Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-01-25
TIE WAR NEWS-
FORT FISHER TAKEN
OFFICIAL FROM ADM'L PORTER.

Admiral Porter in his despatch announc-
ing the capture of Fort Fisher, says:
On the 18th | ordered all the vessels car
rying eleven inch guns to lombard with the
Ironsides-the Brooklyn taking the lead.
BY sunset the Fort was reduced to pulp,
and every gun being silenced by being injur-
ed or covered up with earth so that they
would not work.
On the 18th Gen. Terry and myself arrang-
ed the assault, and | ordered 400 sailors
and marines to participate. At daylight the
iron vessels, the Brooklyn and ll-inch gun
boats, commenced battering the work, while
the troops made a lodgment within one hun
dred and fifty yards of the fort. At 10 O.
clock all the vessels steamed and took their
positions, opening heavy fire, which was
kept up until o clock, p NJ, when the sig
nal was made to assault, the soldiers taking
the land side and the sailors the sea face, the
ships changing, but not stopping their fire,
TO the other works. The rebels met US with
courage worthy Of better cause, and
fought desperately. About 80 of the sail
ors and officers succeeded III getting to the
top of the parapet, amidst murderous FIRE
of grape, canister and musketry. They had
planted the flag there, but were swept away.
In moment others tried to get up the steep
pancoupe. The marines could have cleared
the parapet by keeping up a steady fire, but
they failed to do so, and the sailors were re-
pulsed. Many gallant fellow fell while
trying to emulate their brothers in arms who
were fighting TO obtain an entrance on the
northeast angle, as 1t appears on our chart.
The enemy mistook the seamen' attack for
the main body OF. troops, and opposed
most vigorous resistance there, but | wit
messed it all and think the marines could
have made the assault successful. In the
meantime our gallant soldiers had gained a
foothold on the northeast corner of the fort,
fighting like lions and contesting every inch
of ground. The Ironsides and Monitors kept
throwing their shells into the traverses not
occupied by our men, but occupied by the
rebels. In this way our troops fought from
traverse to traverse from 3 o clock in the af
ternoon until 10 at night. When the joyful
tidings were signaled to the feet,we stopped
our fire and gave them three of the hearth
est cheers | ever heard.
1t has been the most terrific struggle | ev-
er saw, and very much hard labor. The
troops have covered themselves with glory,
and Gen. Terry is my beau ideal of soldier
and a general. Our cooperation has been
most harmonious, and | think the General
will do the navy the credit to say that this
time at least we substantially injured the fort
as a defensive cOrk Gen. Terry had only
few more troops than we had on the last
OCCASION when the enemy had only $50 men
in the works This time the works were
fully manned, and contained about 800 men
at the time Of the assault
1t is matter of great regret to me to see
my gallant officers and men so cut up, but |
was unwilling to let the troops undertake
the capture of the works without the navy
sharing with them the peril all were anxious
to undergo, and we should have had the
honor of meeting our brothers-in-arms in
the works, had the sailors been properly sup
ported. We have lost about 100 in killed
and wounded, and among them some gal
liant officers. L regret to announce the death
of Lieut.. S. W. Preston and Lieut.. b. II.
Porter. They were both captured together
in the attack on Fort Sumter, and died to-
gether in endeavoring to pull down the flag
that has so long fiaunted in our faces.
A correspondent despatch, says: The
enemy force in the Fort was over 5000.
The conflict lasted for seven hours. The
works We're so constructed that every ira
verse afforded the enemy new defensive
position from which they had to be driven
They were seven In number and the fight
was carried on from traverse to traverse for
hours, by skifully directed fire thrown
into the traverses, as one after another they
were occupied by the enemy. Admiral Por-
ter contributed to the success of the assault
ing column by signals between him and Gen.
Terry at brief intervals This signal was so
well managed as to damage the enemy with
out injury TO our own troops AT about 10
O clock the enemy were entirely driven from
the fort and forced down towards Federal
Point, followed by brigade of our troops,
and about II o clock at night Gen. Whiting
surrendered himself and his command to
Gen Terry, uncondltionally, as prisoners of
1var uum herring over y 300 the reu,aindar
of the force being killed and wounded. Our
loss was not accurately ascertained Monday
afternoon, but was estimated at between 700
and 800 In killed and wounded, besides the
naval losses which was slight, not exceeding
one hundred killed and wounded Not a
ship or transport was lost. Col Curtis was
severely but not mortally wounded. Col.
Bell died of his wounds on Monday. Col.
j. W. Moore and Lieut. Col Lyman were
killed Col Pennypaker was badly wound
ed also, Lieut. Col Coan A complete
list of the killed and wounded will be for
warded as soon as it can be prepared.
Early on Monday morning, between and
o clock the magazine of Fort Fisher eK-
ploded, killing and wounding about 200 per-
sons. After the capture of the fort all the
troops were withdrawn except one brigade,
left in charge of the works. How the ex-
plosion occurred was not known, but Gen
erally Terry believes it was occasioned by
accident or neglect.
Fort Fisher is a sand work, about 400
yards long, and presents perpendicular
front OF so feet in highth. The armament of
the fort was y guns, some of large calibre
and rihed The troops in the fort had six
teen days rations. The rebel loss in the as
sault was 500 dead besides the wounded.