Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-18

forts were entirely cut Of from Wilmington.
BALTNoRK. January 1.-THE correspondent
Of the American. gives the following detailed
account Of tho capture of Fort Fisher: On
Friday, January 18th. at 4 o'clock this morning
We we're aroused BY a gun from the flag chip. aud
the burning OF the preparatory signal Of red
and green, as indication that it was time TO be
up and stirring. Preparing breakfast and getting
through with the routsne of the morning duty.
90 as to be in readiness at dawn TO commence
the various works of the day. The throng OF
vessels resting calmly on the sea. With wind
scarcely strong enough TO cause a ripple on its
surface. Truly the elements promised to cheer
this great enterprise.
At two O'Clock The second signal was given
by the flag ship to get under way, when the work
OF weighing anchor. commenced.
At half past ) the signals of the division com
msnder to move forward were given and re-
sponded TO, causing q brilliant pyrotechric dis
play.
The gunboat TScay was sent ahead last night.
to anchor Of Flag Point battery, and daylight not
having yet davned. her lights could be seen as a
steering point for the feet in shore abou, three
miles ahead OF Us.
Three frigates. the Wabash. Minnesota. and
Colorado, moved of frat, led by Admiral Port
er's flag ship. They we're followed by the new
Irousides and the monitor feet.
OiEual5 lIOm bDC aabcpCA 80
" to the scene displayed at the fort. At the
dawn of day the whole armada WAS in motion.
At a quarter to Z the admiral signalled for the
line OF battle. whereupsn the Brooklyn. with her
line of vessels moved close to the beach.
This division was ordered TO prepare for &C
ton and move in close to the beach TO shell the
woods at a point decided upon for the landing of
the troops, about three miles from Fort Fisher.
The whole division was in position throwing
IL - IL. af.sD ~ -O,I.
ting the sea shore from Cape Fear river.
about one mile inland, parallel With the beach.
In the meantime the iron clads moved into posi-
ton directly in front Of Fort Fisher, the Iron
sides about three quarters of q mile and the mon
itors about half a mile of.
Before they got into position the fort opened
on them, bu; they secured their anchorage. when.
At $3.50. the lronsides opened on the fort, and
was followed by the monitors with their tremen-
dous shell. Every shot landed in the embrssures,
and exploding. threw them a thousand feet high
into the air. The fort occasionally responded.
but did not send more than a shell every ten min
minutes At times they found it impossible to
work their guns. At 9 o'clock the boats in the
fleet we're called away TO assist in landing troops.
The woods had in the meantime been thor
oughly .helled, but no enemy had a~ppeered.
The transports were enabled to go within half
a mile of the shore and were soon surrounded by
not less than 300 boats supplied from sll the yes
sells of the feet
Several tugs also Joined in the work and car
ried soldiers TO within 10 yards Of the beach,
where they were transferred TO small boats.
Tents and camp e~quipage were also landed
with several days provisions for the entire force,
1000 strong
At 3 o'clock boats from all the transports
moved for the shore, and in a few minutes 500
men stepped ashore and planted the flag on one
of the highest hills, amid cheers from the trans
ports and feet. Not a sign of the enemy at this
time in any direction.
AT 10 o'clock about 1000 having been landed,
a skirmish line was sent forward on the beach.
Admiral Porter signsled Captain Gleason,
to move with his gunbOat division on each side
of the frigate. aud shell The beach in advance of
the skirmishers.
The firing on the fort from the monitors and
ironclads WAS a magnifcen; sight
From ( a IN. up 20 2 p. IN the monitors pour
cd their murderous she'll at the rate of four per
minute. The cunning exhibited was never sur
passed
During this time the fort probably threw 300
shells in return, but the difficulty they had in
mounting their guns amid the explosion Of our
shells and clouds of sand that constantly en-
veloped their works from our veil directed shots.
doubtless msrred their gunpexy, as most of their
shells struck beyond or short OF their mark
All Of our vessels, however, bear honorable scars
of the fight.
The damage TO the fort by outward appear
ance was most distinct.
About 4 o'clock p. n, a dense continual
smoke from inside OF the fort, indicated that
some of the rebel huts had been fred.
At 4 o'clock Admiral Porter signalled TO the
vessels to form in line of battle marked out to
them on chart, and join in the bombardment
They Immediately moved forward and Joined
in the csnnonade.
To night the troops have advanced to within
about a mile and q half of Fort Fisher.
An order has been received from the admirsl,
it being impossible to bring our division into the
fight, the room being too contracted to proceed
to shore to cover the e~ncampments of the troops
rom any assault by Bragg from Wilmington
troops. | learn from officers who assisted in
landing that our troops are in high spirits and
anxious TO be led forward te assault the fort.
They wish to wipe out tie stain cast on them by
the withdrawal OF Butler, and prove to the coun-
try that they did not believe the fort could not
be taken.
The announcement was received here to-day
that Butler had been removed from the com
mand of the army of the James and report at
Lowell, Mass. which caused great rejoicing
throughout the feet.
Some good shooting WAS made by the rebels,
and all the iron clads have numerous indenta
lions on their armor ana periOratl0n through
their smoke stacks.
Saturday Morning, IA number of troops
advanced during the night to the abandoned rebel
fort, Anderson, and now bold the whole breadth
of the Peninsula to Cape Fear river.
Up TO this hour nothing has been done.
This morning the monitors are laying quietly
with the lronsides under the guns of Fort Fisher.
A gun bursted on the Mahopea. yesterday.
slightly wounding two officers aud one man ser
iously.
These were all the casualties on the fleet.
Friday, l4th.-Before the commencement OF
sctive operations in the morning the following
order from Admiral Porter was read upon the
quarter deck of the Santiago by the e~I-oficer of
the flag ship:
Before going into action the commander of
evch vessel will detail as msny OF the men as be
can spare from the guns, as landing party that
We may have ashore in the assault when il does
take place. Boats will be kept ready lowered
near the water on the off side of the vessels.
The sailors will be armed with cutlasses, well
sharpened. and with revolvers.
When the signal 10 made to man the boats the
men will get in, but not show themselves.
When the signal is made to assault. the boats
will pull toward the stern Of the monitors. and
land abreast of them. and in & seamanlike way
the marines will form in the rear and cover the
sailors. Whilst the soldiers are going over the