Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-01-16
PORT FISHER DAY.

OF the Gideon Wells Watch
of the National Naval Association.
A meeting Of the Gideon Wells Watch
Of the National Naval association was held
last evening in the Young Mems Republic
can club rooms in the Insurance building,
to commemorate the capture of Fort Fisher,
which was taken just twenty-seven years
ago yesterday. There was good-sized
gathering Of sailors and officers who served
in the navy in the late war. The meeting
was opened by paper by Admiral Wells.
He spoke in glowing language of the stir
ring events of these two days of the bonn
bardment Of the fort. His description of
the battle was most vivid. Between four
and five hundred cannon of the largest
calibre made at the time were used in the
engagement The noise of battle was ter
rife. The roar of the cannon at Gettys-
burg was terrific, but it was only small
when compared to the tremendous cannon
aiding at Fort Fisher 81 years ago yesterday.
The speaker told an amusing incident of
game cock that was thepet and mascot of
the crew. During the battle the bird
perched itself on the rail of the ship and
commenced to crow, and while the shells
were flying the tickest, true to its Yankee
breeding, the bird did not fly but lodged.
At the end of the engagement he had reached
ridiculous degree of hoarsenees but still
he went through the motions. The battle
was waged two days. At the end of the
first day it was far from undecided, but
the fort on the second day did not respond
much after the first hour. General Terry
told Mr.. Wells in confidence that he crept
up within 500 or 900 feet of the fort and
made survey of it and at that time de-
termined to make the assault the next day,
in which so many brave fellows were
| destined to perish. He went on
board the fagship and revealed his plan to
was made in two sections. One part, slow
ly working their way along the shore, were
on the point of giving way when the as
sault was made under the leadership of
General Terry from the other side. The
men of the Sixth and Seventh G. V. were
in that column. In the first days bonn
bardment ID, 900 shells were thrown, in the
| second % 900, making a total of $1,000.
The fort was magnificent specimen of
architecture one and one-half miles in
| length. One hundred and eighty six men
persisted in the siege.
Commodore P S. Osborn of New York
| was then introduced. He is very forci.
BILE and pointed speaker and made some
excellent remarks both on the political
questions of the day and in relating Incl.
dents of the battle.
Captain Craft then made short ad
! dress, relating some "reminiscences.
Mr.. E. G. Eastwood of the Consolidated
| road was then called upon. Mr.. Fleetwood
lie an American by adoption, having come
here from England after the war. He
thinks that the army and navy are and
should be of greater interest to foreigner
than even to the citizens themselves.
number of the old shipmates and comrades
were then called upon, almost all of whom
| had some "reminiscences.
It was voted to call a meeting mex
| Wednesday night at Admiral Wells Office
on Meadow street to consider hiring {
place for holding their meetings. It wal
also voted that a vote Of thanks be ex
tended to the Young Mems Republican
club, who SO kindly loaned them their hal
Last evening.