Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-18
DetaiIed Aceonnf.

of the American gives the following detail
ed account of the capture of Fort Fisher
FRIDAY, Jan. l3-At 8 bells at o'clock
this morning. we were aroused by gun
from the flag ship and the burning of the
preparatory signal of red and green. as an
indication that it is time to be up and stir
ring, preparing breakfast and getting
through with the routine of morning duty,
so as to he in readiness at dawn to com
mence the serious work of the day. The
throng of vessels rest calmly on the sea,
the wind being too light tostir or even rip
pie Its surface, truly the elements promise
to favor this great enterprise.
AT O'Clock the second signal was given
by the fiag-ship-"Get under way"-when
the work of weighing anchors commenced,
and at half past the signals OF the divis-
ion commanders to move forward were
given and responded to, causing brilliant
pyrotecnic display. The gunboat Sacony
was sent ahead last night to anchor off Flag
Pond battery, and the day not having yet
dawned, her light can be seen at the steer
ing point of the fleet i'm shore, about three
miles ahead Of us. The three frigates Wa
bash, Minnesota and Colorado moved off
first, led by Admiral Porter's flagship.
They were followed by the new Ironsides
and monitor fleet.
The signals from the 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 coming off shore tends to render
the landing of troops comparatively easy.
At a quarter to Z o'clock the Admiral
signalled to form line of battle; whereupon
the Brooklyn, with her line of vessels,
moved along close to the beach in the fol-
lowing order: Brooklyn, 26 guns; Mohi-
can, Z; Tacony, 10; Kansas, s; unadilla, Z;
Huron, a; Maumee, 5; Patuxet 10; Seneca,
4; Poutoosue, 10; Yautic, Z; Nereas, A; to-
tai, 1l6 guns. This division was ordered to
prepare for action and move in close to the
beach tc shell the woods at point decided
upon for the landing of the troops, about
three and half miles from Fort Fisher,
near the deserted Half-moon Battery. In
few minutes the whole division was in
position, throwing shells into the narrow
strip OF woods separating the sea shore
from Cape Fear river, about mile inland,
parallel with the beach.
In the meantime, the iron-clads moved
into position directly IN front of Fort Fish
er. the Ironsides about three-quarters of a
mile, and the Monitors about half mile,
in the following order: New Ironsides,
Com. Radtord, 20 guns; Monaduack, Com.
Parrott, guns; Sangus, Com. Col. Harm. 2
guns; Canonicus, 2 guns; Mapapatac, 2
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 high into
the air. The fort occasionally responded,
but did not send more than one shot every
ten minutes, and at times, so rapid was our
firing, they found it impossible to work
their guns.
At 8 o'clock the boats of the fleet were
called away to assist in landing troops. The
woods had in the meantime been thoroughly
shelled, and no enemy had appeared. The
transports were enabled to 90 within half a
mile of the shore, and they were socn sur
rounded by not less than 200 boats, supplied
from all the vessels of the fleet. Several
tugs also joined in the work and carried the
soldiers to within 100 yards of the beach,
where they were transferred to small boats.
The tents and camp equipage were also
entire torce-S000 strong.
At9 O'Clock the boats from all the trans
ports moved for shore, and in a few minutes
the first 800 men stepped on the beach and
planted their regimental flags on the high
est sand hills, amid cheering from the trans
ports and the fleet. Not a sign of the enc
my could be seen at this time in any direc-
ton.
AT 10 o'clock, about 1000 troops having
been landed, skirmish line was sent for
ward on the beach. Admiral Porter signal
ed to Captain Glisson, commanding the
Saratoga, to move with his gunboat divis-
ion on each side of the line of the
frigate, and shell the beach in advance
of the skirmishers. The woods in advance
of the pickets were thoroughly shelled up
to within a mile and half of Fort Fisher.
The firing on the fort from the Monitors
and new lronsides was magnificent sight.
From o'clock in the morning up to 4 in
the afternoon, the Monitors poured in their
numerous shells at the rate of four per
minute. The whole number thrown in that
time was about 2000. Every shot struck
the embrazures or parapets of the fort and
the gunnery exhibited was never surpassed.
During this time the fort probably threw 300
shells in return, but the difficulty they had in
managing their guns and the explosion of
our shells and the clouds of sand that con-
stantly enveloped their work from our we'll
directed shots, doubtless marred their gun
merry, as most of their shells struck beyond
or short of the mark. All of our vessels,
however, received honorable scars in the
fight.
The damage to the fort, by outward ap-
pearances, was most distinct. About four
o'clock dense and continued smoke from
inside of the fort indicated that some OF the
rebel huts had been fired.
At 4o'clock, the Admiral signalled to the
vessels in line of battle, number one to take
the positions marked out for them on the
charts, and join in the bombardment.-
Following rapidly was an order to the line
of battle number two, to take position and
joinin the bombardment, which Immediate
ly moved forward, presenting an array of
the largest vessels in the service, a magnifi-
centspectacle of walls with their ponderous
arms.
At two minutes to five o'clock these two
immense divisions, carrying 3l2 guns, in
to the iron-clads, Joined in the
grand cannonade. The number of shots
fired while this great bombardmentl lasted
one hour and half, closing at 10 minutes
past o'clock-could not have been less
than four per second. have no doubt that
up to the withdrawal of the wooden walls
this evening not less than 25,000 shells were
fired into Fort Fisher. After the general
commenced but one shot
was fired by the rebels in return. Conse-
Quently none of the wooden vessels were