The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-03
Tha ~ - Port rishsr.

The a "a Fort Fisher. =. 4
Fort Fisher, it Is said on good authority. is
not inferior in strength to any fertilization Oh
this continent. 1t is square Fashioned earth
work, enclosing an area of about five acres,
and~mounting some thirty-six guns. These
are bomb proofs of the strongest character
1t is situated about 800 yards from the beach
and is elevated about 40 feet and defended on
three sides by ditch and other obstacles.
These works afford a formidable oeiense loi
Wilmington. So much for the description OF
this rebel stronghold. A 4ls -slss&
The explosion of a vessel loaded with 2i5
tons Of gunpowder in front of the fort took
place about 2 o'clock In the morning. It was
q novel as well as hazardous experiment, and
a for its successful accomplishment demanded
great skin. proves and determination such as
our officers and soldiers possess In an emil
nent degree. 1t was directed by Capt. Alex
@ Rhind of the gunboat Agawam and Lieut.
s. W. Preston of Admiral Porter's staff as
sis ed by the following officers: A. j. Muller,
Paul Bryder and seven men Of the crew Of
the Agawam. The vessel selected for the
demonstration was small gunboat-the Lou
islana. She was so prepared as to look like
blockade runner. AaE
The 215 tons Of powder were placed on
board in the best possible manner and all co.,
nected by fuses penetrating the mass and
uniting at main points, the object being to en-
sure the instantaneous ignition of the whole
mass. These fuses were fred by clock. work
which was properly timed. Three machines
were provided so that there should be no fail
ure. Other apparatus was prepared for ig-
nidng the mass of powder SO as to make as
surance doubly sure. Thus prepared there
was no reason to apprehend a failure; the on
ly anxiety being that the officers and crew
engaged In this perilous enterprise should es-
cape safely.
The night was very cold and there was
smart breeze from the westw ard, hut the un-
favorable state Of the weather did not deter
those bold men from carrying out the enter
prise as planned. About two O'clock A. NJ,
there suddenly shot up . broad, fan-shaped
sheet Of dazzling brilliancy, casting a red
glare over the water and lighting up the feet.
The light was but momentary, and then all
seemed darker than before. Soon dull,
runbling noise was heard by our men ON YES
sells some fifteen miles distant, but the sound
fell far short of thesr expectations. Shortly
after thick cloud of black smoke arose, dark
ening the horizon and standing out in sharp
and well-defned outline against the clear,
star-lit sky. This cloud was OF huge proper
tions and made q sublime appearance.
The effect of This tremendous explosion up
on the fort was not SO damaging as it was ex-
pected it would be. If the fort had been
built with masonry, the effect of the explosion
sa'd have been more disastrous, but earth
are not SO easily shaken down, and but
amage was done to the fertilization
IS any serious injury to the fort is con.
his explosion may be considered q
The whole enterprise was vel plan
,ss.,-s fs--sSzszSss, accOfuing TO the pro-
gramme, aad those engaged in it braved all
danger aud did their whole duty But the ex-
plosion of gunpowder on the surface of the
earth cannot have much effect, but buried be-
meath and fired, the effect is like an earth
quake.
The advance Of the fleet commenced at Q
O'Clock, A. M, several hours, after the explo-
sion. Tbs iron clads proceeded ahead The
morning was bright and beautiful. The New
Ironsides takes the lead, followed by other
monitors, while the Admiral's Flag Ship is
moving to and fro between the lines, bril-
liant with qaickIy changing signal flags, and
the whole feet moves majestically along
Soon the Montgomery steams off to point
four miles to the south Of Fort Fisher; As the
Minnesota and other vessels passed hey ond
the ,sition assigned for the on.clads, they
come to anchor 10 position on tue inner cir
Gle. about one mile from the feet. this move
ment is executed in fne style, and without
confusion or accident. This great feet thus
placed in battle array makes a splendid and
formidable show, and the feelings and emo
tioussof the several crews can be better i'm
agined than described.
At twelve o'clock, the new. Ironsides had
reached point within range of the fort, and
at one O'Clock the battle commenced, and the
terrible booming OF cannon was heard over
the waters. Ten minutes after the new Iron
sides opened fire, the guns of the fort made
answer Some time necessarily elapsed before
q proper range could be attained. Soon, how
ever, the firing became more accurate and rap
idly Increases. Now goes broadside from
Ironsides, and others follow and swell the
chorus to a deafening roar. The interest In
creases, and the "wooden walls" now come
up, and the old frigate Minnesota has got into
position and adds the thunder Of her terrible
broadsides to the uproar. The enemy re-
serve their fire for closer range, but soon
the mound and water batteries open in quick
succession, and our vessels begin to fire with
increased rapidity. e4N crfsTtF9
The chorus increases In volume and the
number ofits voices. The air yibrates almost
continually, the shrill scream of rifed cannon
Is heard amid the storm aud the sharp crash
OF bursting SHELLS. Heavy clouds of sulphur
Gus smoke drift slowly to leeward, and stray
shots go skipping over the water. The ex-
element increases as the work proceeds
Now the Colorado reports herself in a thun-
oering broadside, and there goes the Canoni-
Gus pushing ahead and firing as she moves
Atw's splendid spectacle to outsiders and
how many brave hearts swelled with patriotic
emotions on board our armada sbells are
bursting 10 the rebel fort and CONSERVATION
seizss upon all and they seek shelter
under cover of the bomb-proofs. The ro.
bel guns are silenced for time, and at three
o'clock P. NJ. fresh fire is breaking out in
= the tort. At six o'clock the first days light
ended, and the sun went down on q grand and
sublime sight The picture was grand and OK
pressive in the extreme.
kChristnas day a signal from the flagship
summoned all the commanders of the feet ON
board, and Afterwards the bombarument again
eDmmenced, and no sign of life was seen on