to DO seem overhead and the
moon shone out SO brightly that the shore
five miles distant vas distinctly visible. -
Lights could also be seen on the shore and
Rebel eyes are doubtless gazing on the
grand panorama,
At FIVE o'clock the light. draft gunboats
were pouring out in steady. stream, wind,
ing thcir way through the sinueus channel
across tho bar. It was eight O'Clock before
the last Of these had crossed, the bright
moonlight enabling them to tread their way
among the buoys. The tide was by this
time too low for the monitors to come out
and they remained inside until this morn
ing; and at six o'clock followed by the NAL
vern, the flag ship:of,the Admiral, they we're
observed moving out. The Admiral threw
out the signal, "Get under way" to the
feet outside, and in the twinkling of an eye
the work Of raising anchor was in progress
throughout the immense armada. The
Malvern sailed out majestically through the
squadroa, and stood out to sea giving zig.
nal to the feet Follow the course indica.
ted"
By o'clock the whole feet was in mo.
tion, and presented q sight grand beyond
description. Frigates, monitors, iron clads,
double-endors, corvettes sloops-of-war and
gunbeats, numbering sxtytwo vessels Of
war, carrying in all five hundred and ninety
guns, besides small steamers, tugs, tenders
and army transports, were soon formed in
four lines on tho broad expanse ofthe ocean,
eeach led by the vessel fits divisional com.
mander. The army transports, including
the steamers Baltic and Pacific, and mum.
bering not less than fifteen steamships, car
rying not less than ten thousand troops. led
by the aagship Of Brevet Maj Gen. Terry.
their commander, also formed fifth line
Of the great armada. Thus the number of
vessels visible from our deck was not less
than eighty.
The troops embrace the same that came
down with Gen. Butler, with one addition
al new brigade and new commanding eff
Ger. The navy are proud.of this fact, as ii
proves that the Government has sustained
Admiral Porter and backed up his opinion,
not only that Fort Fisher can be taken, but
that ii must be taken, and that il can be
taken by the same troops under different
commander. The soldiers have had arough
time Of IT, having laid at anchor for three
consecutive days Of storm, rain and wind,