Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-01-20
ADAinlL roRrIR's oTFIolkI DrsPlron-

U WAsHiH0ros Jan H. - The folloWiBa has
been reeei'ed at the Navy Department, from
Admiral Porter
FLAGSHIP MALVERN. GRE FoRr FIsHER, N.
G, Juu. "a, 1865 Sir; have the honor TO
inform you that operations have been resumed
agpinsi the forts at the entrance OF Cape Fear
River. Since the hrst attack on that place, and
the subsequent Withdrawal Of the troops have
been employed in filing the ships With ammu-
n'tion and coal The difficulties we have had
10 encounter no cue can conceive. All our work
bad to be done with the larger vessele, anchored
on The coast, exposed, you may almost say, st
sea with the violent gales that blow here almost
/ il e'santly. On these gales the enemy depend
Ell TO break up our operations. We will e.
We have gone through about the worst OF il
have held on through gales heavy enough to
drive anything TO sea and We have sustained no
damags whatever. Alter the troops arrived the
weather set in bad, aud the gale was very heavy
~ soon as it WAS over, got underway Gu The
l2'h Instant, aud forming the vessels in three
llnes. with the transports in company steamed
for Fort Fisher.
On the morning Of the l7tt the aect took its
station 10 three lines, close to tue beach, aud
the boats we're sent At once to take of the troops
These we're landed with about twelve days, pro-
visions. at about O'Clock, p. NJ This time
pursued different plan in attacking tue tbei
works sent in tho New Ironsid,s, Commo.
dore Radfor1. leading the monitors S4usu3,
Cancnicus, Mopadnock and Mahopao. At 78O
A. NJ the tots opened GU them ns they ap-
pfoocbed, but they quietly took up their old
positions. within one thousand yards of ort
Fisher, and when ready they opened their bat
teriSs. in this way tempted the enemy 10 en-
gage the monitors, that We might see what guns
they had, and seeing where they we're 10 be
able TO dismount them by our FIRE. Quite a
spirited engagement went On between the forts
and the lronsdes and mont rs.
Ii was 80 apparent that tue {. o. vessels had
the best Of it, traverses cyan 10 di appear,
and the southern angle Of Fort Fisher com-
meneed to look very diiapdned The guns
we're silence one after the other, and only one
heavy gun in the southern angle kept up Its are.
The IRE Of this gun was not at ull aecurat Q,
as it Inflicted damages on the iron vesstls
They were bit, though several times By Way
Of letting ths enemy know that We had some
shell left On board the wooden shps, aud did
not intend to taks any unfair advantage Of him
by using the iron vessels alone, ordered line
No. | on the plan, led by Captain lden, OF
the Brooklyn. ami line No. 2, led by Commo.
dore Thatcher, Of the Colorado, to 20 anI at
tack The batteries. his was done in the hand
soonest mnnEtr. Not a mistake was committed
except firing too rapidly. an making to- much
smoke Thn heavy hro of the large vessels shut
up the enemy's guns at onc' aud after firing
mt
to their anchorage.
The lroDsiIes and monitors maintained their
positions through The night. firing shell nov
aud then. They were lying within one thousand
yards OF the tort Que Of the monitors within
seven hunired yards, and the fort d1e. no IRE
a qua at them, thinking, no 1uubt that ian
waste ofpowder. The firing from the Ieet viii
commence as soon as We get breakfast, and BE-
kept up as long as the Ordnance Department
provides us with shells and guns. There is
perfect understanding between General Terry.
and myself believe everything has been done
10 suit him. | have heard no complaints and
know that We have iet every dispotiion to help
the army along
detailed report of our operations here will
be sent in when We get through see no rca-
son TO doubt our success. The forts will bs used
soon. We have respectable force landeI on a
strip Of hud which our naval guns completely
command a pace OF defence which Woull qua
bic us TO hold on against very large army. |
Will report to you by every Opportunity have
the honor to he, v'ry respectfully, your ohcd-
eut servant.
DAVID D. PoarSR. Rear Admiral.
To Hon. Gideon Welcs, Secretary Of the Navy
WaS inRton d. c
GgSERAL BoNBARnNtHr
Before the commencement OF active operations
this morning, tie following order vas rad oD
tue quarter deck Of the Santiago de CubL 10y
Lieutenant Norman II. FarquLar, Executive
Officer;
January 0.-Before going into action the com
mander OF each vessel will detail as many of his
men as he can spare from his guns as a land
lug party, that We may have a share in the as-
sault when it takes plnce. The boats will be
Kept ready lowered rear the water on the of side
OF The vessels. The sailors wi be arme with
ouilasses well sharpened nnd with rryolgers
When the signal is made 10 iaan the boats, the
men wilt get in but not show themselves When
the signnl is made 10 assault, The honts will pul
around the stern OF the monitors, and land right
abreast Of them, an board the fort on the river
in s seamanlike way. The marines will form in
the rear and cover the sailors. Whilst the
soldiers are going over the parRpet in front, the
sailors will take the sea face OF Fort Fisher We
can land two thousand men from the fleet and
not feel it, Two thousand active men from the
fleet will carry the day. Two boat keepers will
be kept IN each boat. (Sgned
DAVID b. PoRTKR,
Rear Admiral
AT o'clock the Admiral sigual cd 10 the line
OF battle No. |, TO take the positions marked out
for It on the chart aud join the bombardmept
1t moved forward in order given above. the four
teen vessels, led by the Brooklyn, carrying ll6
guns.
Following rapidly was the order to line of
battle No. 2, to take position aud Join in the
bombardmeht II Immediately moved forward
us follows, presenting an array Of the largest
vessels in the service, a magnificent spectacle Of
old wooden. walls with their pouderous arma.