Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-27
officiai Tfcport OIL Admiral Porte
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MALsEES
OEE SNIrnNIIE Y @ Ian. DO

UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MALsEES.f
Orr SNITnvILLE, y. c., Jan. ~.
Having been informed that Fort Caswell ha,
been blown up and evacuated in consequence o
the fall OF Font Fisher. | sent Lieutenant Cush
ing around in the Monticello to the western bar
to ascertain what had taken place, and To Obtain
aid from the commanders OF the New York anC
Nicksburg Lieutenant Cushing did not obtsir
the aid required. for what reason | did not learn
but with hs usual energy he pushed on and found
that Fort Caswell had been blown up Bald
Head tort aud Fort Shaw were destroyed; also
Fort Blank, TO the westward OF Caswell, va,
abandoned. This tort was armed with 9-inch
guns and Armstrong l00-pounders. Lieutenant
Gushing then pushed to Smi;hville.
After 'hoisting the flag Of the Union oveI
Casweil, the next thing ! saw was the flag
waving over Smithville.
When the rebels saw our boats approaching
they left everything in the heavy fort unimpair
ed. and two 9-inch guns only were spiked in the
other fort.
10 the meantime | had succeeded in getting
one gunboat, the Tacony. over into the river. and
sent her 10 to Reeves Point TO disable the guns
at that place, which is about three miles above
Fort Fisher on the west side of the river.
Within - hours after the fall of Fort Fisher
and outworks all the formidable chain of forts at
the entrance of this river. built to keep out any
hiiiSt HR't AAhth tAbV Jul my dtO
gsrrisOned for the present with sailors
l cans scarcely give YOU a description o. these
works. They are certainly the most formidable
and best built earthworks | ever saw and do
credit TO the engineers who planned them. Fort
Caswell is the same shape as before it fell into
rebel hands, except covering the rails with earth
on the outside which made il almost impeEe-
trable.
1t is in many respects stronger than Fort
Fisher and harder to take by assault. Still it
could be taken. Three or four gunboats outside
would start them cut.
had great difficulty in getting the ~guuboais
over the bar, and only succeeded this morning in
getting the last one over.
The rebels left plenty of stores and provisions
and our men are uow subsi-ting Oh them
send you a list ofthe forts which have fallen
into our hands since Fort Fisher fell, with the
number and calibre of their guns.
We have found in each fort an Armstrong gun
and the name Sir William Armstrong marked in
full. 1t would DE interesting to know how they
came into possession Of the rebels
| find provisions, stores and clothing have
come through this port. ! am almost afaid 10
mention the amount, but il is enough 10 supply
an army OF 90 900 men. Ii ia ell English, and
they have received the last cargo No more will
ever come this way. We picked up a telegram
from Gen. Lee to his sub here he says ths. it
Fort Fisher and Caswell we're no: held he would
have to evacuate Richmond.
We have plenty of force TO hold this place
against the whole southern confederacy. | have
$50 guns bearing on the narrow strip of land
where our troops are heavily entIenched. There
are vessels in the river and outside, and we only
hope they will attempt to retake il. There are
ten thousand troops in Fort Fisher.
We find this a better place to catch blockade
runners than outside. | had blockade runners
light lit last night, aud was obliging enough to
answer their signals, whether right or wrong. we
don't know.
Two of them. the Stag and Charlotte, from
Bermuda, loaded with arms. shoes, &c, came in
and quietly anchored near Malvern, and were ia
ken possession of. The Stag was commanded
by Richard II. Gayle. lieutenant in the rebel ma
w, and belongs to the rebel government.
A number more are expected, and we will, |
hope, catch a portion OF them.
! entrusted this duty to Lieutenant Gushing,
he performed il with his usual good look These
are very fast vessels and valuable priz ;. They
threw a portion of the papers overheard, on
finding they were trapped. The Charlotte has
1--WE English passengers, ore an English army
officer. they all came over on a lark aud we're
making themselves quite jolly in the cabin over
their champagne, cOngratulaiing themselves on
a safe arrival. The Stag received three shots in
her. as she ran by our vessels.
Very respectfully. your ob't. %serv't,
DAVID ID. PORTER.
Rear Admiral.
To G.. WELLEs,
Sacra.arv nj Nave WaShington