Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-19
Up Gelegragg,
Additional About the Capture of
Fort Fisher

January l6;h.
| [Signed.1 Msi. Gen. TRRRy.
AN Acknowledgment and thanks for
mat gallant act was given in your name to
Admiral Porter and Gen. Terry, from whom,
the following particulars were obtained:
The troops arrived off Fort Fisher on
Thursday night. Ga Friday thew were
all landed under cover of a heavy FIRE from
the squadron. a reconnaissance was made
oy Gen. Terry on Saturday. a strong de-.
tenslVe line facing the enemy's forces com.
ing from Wilmington, was established and
held by 1000 men, chiefly composed of raw
troops and an assault determined on, The
assault was made on Sunday evening at
$50 o'clock. The sea front of the fort
had been greatly damaged aud broken by
"a continuous and terrible FIRE of the feet
for three days, and the front was assaulted
at the hour named by a column of seamen
and marines, 1900 strong under command
of Capt. Breeze.
They reached the parapst, but after a
snort conhic their column was checked
aud driven back in disorder, and was sf-
forwards placed on the defensive line, ia.
king the place of a brigade that was
brought up to reinforce the assauItinp coll
nmn Of troops. Although the assault on
the sea front failed it performed a very
useful part in diverting the attention of
the enemy, and weakened their resistance
70 the attack by the troops on the other
side. The assault on the other and most
dlhcult side of the fort was made by a col
nmn of 5000 troops of the old 10th CORDS.
led by Col. Curtis, under the immediate
supervision of Gen. Terry. The enemy's
force in the fort was over 1000. The con-
hict lasted for several hours. The works
were SO constructed that every traverse af
.forded the enemy a new defensive position
from whence they had to be driven. They
were seven in number, and the fight was
carried on from travere to traverse for
some hours by skilfully directed FIRE
thrown into the traVerses one after an
other as they were occupied by the enemy.
Admiral Porter contributed to the success
of the sssaulting column by signals be.
tween himself and General Terry, at brief
intervals. The fire was so we'll managed
as to damage the enemy without injury to
our own troops.
About 10 o'clock at night the enemy
were entirely driven from the fort and
forced down towards the point, followed
by brigade of our troops, and about IL
o'clock at night Gen. Whitney surrendered
himself and his command to, Gen. Terry,
Internationally, as prisoners of war.
They numbered ever 1900, the remainder
of the force being killed or wounded.
Our loss was not accurately ascertained
on Monday afternoon, but Was estimated at
between 700 and 500, killed and wounded,
besides the naval loss, which was slight,
not exceeding 100 killed and wounded. Not
q ship nor transport was lost.
Col. Curtis was severely, but not NOR
tally wounded. Col. Bell died of his wounds
on Monday morning. Col. J. W. Moore and
Lieut.. Col. Lyman were killed. Colonel
Pennyacker was badly wounded, also Lit.
Col. Coon. a complete list of the killed
and wounded will be furnished as soon as
it can be prepared.
General Lowry reported to Surgeon Gene
raj Barnes that he had ample provision of
Surgeons, nurses aud hospital supplies for
the wounded. They will be sent north to
their respective States, as fast as they can
be placed on transports, of which there was
ample supply.
On Monday morning between and Z
o'clock, the magazine of Fit. Fisher explod-
ed, killing and WOunding 200 or 800 per-
| sons. After the capture of the Fort all
the troops were Withdrawn except one bril-
gade, which was left in charge of the works.
Howthe explosion occurred was not known,
but General Terry beliVes that it was oc-
cRsioned by accident or neglect.
General HOke and O division, reported at
5000, was at Wilmington. A portion of it
was thrown into the Fort not long before
the assault aud, while that was going on a
demonstration was made by Hoke against
our defensive line, but it was found too
strong for anything more than a skirmish-
ing attack.
About IL o'clock Monday morning a
| heavy cloud of smoke was abserved over
Fort Smith, on the south side ofNew Inlet
The naval officers commanding that sta,
ton reported that the rebels had fred
their barracks and evacuated that work.
Perfect harmony and concert of action
existed between Admiral Porter and Gen
Terry. They We'd in accommodation of
each other. Each seemed more anxious
to do justice to the other than to claim
anything for himself, and they united in
the highest commentator of the naval and
military officers and the forces engaged.
To this harmony of feeling and the conf
dent spirit inspired may be, perhaps, at
tributed, III some degree, the success of
our attack, with nearly equal numbers,
against a resolute enemy.
The armament of the fort was ~ guns,
some of large calibre and rifed, and one
Armstrong gun. The troops in the fort
had rations for l6 days Their loss in
killed and wounded was betw cen 400 and
500.
Gen. Whiting had three wounds in the
thigh. Col. Lamb, also, who had gone
into the fort with reinforceuents and to
relieve General Whiting, on Sunday, is
wounded.
On Monday everything was as quiet as
a Sabbath day. The dead were being
buried and the wounded placed in trans
ports and field hospitals.
Gen. Sherman renewed the movement of
his forces from Savannah last week. The
10th and 18th corps went in transports to
Beaufort on Saturday, the l4th. The 18th
corps, under Maj Gen. Blair, crossed Port
Royal Ferry, and, with portion of Gen.
Fosters command, moved on PocotaIigo.
Gen. Howard, commanding that wing of
the army, reported on Sunday that the
enemy abandoned his strong works in our
front during Saturday night.
Gen. B!air's corps occupies a strong