The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-18

and opened fire. The squadron sailed in in
three lines. the Ironsides leading the moni-
tors Saugus Cauonicus. MonadnOcll and MahO-
pac, which took up position within GOD yards
of the fort. The Brooklyn led the first line
oi wooden ships aud came 10 anchor just asteru
Of the lronsides. The second line was led by tho
friEate Minnesota. and the ihird 10y the SANTA
20 dc Cuba. Upwards OF % vessels opened bro
on the rebel works. While the troops were
landing the Brooklyn. in company with
dozen or more Of small gnnUoatS took up a
position, and shellea the surrounding woods TO
cover the landing Of the troops.
All the troops being landed aud imtrenehcd
amoag some scrubby woods, GOO sailors aud
400 marines were detailed 10 land and assist
the army ia
sToRNING THE FORT.
The sailors were armed with cutlasses and re-
volvers and some had Sharpe's rifles or short
carbines. The bombardment had continued
pretty much tho whole Of the l4th, and at
about o'clock on the morning of the 18th the
ships again formed in line 81 battle and at about
II o'clock opened their fire.
When the hluc- jackets and marines had
landed they Immediately set to work digging
trenches and riea-pits, aud were soon within
POO yards Of the fort At 3 o'clock the signal
FOR the general assault was made. At given
signal all tho stoam-whisiles were blown, and
the Ere was changed from the main fort TO tho
upper batteries. The naval column moved
along the beach by the flank, with the inten-
tion Of assaulting or boarding the sea-face OF
the main work. This was about 40 feet in
hight and very steep. and was difficult Tor
man 10 climb. As the fire from tho fleet ceased,
the garrison came out OF their bombprOOfs IN a
swarm, and, manning the parapet of the sea
face, shot down the brave blue.jackets. The
beach was soon streWn with the dead and
wounded, FOR there was no natural protection,
and some Of the wounded staggered into the
suri, and then falling were unable TO get out
without assistance. A number of the sailors
and officers reached the foot of tho mound
where there was heavy palisade which ran
from the sea 10 the river. But they could 90
40 further, aud more than two-thlrds OF the
naval force retrCated down tho beach, losing
heavily as they went. Those who had reached
place Of partial shelter at the foot Of the sea-
face Of the fort were forced TO crouch there
until approaching darkness and hard fighting
on the river flank of the defenses drew tho
iincs 10 steal away. The losses were very
heavy, n officers from the navy alone being
killed or wounded. Although the naval assault
was not a success, IL had the effect Of making
diversion, drawing the garrison 10 the sca-face
and distracting their attention from the move
ments OF the troops.
Soon the troops were secn 10 advance from
AAb bNAlIDAdig BIGdnbNnIhh AHtN tdh hhAphH
up for their protection. On they advanced
with guns at right shoulder sLiit, and at
double-quick pace they went across the sandy
plain to the foot Of the steep, sandy mounds.
A MORE MAGNIFICENT SIGHT
never was seen. As soon as the troops came
within range the garrison opened flro Of mus
ketTy, all the heavy guns having been dis
mounted on that face Of the fort by the FIRE
from the ships. Not shot was fred by the
troops as they advanced. Soon they reached
the foot Of the huge earthworks, and then the
axes came into play, clearing away the already
shattered palisades. Steadily the troops ad-
vanced, mounting step by step, until hand-to-
hand struggle begins. Men, killed or wounded,
roll down the steep incline; shouts and yclls
grow louder, and then comes a rush, a pcll-meH
struggle, aud the colors are seen 10 slowly rise,
aud finally gain the top Of the mound. Hero
the same determined resistance and the same
close fighting 20 on, 10 be followed by another
cheer, another rush, aud the taking Of another
point All the while the guns Of the ships
poured IN their fire just where the signals di-
rected il 10 be placed.
The sun went down aud the Winter night
closed in, while the desperate struggle still went
on. At dusk those OF the vessels which had
kept up the bombardmeut were
OBLIGED TO CEASE THEIR FIRE,
as they could 10 longer distinguish friends
from foes. Bat still the fight on shore went
on. Tearfully anxious, but hopeful, did the
men on board the ships wait and listen eagerly
10 the sounds Of the fight as they went Oblique-
~ toward the beach, the opposing troops fight
ing sometimes hand-tO-hand in the darkness,
only guided in their FIRE by the flashes Of their
enemies musEcts. Finally, about 10 o'clock
there arose above the roar Of battle a trelnen-
dous cheer, and then the tide Of battle swept
suddenly away, through the fort, and down
toward the point, where the remnant Of the
garrison, about l,5J0 in number, laid down
their arms and surrendered. Tho fact was al
once telcgraphed TO the feet by signal lanterns
and cheer after cheer went up from every ship.
The weary, smoke begrimed crews now turned
into their hammocks, satisfied that at last their
perseverance in Drawing the perils Of the coast
in Winter had been rewarded by complete sue
cess.
The "impregnable" Fort Fisher was taken
"A place pronounced, by those who had seen