Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-01-20
Official War Bulletin.

Official War Bulletin.
WAE DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON. January II, 50.
To Maj Gen. Dir:
The following official dispatches have just
been received at this Department:
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FoRcEs,
FEDERAL PoINT \. c., Jan. I5. ria
FoRrREss MONROE, Jan. IL.
To Brig Gen. j. A. Ralclings:
GENERAL:-I have the honor to report that
Fort Fisher was carried by assault this after
noon and evening, by Gen. Ames' division,
and the I'd brigade of the Ist division oath
Army Corps; gallantly aided by battalion
of marines and seamen, from the Navy. The
assault was preceded by heavy lombard
ment from the feet, and was made at $3.50
P NJ, when Ist brigade (Curtis) of Ames'
division effected lodgment upon the parapet,
but full possession of the work was not ob-
tained till 10 P. NJ.
The behavior of both officers and men was
most admirable. All the works south of Fort
Fisher are now occupied by our troops. We
have not less than 1900 prisoners, including
Gen. Whiting, and Col. Lamb, the comman-
dant of the fort. l regret to say that our loss
is severe, especially in officers. 1 am not able
to form any estimate of the number of casual
ties.
ISignedl ALFRED H. TERRY,
Brevt. Maj. Gen. Comdg Expedition.
FoRr FISHER, Jan. l6.-2 A. M.-After
careful reconnaissance on the I4th, it was deci-
ded to risk an assault on Fort Fisher, Paine's
Division, with Col. Abbott's Brigade, to hold
our line already strong, across the peninsula,
and facing Wilmington against Hokc; while
Ames' Division should assault on the west
end After three hours heavy navy firing,
the assault was made at P. NJ. on the 18th.
Curtis Brigade led, and, as soon as it was on
the west end of the land front, was followed
by Neunibacker's, and the latter by Bells,
After desperate fighting, gaining foot by
foot, and severe loss, at 5 P NJ. we had pos
session of about half the land front. Abbott's
brigade was then taken from our line, facing
Wilmington, and put into Fort Fisher; and on
pushing it forward, at 10 p. NJ. it took the
rest of the work with little resistance; the gar
rison falling back to tue extreme of the PENN
sula, where they were followed and captured.
Among others, Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb,
both wounded 1 think) We have quite
1000 prisoners. hope our own loss may not
exceed 500, but it is impossible to judge in
the night
Among the wounded are the commanders
of the three leading brigades; Gen. Curtis be-
ing wounded, not severely; but Colonels Men
nibacker and Bell, dangerously. The land
front was a formidable one; the parapets in
places IA or Is feet high. But the men went
at it nobly, under a severe musketry fire
The marines and sailors went up gallantly, but
the musketry fire from the east end of the
land front was so severe they did not succeed
in entering the works. The navy fire on the
works, judging from the holes, must have
been terrific. Many of the guns were injured
how many there were on the point, I cannot
say-perhaps 80 or 40.
Signed o. B. CoMsTOCK,
Lieut-Col, A. D. 9. and Chief Engineer.
Another dispatch estimate the number of
prisoners captured at $500 and the number
of guns at 72. Gen. Grant teegraphs to this
Department that in honor of this great tri
umph achieved by the valor of the army and
navy, he has ordered salute of 100 guns to
be fred by each Of the armies operating
against EClcnmond.
Signed g. A. DANA
Asst Sec. of War.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Navy De-
partment has the following, from off Fort
Fisher Jan. Is, telegrapbed from Fortress
Monroe, Jan. II: .
To Hon. Gideon WeJLes, Secy of Navy
SIR-Fort Fisher is ours. send bearer
of dispatches with a brief account of the
affair. Gen. Terry is entitled to the highest
praise and the gratitude of his country for the
manner in which he has conducted his part of
the operations. He is my beau-ideal of a SOL
der and general. Our cooperation has
been most cordial The result is victory,
which will always be ours when the army and
navy go hand-in-hand. The navy loss in the
assault was heavy; the army loss is also heavy.
[Signed] D. D. PORTER.
Rear Adm1 Comdg.