The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-27
FLAGSHIP MALVERN,
OFF Fort Fisher, Jan. Is, 1865.


Of Fort Fisher, Jan. Is, 1865.
SRI have the honor to inform you
that we have possession of Fort Fisher,
and that the fall of the surrounding
works will soon follow As | informed
you in my last, we commenced opera
tons with the iron vessels, which bonn
barded it while we landed troops.
On the 18th, l ordered all vessels
carrying Il inch guns to lombard with
the Ironsides, the Brooklyn taking
the lead. BY sunset the fort was re-
duced to pulp; every gun was silenced
by being injured or covered up with
earth, so that they would not work.
On the 18th, Gen. Terry and myself
arranged for an assault, and / ordered
400 sailors and marines to participate
At daylight, the iron vessels, the Brook
lyn and the 11-inch gunboats com
menced battering the works, while the
troops made a Judgement within $50
yards of the fort. At 10 o'clock all the
vessels steamed in and took their sta
TONS opening heavy fire, which was
kept up until p. NJ. when signal was
made to assault, the soldiers taking the
land side, the sailors the sea face, and
the ships changing (but not stopping
their fire to the other works The
rebels met us with courage worthy
of better cause, and fought desper-
ately. About thirty of the sailors and
officers succeeded in getting to the top
of the parapet, amid murderous fire
of grape, canister and musketry. They
had planted flag there, but were
swept away in moment Others
tried to get up the steep precipice.
The marines could have cleared the
parapet by keeping up steady fire,
but they failed to do so, and the sail-
ors We're repulsed.
Many eallent fellow fell, trying to
emulate their brothers in arms who
We're fighting to obtain an entrance in
the northeast angle as it appears on
our charts. The enemy mistook the
seamcn's attack for that of the main
body Of troops, and opposed most
vigorous resistance there but | wit
messed it all, aud | think the marines
could have made their assault success
full
In the meantime our gallant soldiers
had gained foothold on the northeast
corner of the fort, fighting like lions
and contesting every inch of ground
The Ironsides and monitors KEEP
storming their shells into the traverses
not occupied by our men, but still helt
by the rebels. In this way our troops
fought from traverse to traverse, from
3 o'clock III the afternoon until 10 a
night, when the joyful tidings wal
signalled to the fleet
| We stopped our fire and gave tire,
OF the heaitiest cheers | ever heard
1t has been the most terrific struggle
ever saw; and there was very mucl
hard labor, The troops have covered
themselves with glory, and Gen TER,
is my beau ideal of soldier and
general Our cooperation has beef
. most harmonious, and think the gen
eral will do the navy the credit to sa,
that this time, at least we Substantial
ly injured the fort as defensive work.
Gen. Terry had only few NOR
troops than we had on the last occas
ion, when the enemy had only $50 mel
III the works This time the work
were fully manned, and containe,
about 500 men at the time of assault
1t Is matter of great regret to me t,
see my gallant officers and men SO Gu
up, but | was unwilling to let til,
troops undertake the capture of tn,
works without the navy sharing will
them the peril all were anxious to un
dergo, and we should have had tn,
honor of meeting our brothers in arm
IN the works had the sailors been prop
J erly supported.
We have lost about 200 in kille,
and wounded and amongst them som,
gallant officers. regret to announc,
the death of Lieut.. s. w. Preston. ant
Lieut. t. H. Porter. They were boil
captured together in the attack OF
rort Sumner, and died together in en-
deayoring to pull down the flag tina
mas SO long Haunted in our face
Lieut. X. H. Samson was severel,
wounded. He was lately associated
with Lieut.. Preston on the powder
boat, Lieut.. Geo. NJ Bache and ,
number Of others were wounded th,
former dangerously. The assault onl,
TOOK place few hours ago, and | an
unable to inform you of our casualties
,ney We're quite severe from the as
sauit' but we had no.casualties from th,
enemy $ cannon. Knowing the impa
uehce OF the Department to receiy,
news nom Fort fisher, have writer
) these few hurried lines. No one on,
conceive what the army and navy hay,
gone through to achieve this victory
which should have been ours ON Christ
mas day without the loss of a doze,
men, This has been a day of terrif.