, 1865-01-24
Ghi1agG Ur{! !1ue
TIE CAPTURE OF ~, FISHER.
Graphic Details Ct The Battle.
OPERATIONS CT TIE ARMY
AND navy,
from the Baltimore American, Jan. 1871
GrEEoAr SANTIAGO, Off Font FISHER,
MnnGaY ian liz 1Ags

AND navy.
Prom the Baltimore American, Jan. Is1
GrKEoAr SANTIAGO, OFF FonT FISHER,
Monday. Jan. IS, 1855.
After three days Of the most fearful and
stubborn fighting In the navul or military ex-
peiiencc Of this war, have the satisfaction
Of announcing that Fort Fisher has been
compelled to suecumb, with all the outlying
floats from this rebel stronghold.
Our victory is complete.
The bombardment WAS commenced by the
nsvy on Friday morning, md Was continued
night and day until 3 o'clock on sunday
night, 4 period Of sixty hours. with nttle or or
the military and naval brigade was most
bloody affair, and it may be doubted whether
fl,ere has evhr been anything equal to it for
persistent assault and staooofn fesls,Ancs.
The assault was made on the tort at : O'Clock
on Sunday nna msitsE1 shcetea
~, .ue cortl side By the Naval
pI1r5 ,as rcpnised with fearful slaughter,
hnt Il, served as TN important diversion, ena-
ming fhc military to obtain foothold. The
f1ght lasted SIX hours, being desperate hand
tohand struggle Eaea o. Inc seren.een tra-
sion, after the most fierce encounters, in
which bcctaombs Of dead and wounded we're
added to those that Rlrcady lfned the fort.
Suffice it to say, By Tay Of preface to de-
tailed account, that Notwithstanding the fort
had been strengthened and reinforced to tre-
BE The garrison it had when Gen. Butler de-
cided 1t could not be taken, 1t Is nov in our
possession, with seventy-four cannon, 1000
living prisoners and 100 dead, and that our
c11nboats have today sailed up the Cape
Fear River, driving before them the pirates
Chlckamauga and Tallahassee, e11ectually
H. -
the only channel the rebels had left for the
importation Of munitions. of war.
The elements seemed to favor Us in the
great nnd glorious undertaking. For seven
days the wind has blown from the west, giy-
ing us calm and quiet sea. We hare had an
uninterrupted clear sky, mild weather, and
bright and beautiful moonlight nights.
THE GRAND ASSAULT.
SUNDAY, Jan. IA clear and brilliant
moonlight night is succeeded this morning by
= cloudlcss sky and q bright and warm sun,
while the ocean is almest Us calm as mill
pond, 4 combined effort Is to be made on
The part Of Admiral Porter and Gen. Terry to
plant our flag on the walls OF Fort Fisher at
three o'clock this afternoon. The monitors
and Ironsides, together with the Brooklyn and
several small gunboats, hare been steadily at
work, since daybresk, shelling the fort. They
threw shell into it every five minutes during
the night, and will continue their present
task until the balance OF the fleet Joins them.
There has not been a shot fired from the fort
since s O'Clock last evening, although the
wooden vcssels have been lying under its guns
au night. There has been no flag visible ut
the Iamrsrts for two days, though there is
mile south Of Fort Fisher They may
possibly be husbanding their energies
TO resist the assault We arc about 10
make. I learn from the shore, this
morning, that Gen. TeHy's art;llcrfsts
have hnd some VAIN work, during the night,
gunboats. Our batteries hare been planted
10 command wharf to which we hare moorcd
q rebel steamer captured by us.
The rebel gunbeSts run up and shell tho
ste amer occasionally, when our nrtil1erists
open upon them. both of them have been
struck several times, and any attempt on
their part to run up to Wilmington, when the
pcundcr rites in our batteries. Our storm
ing party, 1900 strong, are now IN the woods
within mile Of Fort Fisher. They report
tLat the fort was reinforced last night by 800
men from Fort Caswell. The saliors and ms
rines from the feet, 1000 strong, are also to
join in the assault, and cndcavor to scale the
walls Of the fort. They are in high glce this
morning, end bucklirE on their aE:nor with
tic alac1ity Of veterans.
