The New York herald., 1865-02-27
WILMINGTON.
Particulars OF the Capture OF
the City.
Forty Pieces Of Artillery Left IN the
Works Around the Town.
Frightful Condition Of the Released
Union Prisoners.
General Terry's Corps Again
Concentrated.
Thanks Of New York and the Nation
to Porter and Ills Fleet.
~~>~~>>->>>~>-~~~>
Reception Of the Resolutions and Letters
by the Admiral,
Thanks Of New York and the Nation
to Porter and His Fleet.
Oar special Wilmington Despatch.


WILMINGTON, N. G., Feb. %, 1885,
Washngtons birthday has been Hy celebrated in this
department Wilmington has followed Charleston, and
the last rebel seaport has fallen.
General Bragg in person left tho city the morning
OF tho 2ls The troops began to move out in the even
ing tho last leaving before daylight of the 22d.
About forty pieces Of heavy artillery were left in
che works around the city and the batteries the
river and fvc hundred stand OF rifles found at the
City Hail. and Whtworh gun at the depot. Some
nve thousand dollars worth Of commissary stores
also abandoned Three locomotives and dozen fell
Into our hands Seven hundred bales of cotton we're
burned in the government sheds and about three hun
dred belonging to private individuals A rebel ram,
partly finished, three steam mills, three large
turpentne works and adjacent wharves, and
Che railroad and pontoon BRIDGE destroyed.
Tho railroad depot houses, machine shops
and most Of the warehouses uninured The exten
sve government stables set re but extinguished
by the citizens. The Chckamauga, and two trans
ports, escaped up the river
The Raleigh Confederate, two days before the
ton charged that fifteen thousand bales of cotton
concealed in the city Citizen merchants place the
Der at ten thousand, and put high estimate upon the
eurpense concealed. Both the cotton and turpentine
will be sent North by General schoned.
The evacuation of Fort Anderson early Sunday morn
aug, tnc lSti was IoOWeu Dy an lnnedlaLe advance ON
the part of tho feet and the land forces The
preceded by skrmish line Of yaws connected by drag
ropes which effectually removed all torpedoes The
rebel overtaken by Colonel Morris brigade,
Second division, TWentythird corps from Fort Andcr
con, In time to extingush the fire Of the bridges leading
over the swaps and streams in its rear and this rce
uniting with General Cox, who the night before
had nearly reached the line OF retreat of the
enemy pushed on to Town creek where the enemy was
strongly posted in works which seemed to defy assault
Meantime the fleet advanced tho mouth OF Town
creek and reconnotered the fort the left bank of
the river six miles below the city Gen. Terry marched
threc miles beyond the line which Hoke abandoned on
Federal Point simultaneously with the evacuation Of
Anderson He met with resistance and at night
Joined by Gen. Ames, who had been operating under
Gen. Cox in the hanking movements against Anderson.
On tho goth General Terry moved Paines Third divi
sion, Twenty NTH corps Of colored troops in advance
and with loss Of ten killed and forty-fvc wounded
drove the rebels into strong line Of field works. five
miles from Wilmington. General Ames Second division,
twenty fourth corps, supported the advance losing two
wounded.
On the right bank of the river General Cox
performing a most brilliant movement result
ing In tho rout OF the rebels at Town
creek This creek, about miles below
Wilmington, the right bank OF the river,
b thirty feet deep, skrtcd with swamps deemed
impassabo by the robes The only bridge crossing 1t
approached by long csusewny completely covered
By artillery The works opposite carefully
structed, and constituted the principal line upon which
che enemy depended for the defence Of tho city that
bank. The works strongly manned.
In searching the swsmps the river General Cox,
Third DIVISION Twenty third corps found old
capable Of holding thirty Leaving single brigade
Colonel Hcndcrsons) with battery D, First ohio light
artillery OF his DIVISION to occupy the attention Of the
enemy in his 'front.' he carefully withdrew his three
remaining brigndes-Cascments Rely's Colonel steil
oommandingL and Moore's, and conccsl.ng them
IN the swamp began to cross them into the
thick swamp below the encmys limo with this crazy
scow This accomplished without discovery, the
enemy dceming any flank movement impossible.
After crossing, these three brgadcs waded through
Che swamp waist deep for half mile, and hndng cir
cuitous path through rice field after march OF four
miles emerged into the woods in OF the cnemys
works, and on the telegraph road from Whining
ton TO smithvillc upon which the rebel
vnrks were situated. While Easements and
I5ilys troops moved rapidly down this road the One
Hundredth Ohio in advance skirmshcrs Colonel
Moore sent to the old public road further wcs and
the only line OF retreat left to the enemy.
At this uncure the rebels discovered that crossing had
been Effected and hastily constructed rife pits TO protect
their rear. The moment troops came In sight Of
che works they assaulted impetuousy and with the wild
cst enthusiasm a seeming TO understand and enjoy the
brilliant game. The enemy opened rapidly with grape
and cannister but firing huredy and with III directed
aim. loss only three killed and twenty
wounded.
The works carried at the point OF the bayonct
Che enemy routed, two twelve FOUNDER guns captured
with caissons complete, and one whtworth dis
famous Charleston City Battalion, thrtytwo Of
Acers and three hundred and hfty men. The
rsst escaped in confusion Colonel Moore being able
20 roach the public road In time to intercept the ug
Nves
Such move reflects tho greatest credit upon General
Cox and Is worthy Of the Twenty third corps II proved
Che key TO Wilmington.
On tho night OF the Goth the rebels snt down eighteen
floating torpedocs through the fleet One struck picket
boa and exploded killing two The others passed
harmlessly by
On the 2ist all was quiet Federal Point except that
General Ames rcconnotered the forts the left Of
Tenys nc and found them too strong to justify an
saut His loss was killed and eleven wounded The
noet continued TO lombard them brskly during the day
che enemy replying vigorously with very long range
gus General Cox moved from Town Creek al
6n o'clock A. NJ, and reached brunswick river. oppo.
=
not resist but burned tho railway bridge crossing 10
Eagle island fred the pon,oon bridge and cu IL adrirt
Thc Sixteenth Kentucky, Colonel White, secured few
ponioons partially burned and, crossing his regiment,
skrmished tho sand establishing outposs the
causeway a swamp AMI within muskc range Of the
vharvcs Upopthis way the rebels opened from
che city with two whtworth guns. sun before
dusk our skirmish line established In tho swamp,
artillery crriod and few shell throw into the city
% convince the rebels that In force.
On tho first appearance OF troops tho island tho
rebels got III, government cotton sheds and TO
unfinished iron clad, and withdrew into the city. Tho
constornaiion Of tho enemy at our unex
pected success in reaching tho city was plainly
sscn In thor actions THIS success quito
psafsd BY w. and not looked for unu after The arrival Of