The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-18
Account of the Correspondent of the
Baltimore American.
Tprass Disnatnh

BALTIMORE, Jan. 1.-THE correspon-
dent of the American gives the following
detailed account of the capture of Fort
Fisher:
FRIDAY Is AT 3 bells, "a oclock) this
the flag ship and the burning of prepar
atory signal OF red and green, as an indi-
cation that it is time to be up and stir
ring; away with the routine of regular
duty, so as to be in readiness at once to
commence the serious work of the day.
The throng of vessels rests calmly on the
sea, the wind being too light to stir or
even ripple the surface. Truly the ele-
ments promise TO favor this great enter
terprise At o'clock the second signal
was given by the flag ship, Get under
way" when the work of weighing anchors
commenced, and at ST o'clock the signals
of the division commander to push fol-
ward were given and responded to, caus-
ing brilliant pyrotechnic display.
The gunbOat Lacony was sent ahead
last nj ght to anchor off Flag pond bat
terry, and the day not having yet dawned
here, lights can be seen and the steering
point of the fleet on shore, about three
miles ahead. They were followed by the
new IronSidGS and monitor fleet. The
signals from army transports added to
the scenic display. At the first dawn of
day the whole armada was in motion.
The wind has changed to due west during
the night and tends to render the land
ing of troops comparatively easy. At
quarter to the Admiral signalled
Form line of battle" whereupon the
Brooklyn, with her line of vessels, moved
along toward the beach in the following
order Brooklyn coy, Mohican Q0),
Kansas %, Uvadalia Q0), Lonea QO),
Maumee (5), PaluoXent Q0), New York.
%, Yantic %, Neuse (lQ, total JIG
guns. This division was ordered to pre-
pare for action and move in close to the
beach 10 shell the woods ut the point
decided upon for the landing of the
troops, about three and half miles from
Fort Fisher, near the deserted half moon
battery.
In u few minutes the whole division
was i'll position, throwing shells into the
narrow strip OF woods separating the
sea shore from Cape Fear River, about
mile inland In the meantime the Iron
clads moved into position, directly in
lIOul VI buIt0-
fourths of mile, and the Monitors about
a half mile oil, in the following order:
New Ironsides, Commodore Radford,
twenty guns; Monodock, Commodore
Parrott, four guns; Mapopoc, two guns
Before they got into position the fort
opened on them, but they secured their
anchorage, when at $50 the Ironsides
opened on the fort and was followed by
the monitors with their tremendous
shells
Every shot struck in the embraSures
and exploding threw clouds of sand into
the air. Tie fort occasionally respond
ed, but did not send more than one shot
every ten minutes, and so rapid was our
fire they found it impossible to work
their guns. AT o'clock the boats of the
fleet were called away TO assist in land
ing troops. The woods had in the mean
time been thoroughly shelled, and no
enemy appeared the transports were
enabled to go within half mile of shore,
and they were surrounded by not less
than two hundred boats supplied from
all vessels of the fleet; several tugs also
joined in the work and carried the SOL
diers to within 100 yards of the beach,
when they were transferred to the beach.
The tents and camp equipage were also
landed, with several days rations for the
entire Corps.
AT 9o'clock the boats from all the trans
ports moved for shore, and in a few
moments the first five hundred men STEP
ped on the beach and planted their regi-
mental flag on one of the highest sand
hills, amid cheers from the transports
and fleet. Nothing of the enemy could
be seen at this time in any direction.
At ten o'clock, about 1000 troops. hav-
ing been landed, a skirmish line was sent
forward on the beach. During this time
the fort probably threw 800 shell in re-
turn, but the difficulty they had in
working their gans amidst the explosion
of our shells; and the clouds of sand that
constantly enveloped the works from our
well directed shots, doubtless troubled
their gunners Most of their sllslls