GRAND BosIBARpMEST AND ASSAULT
At 10 o'clock the frisates Wabash. Mime:
sofa, ppwfattan and Colorado took positions
in line and joined in the bo,nbardnc,t, which
may l,e rc@arded as The grand final attempt to
take The fort.
| u;arircs and sailors to join in the assault,
we're calltd away to the fiasship-at,ou! 100
| boats, with twenty men In each. They started
| IN high spirits, Rll cont ending for the oppor-
tunity. The little gunboat Monticello, com
manded by Lieut.. Gushing, in close to the
tort, has sent ont boat to take sounding..
e-ult:ng party. and has succeeded IN shellin5
the rebel gunboats in Cape Fear River.
| :0.20 Il. m.-The rebel gunboats Chieka-
! mRuCA and Tallahassee can be seen from the
znasthcsd coming down the Cape Fear River
and sheliing the woods where our soldiers are
assembled, preparatory to the assault. Our
ar1ny battery ou The river is engaging the
relied l,out-, but with what success cannot be
ascertainld.
1880 =. .m.-The firing nf the iron-clads,
1rigates aud gun boats is getting guite brisk.
The fort remains silent, except some rile
shots fired ut the daring Cushing, who Seems
brave to recklcssness. The only shots fret
By the rebt is are from The Mound and waite,
| batteries south Of the fi:rt. It Is believed tha
the seventeen paraptt guns On th. north wal
| of Fort Fisher are dkab!3d.
11a m.-Thc boats crews are landing OF
the beach, about q mile from the fort, nun
er- rEEn3nlin., IN and around ths forf at tn,
Tatc ri sixty ner minute, although not uort
Than half al the vc.:els are yet In position
The firing l. deliberate, and the aim most &C
. curntc.
ills q. m.-Thc Admiral signals to Capt
G;issou to take lis division OF gunboats in.,
action. and take pasi,ion in front Of the watc
| batteries and Mound Battery south o. Fort
Fitf,er The view Of the fhroags Of boat
rn5nr Ia tbe brach With sailors is most In
suI sn;.i;;no No. NY atont ono. half OF the men Inv
SONS IN 1he he.ch. their bright eabres Ri:
ten'nc IN The tu,. The bombarduent IS in
c,..efn. T., rojnTo., and ,ie BURSTING Of shell
c,s.- ~ E;.hsr Eeens Il almost envelone
~ e, s1o1 te ,1,d t1y;nr sand. Il would seem IN
1oss;l1e ~ morts{s to exist in II. though ii
hon,in'oofs are said to be most capaeiouI
Tha tdm;fa,,a ffooshin IL nooyinp ropidly fro1
a!e ane -soint S ~ enn,Srr in he ihicEest Of th
Gb Gnht hr31,;ent Wsfh faos cfysnp orders to IL
uEuis, i,,s ~ i;,r;etons a. - ft.;r rnnrements
'a1oas 1.an :, ~ mMTha 10 eo,,nrs ana mcr;ncs tay
ali landed, and are re marching along The beac
in true military style; 4 plumber Of sna
gunboats are arranged along the beach thfoe
ing ehe1ls ncross the peninsula at the rep
gnnbcats in Cape Fear River: Ihe men .,
ont On the monitor decks and turrets, "atc
Ing The course Of their SHELLS. .,
| AAs1V H. A-~AAt AAsA4 0ooa01kauH r. -
formed in eight lines on the beach, about 2
men in each, now move forward, each boat
| crew cat fling its t]aE. Their advance Ski
mish line aIe throwing up light rifie-pi
a1,o1t half a mile from the forf. Firing
musketry can he distinctly heard In the yooi
toYaTi the liver. where the military assaul
ine party ore under cover, waiting the sign
foP The attack.
| 1240 n. m.-The bombatdmcut prorresse
Cant. Gtissun's division Of gunboats have IL
reached Inc point assigned them SOUTH
| uu.t,. S~4n ~