Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-21

its dag Their advanced skrmish hne an throwing
up light rhe-pits about-a halt mile from the ior',
woods towards the river, whore the military assault
ing party arc under cover waiting the signal for the
attack.
l24OP M-The bombardment progresses and
Captain GlsSon's division Of gunboats have Just
reached the point of the line assigned them, south
OF Fort Fisher. .-- p
lP.M.-The other vessels Of the division are
now imposition, and all Of them are receiving the
compliments sthe Rebel batteries.
40 P. M-The cannonading during the past iorty
minutes has been most furious, the only response
being from the water batteries on Captain GIssohs
division. The Mound continued 10 pay special at-
tention 10 the Santiago, doubtless recognizing II as
the captor OF 90 many blockade-rnnners;
80 p. M..The line of the Naval brlgade can
be seen about half mile from the fort lying down
and awaiting the order for the ASSAULT Cannons9ihg
by the Meet is still going on quite iuriousy on tort
Fisher whilst our division is attending 70 the MOUND
and the " ateT Batteries can no" see lh''V .he
Notlnd aud the Water Batteries are changing the
postiops of their guns TO sweep the beach ana
the appr6aches TO Fort Fisher in the anticipated as
sault. -. &
$50 P. M.-TheIe has been noschange IN opera
tions during the past half hour Some oil tue YES
sells are moving from the north 10 the south SIDE oil
Font Fisher SO as TO assist in the attack ON the
Mound which can rake the storming parties. IN
few minutes the hoUr tor the assault will arrive
God grant that il maybe suceessfoii and ina! the
/ lives gallant men may MOI De
P MA signal from The Admiral directed the
vessels 20 change their hre from Fort Fisher TO the
Water Batteries and IN an instant the naval brgaue
on the beach were observed moving forward towards
the fort They had about mile 90 60 to reach the
,batts and thew had scarcely got ia motion before
,hells from the Mound aud the Natersbaterles were
poured upon them. Numbers of them were seen 10
all and scores of others 10 start. back lmping or
| crawling on their hands aud knees onward
| however, the. nam body pressed W a'uOWle-
a.. NJ me m.
| al gHects until the whole line oil beach
over which they had travelled was strewn
| yith the dead aud wounded. Some had iaiien SO
the rolling surf - their ooaies iouu DC seen
ossiug up and down tllcboach. with the advancing
iie Tie ditch and abattis were about one hund-
red wards from the r1mpartS, and INTO TINS they
p0Ured until j was filed 10 Oyerhowlng when Two
guns were opened upon ;hem with grape ana cams
er from the rgmParts, tearing the sb-tlls y rom
If them and adding largely their casualties, The
,,bDl rlpboats Chickana,!ga aud Tallahassee were
lsc Smelling them from the Cape Fear river, and al
together it was a moment OF trightiui interest, aud
t soon became evident THAI theScgalant men must
retire or ell be sacrificed The abattls and ditcn,
formed Sigh, protection, but the raising Of heao
~ the slightest exposure Nss suretc bring shd3rom
lie uuerriug rifles OF the Sharpshoo:ers, who were
;een standing On Tie ramp2rts with piiesoi loaded
! rifles. taking up and firing them, apd
handing them back e. be reloaded. IheE whole ad-
vince could he noticed from the fore and 1t was
ydent tia; the greater tttion Of the garrison had
rushed 90 that side TO EeSis; them. We heped that
in resisting the sailors They Hay nave lehfhe west
anl Of the iQrt mere easy ~ access 10 he Saqlsfs
10 get through TIE abattis under thelTSleaFS Are
vas next 10 impossible end they were seen to re-
rs.t in order leaving their dead and some Of their
| wounded on the ground, bu; carrying most Of the
alter Oh yith ;Eein. Those slightly wounded
iu ped or crawieG aong on The beach ont Of range,
nd one gallant fellow N4s seen 10 iall dead whist
trucying along after the main b3@y bad got out OF
.t,b sy.,f =.
obtain the port!cllar5 OF the naval assault from
lieutenant Tarquhar when he returns 10. the ship,
II present only giving what was observable RON our
decks.
