Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-17

J. Paines division of infantry was placed
upon it. While this was in progress Gen
eral Terry made a reconnaissance of the
fort and in view of the difficulty of land
ing supplies for his troops and the materi-
ais for siege upon an open unprotected
beach in midwinter, he determined to car
ry the work by assault the next day and
the plan of attack was arranged with Ad-
miral Porter.
At II a M, January Is, the entire fleet
opened fire, silencing nearly every gun in
the fort. General Newton N. Curtis
brigade of General Adelbert Ames' divi-
sion was then pushed forward by regi-
ments to point 200 yards from the fort,
where it sheltered itself in shallow trench
es, and the remainder of the division was
brought up within supporting distance:
Admiral Porter had landed 1000
sailors and marines and their commander
pushed a line Of skirmishers up within
200 yards of the eastern of the northern
face of the work, the attack of the troops
being upon the western extremity of that
face At $3.50 on signal from General
Terry to Admiral Porter the fire of the
feet was directed from the points of at
tack, and the leading brigade rushed upon
the fort and gained foothold upon the
parapet. The column of sailors and war
riors followed the example of the troops,
but having to advance for distance of
about 900 yards along the beach
| they were unable to stem the fire of the
work Some of them reached the foot of
the parapet, but the mass of them after a
display of great gallantry was forced to
| fall back. After General Curtis had
| gained the parapet General Ames ordered
| forward in succession the Second and
| Third brigades of his division and they
| entered the fort. This was constructed
with a series of traverses, each of which
were stobbornly held. Hand to hand
| fighting of the most obstinate character
ensued, the traverses being used success
| fully as. breastworks, over the tops of
which the opposing parties fired into one
another's forces. By o'clock nine of
| these traverses had been carried. Gen
eral Terry then ordered up reinforce
ments consisting of a brigade and an
additional regiment from the intrenched
line, the sailors and marines taking their
places there; by o'clock two more trav-
| erses were carried, and an hour later the
| occupation of the work was complete. The
| confederate force fell back, disorganized,
| to small work near the point of the PENN
sula, where, being Immediately pursued, it
surrendered Internationally. The garri-
son originally numbered $500 men, of
whom 1871 men with 112 officers were
captured; the others were killed or wound
ed. The fall of the fort was followed by
the abandonment of Fort Cromwell and
the other defenses of the Cape Fear river.
In those works were captured 1859 pieces OF
artillery, 1900 small arms and consider
able quantity of ammunition and commits
sary stores. The national loss was 6S1
men, of whom SO were killed.
For this General Terry was promoted to
be brigadier- general in the regular army
and Encouragement of volunteers, and con
gress passed vote of thanks 'sto Brevei
Major General A. H. Terry, and the off
GERS and soldiers under his command fol
tied by them in the attack upon Fort Fish
er, and the brilliant and decisive victory
by which that important work had beer
captured from the rebel forces and PLACED
in the possession and under the authority
of the United States, and for their Ions
and faithful service and unwavering de
votion to the cause of the country in tn
midst of the greatest difficulties and dan
gers"
General Terry was engaged in the cap
ture of Wilmington, N. c., and commanded
at the combat of Northwest Greek which
/ followed. In April, 1861, the Tenth arm,
corps was reconstructed and General TER,
was assigned to its command, and with i
took part in the subsequent operation
under General William Fl. Sherman il
} North Carolina. He was brevetted majo
, general in the regular army March 10, 1866
, for his services at the capture of Whining
: ton. Since the close of the-war he ha
commanded in SUGGESTION the department
of Virginia, Dakota, the South and agail
, the department of Dakota. He was pro
] NOTED to the rank of major general Marcl
, 3, 1886, and was in charge of the division
| of the Missouri, with headquarters a
Chicago, until his voluntary retiremen
, from the army in April, 1888.