The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-21
marines could have made the assault

marines could have made the assault
successful.
In the meantime our gallant soldiers
had gained foothold on the northwest
corner Of the fort, fighting like lions and
contesting every inch Of ground. The
Ironsides and monitors kept throwing
their shells into the traverses not occu-
pied by our men, but occupied by the
rebels. In this way our troops fought
from traverse to traverse from O'Clock
in the afternoon until 10 o'clock at nlgnt,
when the joyful tidings were signalled to
the feet. We stopped our fire and gave
them three Of the heartiest cheers ever
heard.
Ithas been the most terrific struggle l
ever saw, with very much hard labor:
The troops had covered. themselves
with glory, and General Terry is my
bean IDEAL of soldier and general
Our operations have been most harmoni-
Gus, and l think the General will do the
navy the credit to say that this time, at
least, we substantially injured the fort as
defensive work.
General Terry had only few more
troops than we had on the last occasion,
when the enemy had only one hundred
and fifty men in the works. This time
the works were fully manned, and con-
tanned about eight hundred men>at the
time Of the assault.
1t is matter of regret to me to see my
gallant officers and men 50 cut up, but |
was unwilling to let the troops undertake
the capture Of the works without the
navy's sharing with them the peril all
were anxious to undergo, and we should
have had the honor of meeting our bro
thers-i in arms in the works had the sail
ors been properly supported We have
lost about two hundred men in killed
and wounded. and amongst them some
gallant officers.
| regret to announce the death OF
Lieutenant W. Preston and Lieutenant
r. H. Porter They were both captured
together in the attack on Fort Sumter,
and died together in endeavoring to pull
down the flag that has so long Haunted
in our faces. Lieutenant X. II. Lamsin
was STRAIGHTFORWARD. He was lately
associated with Lieutenant Preston in
his perilous adventure with the powder
boat. Lieutenant George NJ. Bache and
a number of others were wounded, the
former not dangerously.
The assault only took place few
hours ago, and am unable to inform
YOU of our casualties. They are quite
severe from the assault, but we had no
casualties from the eI.emy's cannon.
Knowing the Importance Of the De-
partment receiving 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 Christmas day, without
the loss Of a dozen men.
This has been day Of terrific strug-
Gle, and not surpassed by any Of the
events Of the war We are all worn out
nearly, and you msst excuse this brief
and unsatisfactory account. will write
fully by the Santiago de Cuba, which
goes North Tomorrow to carry the
wounded.
There is not spot of earth about the
fort that has not been torn up by our
shells / do not know yet the number
of killed and wounded by our fire; but
one 15>inch shell alone pierced bomb
proof, killing sixteen and wounding Sc
yerely twenty-five others.
Besides the men in Fort Fisher there
were about five hundred in the upper
forts, and a relief of about one thousand
five hundred men brought down by
steamers this morning. SO far. believe,
VIC have only captured the garrison OF
Fort Fisher. | don't suppose there ever
was a work subjected to such terrific
bombardment, or where the appearance
of fort was more altered.
presume VIC are in possession of all
the forts, as Fort Fisher commands them
all. 1t is so late now that can learn
nothing more until morning.
lam sir, very respectfully, your obc-
dent servant.
[Signed] DAVID D. PORTER,
Rear-Admiral.