Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-01-20
Later.

Later.
Secretary Stanton furnishes the public
with the following particulars Of The capture
Of Fort Fisher:
The troops arrived eff Fort Fisher Thurs
day night. On Friday they were all landed
under covev of heavy fire from the squad
ron. A reconnaissance was made by GsEsral
Terry on Saturday. A strong defensive line
against the enemy's forces coming from vii
mington WAS esta blishcd and held ty COS
men. chiefly colered troops, and an assault
was determined on. The assault. WAS made
on Sunday, $50 p H. The Sea front of the
fort had been greatly damaged by continu
Gus and terrible fire of the fleet for three
days, and the front was assaulted at the hour
named by column Of seamsn and marines,
1000 strong, under command al Captain
Bruce, reached the parapct, but after short
conflict this column was checked and driven
back in disorder, and was afterwards placed
in the defensive line, taking the place Of q
brigade that was brought up 10 reinforce the
assaulting party of troops. Although the
assault on the sea front failed, it performed a
very useful part in diverting the attention Of
the enemy and making their resistance to
attack by the troops on the other side. The
assault on the other and most difficult side
Of the fort was made by column Of 5000
Of the old 10th corps, led by Col. Curtiss,
under the immediate supervision Of General
Terry. The enemy's force in the fort was
over 9, 200. The conflict lasted for seven
hours. The works were so constructed that
they afforded the enemy new defensive po.
sition, from whence they had to be driven.
They were seven in number, and the fight
was carried on from traverse to traverse for
seven hours by 4 skillful!y directed fire
thrown in the traverses as one after another
they were occupied by the enemy.
Admiral Porter contributed to the success
Of the assauting column by signals between
him and General Terry at brief intervals
This FIRE was so well managed as to damage
the enemy without injury 10 our troops
At about 10 O'Clock at night the enemy
were entirely driven from the fort and forced
down towards Federal Point followed by a
brigade of our troops, and about Il at night
Gen. Whiting sur, endered himself and his
command to Gen. Terry, Internationally, as
prisoners of war, over 800, the remainder
Of his force being killed and wounded.
Our loss is estimated at between roo and
500 in killed and wounded, besides the ma
val loss, which was slight, not over 100
killed and wounded Not ship or trans.
port was lost.
On Monday morning between G and o.
clscll the magazines Of Fort Fisher exploded.
killing and wounding 200 or 500 prisoners,
After the capture Of the for. all the troops
were Withdrawn except enc brigade left in
charge OF the works. How the explosion
occurred was not known, but General Terry
believed it was occasionsd by accident OF
neglect. .. ..
| Perfect harmony ard concert Of action
existed between the land and naval forces
and their respective commanders. Admiral
Porter and Gen. Terry We'd in their common.
datons Of each of the other-each seemed
more anxious to do justice to the other than
to claim anything for himself and they uni
tel in the highest commentator Of the naval
and military officers and the forces engaged
To this harmony of action and the confident
spirit inspired may be attributed, in some
degree, the success of our attack with nearly
equal numbers against superior enemy in Q
work unsurpassed if ever equalled in strength
aud which Gen. Beaurcgard few days be
fore pronounced impregnable.
The troops in the fort have rations for six
teen days. Their loss in killed ard wounded
was between 40 and $780,