3.SUP. M-At this moment three Americas flags
-rected oGr anxious vision the rear walls OF Fort
Fisher showing that the assault by General Terry
IN that side had been al least Beflay SUCCESSFUL
We could hear the rattle OF artillery on Tue "eSt
,de OF the fort and the cannonading OF our troops
,v the Rebel gunboats, bot the whole movement OF
he men was Invisible from the ocean, aud the first
violence We mad oI the eh$Facter q the SFIugglS
.Oing on there was the appearance OF our nag over
he ramparts, with the blue ias OF Gonr Terry IL
vas a glorious and inspritlng sight, though u was
.yident that We ouir held one portion OF the tort
I'D that severe struggle was IN progress inside
4 Rebel UvjuiOsCsme4ts from tse MoHnd ana W ater
Batteries 10 the nTlubcF u SIX or seven hulldled
ould be observed rushing doYg 70 fqfl tisileT and
,mbng over the rampartS, whilst The AobLQ sp4
Water Batteries poured shell INTO one side OF the
INn
| JunderoUs shells il on the other side,
| 5 2. A.-Yor the last hour aud a hah there has
cen every evidence u tremendous struggle pro-
tessiug IN Fort Fsher duting which our nags en-
rely disappeared from the rampartS, ahd mG!heily
ring could Toe seen and heard On all sides Of tho
Grt. Ii was time OF intense anxiety 10 the Meet
Nc could 90 nothing but re ca the Mound and the
eLel batteries To thc south, which were pouring
hell into the west side Of tbs fort whicht was cyl
lent was still held by our troops ct the time.
$50 T. M-Darkness was now closing over the
.ontest and the Monitors and the lronsdesi With
apt Ghssons division, still shelled the water bat
cries and the Mound but could do nothing Tor our
Gallant men IN the fort.
$50 p. M.-Tbe firing OF mussetry in and around
he fort still continues bat We are IN Uncortainty
90 the progress OF the contest. II is period OF in
ense interest throughout the feet, and we can only
rope Tor the be5t.
80 P M.-The firing of muskelry nov seems TO
DC TO the south of the fort indicating that the rebels
re retreating towards the Mound.
@, +. M.-DuEing the past h0r aud hast there
las been cessation p the musketry firing but the
Rebel batteries south Of the fort are all silent
QISP A-Our ears were greeted . few moments
go los loud and enthusiastic cheering from FORT
FISHER For a few p0tGcnis we wete IN doubts as to
whether they were Rebel cheers or loyal reJoclngs
hough imagined they were two hearty and free TO
ONE from Rebel thtoats. Our doubtswere removed
~ the appearance on the apex Of the ramParts ofhe
tort Of one Oi General Terry's signal officers with
MS tanning torches, communicating with Admiral
Portcrs flagship. ln few minutes lights fijckefed
III over the fort and the cheers were repeated with
heartiuess that lett no doubt in our minds itaI At
lad changed owners.
lOP G-The Admiral commenced TO throw up
rockets from the flagship, which were instantly un-
ierstood as an evidence OF the character of the glo
rious news that had been communicated 10 him
Every vessel in the feet immediately responded by
he burning Of Roman candles, the flashing OF Cos
cons signals and the throwing up OF rockets. 1t was
regular an of July scene on the ocean, and the
hearty cheers OF the sailors On the ships were re-
pondcd to by the soldiers in the captured font. Ii
"a, evidently been such struggle. a has no pTece-
dent IN this hard fought war, and we are all longing
,or the dawn OF day 10 witne,s the glorious consn
nation of our hopes.
II p. M.-All is now silent on land and sea. The
signal officers are communicating by their blaz-
ng lanterns with the Admiral aud the troops on the