Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-01-27

~ ""5 '"V't, out were s"Spl away IN
y. moment. Others tried to get up th
steep pancopee. The marines could haY
: cleared the parapet by keeping up
J. steady fire, but they failed to do SO, an,
e the sailors were repused Many gal
/. lant fellow fell trying to emulate thei
n brothers in arms, who were fighting Il
obtain an entrance in the northeast angle
as il appears in our charts. The enem,
y misiook the seamen's attack 1or that d
the main body Of troops and opposed
most vigorous resistance there, bot wit.
messed it all and think the marines could
have made~the assault successful.
In the meantime our gallant soldiers
had gained foothold 10 the northeast
corner Of the Fort, fighting ike lions and
contesting every inch Of ground. The
Ironsdrs and monitors kept throwing
she'll into traverses not occupied by our
men, but still held by the rebels. In this
way our troops fought from traverse to
traverse from p. NJ. until 10 P. NJ,
when the joyful iidings was signalIed to
The fleet.
We stopped our fire and gave three Of
the heartiest cheers | ever heard. Ii
has been the most terrific Struggle ever
saw, and there was very much hard la
Dor. The troops have covered them
selves with glory, and General Terry is
my beau ideal of a soldier ard General.
/ Our cooperation has been most har-
monious. think the General will do
the navy the credit to say that this time,
at least, 1--WE substantially injured the
fort as defensive work" Gen. Terry
has only few more troops than we had
on the last occasion, when the enemy had
only $50 men in the works. This time
the works were fully manned, and con-
tanned about 800 men at the time Of the
assault.
1t is a matter of great regret to me to
see my gallant officers and men SO cut up,
but ! was unwilling to let the troops un-
dertake to capture the works without the |
navy sharing with them the peril that all
were anxious to undergo; and we should
have bad the honor OF meeting our broth
ers in arms in the works had the sailors
been properly supported. We have lost
about two hundred killed and wounded.
and among them some gallant officers.
Knowing the impalience of the Depart
ment to receive news from Fort Fisher,
| have written these few hurried lines.
No one can conceive what the army and
navy have gone through to achieve this
victory, which should have been ours on I
Christmas day without the loss of doz
IN men. This has been day of terrific !
truggle, and is moi surpassed by any I
vent of the war. We are all nearly i
worn out, and you must excuse this brief i
nd unsatisfactory account. | will write
oily by the Santiago De Cuba, which r
.oes North tomorrow to carry the !
a
Besides the men in Fort Fisher there II
'ere about 500 in the upper fort, and a
elief of about 1900 men was brought n
own by steamers this morning, So far a
believe we have captured only the gar "
iSon of Fort Fisher. don't suppose p
iere ever was a work subjected to such OF
'rriic bombardment, or where the ap m
loach Of a tort was more altered There W
not a spot of earth about the fort that h'
as not been torn up by our shells. u.
mt know yet the number of killed and ri
ounded by our fire, but one 15.inch
ell alone pierced bomb proof and kill :
Is and severely wounded 20 rebels. ih
presume we are in possession Of all the al;
rts, as Fort Fisher commands them po
/. mi
II is now SO late that l can learn moth P''
: more until morning.
(Signed) DAVID ID. PORTER. =
Rear Admiral. 3D.,
WHAT THE REBELS THINK OF IT.
The Richmond Wing of Tuesday con-
MS the following account OF the capture Ne
Fort Fisher: rec
'The unwelcome news of the fall Of the
rt Fisher, commanding the entrance i''
Cape Fear river, was received this as'
rning and occasioned sensation Of 'he
found regret. The capture Of this o"S
/ is equivalent 10 the closing of the hla
Dor of Wilmington by the enemy's ash
II. II is situated about ! 8 miles below pul
city, but was the main defence Of the va
rance 10 the river, and its fall there ond
9 will prevent in future the arrival Tn
departure Of blockade runners tim
" far this reverse may prove injurious
lur canse remains TO be seen hnt at -