Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-10-20

Porter's expedition up the Red river in
conjunction with General Banks army
IN the spring Of 1864. The feet under
Porter did Its work well and all the sue.
cess OF the expedition attended 1.-THE
capture OF Fort de Russy, Of 1000 bales
OF cotton, 2,300 prisoners. 25 pieces of
artillery tcbiefy taken by the heetl and
the opening OF the Red rver-but Gen.
Banks was not successful on land and
had TO retire, and the fleet under Por.
Ter resumed its station on the Missis.
sippi on the 10Th of May. 1864.
When in September, 1864, Porter, now
an admiral, WAS ordered 10 command
the North Atlantic blockading squad.
ron. he selected Captain Breese as his
iieet captain; and formidable feet il
was, over seventy vessels in all. They
arrived near Fort Fisher, n. G.. on the
18th OF December, which they we're TO
assault IN conjunction with the army
under General Butler. Porter on the
morning OF December 24th CALAMITY
engaged the works and in little more
than an hour after the first shot was
fired not shot came from the fort; but
Butler Withdrew his troops, 10 Porter's
great modification, as he believed the
assault was entirely practicable. Butler
was then relieved 10y General Ord, and
Porter. who had remained off Fort
Fisher, sent word 10 the Secretary Of
the Navy expressing his conviction that
under proper leader the fort could be
taken. General A. II. Terry, a young
officer Of great Rallantry. .wss sent down
with 800 men and a small siege train.
in addition TO the troops that were
there-about 1000 in ALTO do the
work. On the l4th of January il wa
decided by General Terry and Admiral
Porter TO attempt AN assault the next
day. IL WAS determined the assault
should be made AT =. ~. the army to
attack the western half OF the land face
snd n column Of marines and sailors to
assault the northeast bastion. The fire
OF the navy continued during the night.
and at 2:25 p. n. all preparations were
completed. Alta given signal Curtis br.
gade sprang forward from their trenches
and soon reached the palisades, passed
through them and effected lodgment
on the parapet. At the same time the
column OF sailors and marines under
Captain Brecse advanced up the beach
IN the most gallant manner and attack
/
exposed TO a murderous FIRE and after a
severe struggle and a heavy loss of yalu.
able officers aud men. II being apparent
that nothing could be effected at that
point, they were Withdrawn. The fight
ing, however, continued, and hand TO
hand struggles OF the most desperate
character ensued, but by 9 o'clock the
enemy were driven from their last re-
manning stronghold and the occupation
Of the works was complete. Porter's
| report Of his share in the capture of
| Fort Fisher gives many interesting de
tails. and he states than in his opinion
| Fort Fisher was a stronger work than
the famous Mslakof tower. which he
had an opportunity Of examining
shortly alter its surrender TO the British
and French in the CTimea. and adds:
"The troops fought like lions and knew
no such word ss fail" Terry says in his
report. al should signally fail to do my
duty were | 10 omit In speak in the
highest terms oi admiration of the part
borne by the navy in our operations.
| In all ranks, from Admiral Porter to
his seamen, there was the utmost desire
moi only 10 do their proper work but to
| facilitate in every possible manner the
/ operations Of the land forces;' and Gen.
Grant said "thus was secured by the
combined efforts Of the navy and army
one OF the most important successes OF
/ the war;
The General Assembly of his adopted
State. Rhode Island, testified their ap.
probation Of Lieutenant Commander
Breese's conduct at Fort Fisher in the
following resolutions, passed February
IL, 1855, which Il is proper should be
read on this occasion;
"Rcsolcod. That the thanks Of the
| General Assembly be and sTe hereby
presented TO Lieutenant Commander
Kidder Randolph Brecse, of the United
/ States navy, who commanded the naval
corps landed for the attack on Fort
Fisher on the 18th Of January, 1865. by
whose daring assault the attention OF
the rebel force was concentrated against
them, thereby weakening other por.
tions of the defense aud rendering eas.
| Ter the work Of the army. whose more
successful assault led to the surrender
Of the fort with nearly 10000 prisoners.
"Resoived. That his Excellency the
Governor be requested 10 transmit :
copy of the foregoing resolutions TO
Lieutenant Commander Breese.
"JAuEs Y. SNlTa.
"By the Governors
"JouS X. BARrLETT,
Secretary OF State"
Captain Brecse's gallant behavior at
Fort Fisher was highly commended by
Admiral Porter in his dispatches, and
he strongly recommended his immedi.
ate promotion 10 : commander. lie,
however, remained in his position as
fleet captain until the close Of the war,
and was not commissioned commander
until July 25, 1866. The following year
Commander Breese was assigned TO spe.
cial duty upon the Hartford. The next
year he was detailed TO the Connect.
cut. Then followed three years in ord.
nance duty at Washington, then for
three years he vas commanding officer
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