West-Jersey pioneer., 1865-01-28
Explosion at Fort Fisher {!

FoRT FISHER, Jan. 16-This morning about
o'clock, as had just entered and was walk
ing through Fort Fisher, studying tho record
Of horror before me, torn traverse by traverse.
dismounted gun by gun, ghsstiy corpse by
corpse, death and destruction all around
may say breakfasting upon horrors, that l
might know of what might speak, was sud
denly startled by terrific explosion and the
sight of an immense column of debris going
high into the air. Following the instincts of
nature and the example of those around me,
and viyidly remembering City Point. as they
say, of Fort Pillow, and having acquired some
thing of habit of lodging, the day before, |
put myself under the best cover within reach,
which confess was very unsatisfactory under
the circumstances, and waited long. very
long half minute for the impending shower to
come down, thinking of City Point all the
time. We hapr ened to be in the outer edge OF
the shower, and very little injury, compare
cret of the catastrophe was the explosion of the
magazine of the fort. This magazine consist
ed chiefly of an Immense mound of earth, stu
ated Immediately back Qf the centre OF the
main or sea-wall on the fort. Some of our
boys had been rummaging around in . care
less manner through the bomb proofs. lnclnd-
ing the magazine. striking lights and behay-
ing in disorderly manner, and 1t is supposed
that in this way the accident occurred. In
fact it is said that an,officer demonstrated with
q soldier for havingfsa iTghted candle in the
magazine, but receiving an insolent answer,
left him to his fate, and that soon after the
magazine went up The explosion, instead Of
the mound, left crater (as in the case before
Petersburg,) burying everything and everybo
dy near the place from one to ten feet deep in
the debris. The 4th New Hampshire and the
l15th and 10th New York regiments lall bHt
one regiment of Col. Alden's brigade,) had
been detailed to occupy the fort. and at the
time of the explosion were bivouacking, with
their arms stacked, on level space near the
magazine. Almost the whole three regiments
were buried alive, to greater or less depth,
by the falling debris of earth shot, shell, tim
ber, &c. 1t is estimated that the 10th New
York lost no in killed and wounded the 169th
New York, 80 killed and IS wounded, and the
9th New Hampshire, so killed and Wounded
in ill about 265 for the three regiments, be
sides many not belone etng to these regiments
The survivors Of the three regiments and Q
large number Of other volunteer workmen have
been engaged large part of the day in dig
ging up bodies. with prospect Of not getticg
thoroughly through before night. There were
2 great wany persons in the fort at the time
of the explaeiop, besides the three regiments
on duty, drawn there by curiosity, and every
foot Of the debris on all sides Of the crater will
have to be dug over before the york can be
properly relinquished.
The dead Of yesterdays battle are stFsNp
over the fort ia every conceivable attitude Of
agony and hofror Some have been paralyzed
by death in The act Of holding and sighting their
re9es. their pieces having affer Eard fallen from
their retazed hands. Others lie with their
skulls shattered and the brain exposed to fall
view. Some wear calH and pleasant express
sion on their faces, while other countegpances
are stamped iE most excruciating agony. At
the foot Of the interior slope Of the sea-wali,
there are many large guns which have been
ismounted and tumhled down. Among these
ire entangled rebel dead in almost every shape
md position, some standing on their feet AMI
others on their heads. oil giaring and grinning
chastity alike upon the passer-by. !