The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-17

sion tHld with fearful effect upon the Rebel fort ana
seneed and he SSU 81 "a
anchorage her officers we'll pleased and confident
ID 1ef api1iY 70 ntave every aud any storm OF shot
anu snel Whlcn the enemy could huIl upon her! u
ORDERED NORTH.
In 1884 she wac ordered North for repairs after
oeng nearly two years In active service, and having
undergone more ba,tering and dangers than ever
before fell to the lot OF ship ofwar.
THE FORT FISHER EXPEDITION.
After having received thorough oyerhaulinR. the
doub etried floating fortress again appeared in the
waters OF Hampton Roads in october, 1884, with
the psnnant Of Acting Rear. Aomiral William Rad.
flag ship OF Rear.Admirals Porters irOn-c ad squad.
ron and on the 14th of December, 1884 she steamed
Henry and Cape Charles. On the following dav she
reached Beaufort North Carolina. At this point
the preparation OF the "powder-shp"
On the 18th of December the entire feet set sail
ana on the following day reached the ocean rendez.
yous, sixteen miles seaward from Fort Fisher. The
intention OF Porter was 10 send in the powder ship
that night, and commence his attack in force early
king intervened. One of tine terrible gales peculiar
70 the Atlantic coast commenced raging that very
GSSy ana a. os & four days It continued with terrible
mercy Of the furious winds. The troop transports
steamed back 70 the harbor of Beaufort but the
naval vessels bu6eted the efcest blasts of the wild
Atlantic.
-Four stormy days the grand old iron c ad steamed
among her c0nsorts, rendering and giving assist
ance Her qualities as a seagoing vessel had never
been thoroughly. tested, and igrim and gr zzY old
came on, and all eyes were cast towards the Eesc
Iron sides. On the very first day Of the storm all
doubts to the worthiness of the great iron
cased ship were dispelled. She rode the angry
VIII c'crested waves as placidly as a swan would
glide over the sunit waters of an inland lake.
Or when at rest like rock rearing its hoar ada
mantIne head above the wild wastes of waters the
mad waves dashed themselves to pieces against the
iron walls of the invncible ship The eyes that had
lately cast dubious glunces towards the experiment.
now looked with fond admiration upon this bold
N Tha E,nn nN,nal ,,NaN.a
OF the New Ironsides was firmly and justly estab.
The gale at length sighed itself to rest and on the
morning of the Oath of December the order OF battle
assumed by the fleet, the Ironsides in the van;
against Fort Fisher. The Armstrong bolts were
tried against her sides; but she cast them off like
AS near as the depth of the water would permit did
the gallant Radtord urge his noble ship, and nce,.
sanity his guns Numbered against the vaunted i'm.
At night she was Withdrawn from range But
early on the morning Of Christmas Day, 1854, she
again took up her position under the huge SAND
walls OF the seeminRly perfect fort and all day long
her guns beched @ forth destruction. That night It
loving day the entire fleet withdrew.
THE SECOND ATTACK,
The fleet Iefltted at Beaufort, and on the 11th of
January 1t set sail for second time to Fort Fisher
AT day light on the morning of the 18th the circular
bomb-proOts were again in sight and three hours
afterwards the prince OF the ironclads had taken I'D
her old position directly under the yauDted, Arm.
strongs, and commenced her terrible overture of
shot and she'll This time the firing was carried on
slower than at the first attack, but with more pre-
struck within the embrasures OF the fort and never
once, during daylight, was the range lost.
This time there was no withdrawal with the ap-
proach OF darkness. All night long the Ironsides
doggedly maintained her position near the fort
firing occasional shots in the darkness aud at day.
light reopened her broadside compliments During
the nights OF the 18th, 18th, and 14th did the invn
chile ship maintain her peuous position, keeping
the enemy continually awake at their arms. During
these periods OF darkness, pigmy tugs up along
side the iron giant and supplied his larder with
Brobnlgnag1an ratons of shot and shell.
The Rebels were not unmindiu OF the mischief
this Invlncibe monster was doing their stronphod d.
and on the 18th OF January their longest range
Twenty of the herculean iron bolts, propelled on
the wings Of fame, fairly struck the bod Ship and
LOUDLY laughed the bold Admiral; and h,s men
laughed with him too" Sir William Armstrong;
City mechanics.
The enemy, too, were convinced that to fire at
this great mailed nautical giant was but O waste of
peace, she in the meanwhile blazing away with re-
doubled yigor until the Fort fell. This occurred on
the evening of the 18th of January, and with the
conquest of Fort Fisher ceased the active duties of
the NeC IronsideS. during the scare which pre-.
vailed on the James in March, 1866. the thunderer
was sent tor, and she steamed mp far as Bermuda
HundTeds but the pigmies came not within range
In few days more Grant pierced the tortifcations
OF Richmond
And the work of army and navy was done. Laurel
roWned the "Queen" of the earth's mailed ships
steamed back to her native waters, and two years
from the date OF her second grand triumph she fell
q victim to the insidlous fire feud 1t is sad to re-
fleet that this seemingly imperlshable monument of
naval skill has succumbed to foe against whose
attacks even her iron sides were no protection.
Stripped OF her armament, deprived of her cohorts
OF daUntless blue jackets. she ingl0rlou5y ended
most glorious career But waie me @ tne @ 9ae waves OF
fame OF the Neao HOnSides will be green and dear to
the minds and hearts OF all true Americans.
NnT n