The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-01-05

arranged to blow up the vessel in case the
rebels should take it by boarding.
The officers and crew of the monitors are
complimented for patience in riding out the
gale, and for galantry in action.
Admiral Porter closes by saying, .sthere
are about thousand men left on the shore
by the army who have not yet got off on
account Of the surf on the beach. These
will be taken off IN the morning. and the
soldiers will then be sent home.
In the bombardment Of the 18th the firing
was slow for several hours. The enemy had
two guns in the upper battery and managed
to strike several vessels, though without
doing much damage.
Accompanying the report is a letter from
Gen Butler with Admiral Porter's reply to
Cen Butler He says upon landing the
troops and accompanying Gen. Wietzel on
thorough reconnaissance of Fort Fisher, they
were both of the opinion that the place
could not be carried by assault, as it was
left substantially uninjured by fire from the
navy There were II guns protected by
traverses, only two Of them being dismount-
ed. The balance bearing directly on the
beach and closing the only practicable
route.
Prisoners captured, as previously report
ed, state that Hoker's division from Lee s
army is at Wilmington. The night before
the attack Weitze advanced his skirmsh
line within Fifty yards Of the fort
( While the enemy was kept in his bomb
proofs, dispatch was captured on an order
| ly with an order from Gen. Whiting to bring
a battery of light guns into the fort. A few
Of our men entered the fort while shells
from the fleet were falling around them. Al
soon as the firing from the navy ceased at
dark, the fort was manned as fully as ever
and opened with grape and canister upol
our picket line Nothing but the operations
/ of regular siege would serve to reduce the
4 fort. These were not in accordance witt
| instructions, and as the weather came or
unfavorable Gen. Butter gave orders fol
embarkiDg.
Gen, Buffers engineers sustain his opin
ion that Fort Fisher was practically unin
iured by the bombardment. -e ...-
J Admiral Porter, in reply to Gen. Butler
letter, said he had ordered the large ships t.
20 to Beaufort for ammunition. and b
ready torenew the attack in case it is de
cidered to continue. -----
He stated they had not commenced to fir
rapidly, and could keep all the rebels out G
sight until troops were within twenty yard
of the fort. He was of the opinion that th
assault could be successfully made, bu
wouldi not wish to place his judgment i
opposition to that of Gen. Weitzel, who ha
made surveys Of the enemys works i
|, conclusion. he said the beach would probab
4 Iy be smooth in a short time when the me
on shore could be safely taken off.
New York, Thursday, December 30
: New York 1rjbuaes Washington specia
: says: at was 5000 colered troops VIII
were landed near Fort Fisher. They too
up strong position and held it against
} vigorous attack. They then attacked an
carried at the point of the bayonet an earth
work in front Of Fort Fisher. The rebels
reinforced returned and retook the fort, driv
ing out our black troops with heavy loss
. What remained of them were then re-enl
barked, and the men-ofwar again opene
fire on Fort Fisher"