Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-28

sandbar in front of Fort Fisher over
which the blockade runners crossed to
Cape Fear river to a bar several feet
above the tide, and the sea has receded
about half a mile further from the fort
than when 1t was captured The Mound
Battery, on which two long range guns
were mounted at that time, and on which
the government has since erected a sema-
phore signal, has been reduced from sixty
feet elevation to a mound of less than
twenty feet. Much Of the parapet of
Fort Fisher has been washed away by the
waves, II being nearest it's original form
at the northeast and northwest Salients
The battery known as The Pulpit, next
south of the northeast angle. was higher
at the time of construction than other
parts of the parapet, and still maintains
it's relative elevation. About half the cur
tain westward Of the northeast salient run
ming toward the Cape Fear river has been
entirely washed away, and much of the
sand of which it was constructed has ac-
cumuldted in rear of the west portion Of
the parapet and northwest salient. Frag-
ments of the sand bags used in making
embrasures are to be found at different
portions of the work, but the magazines
and bomb proofs are scarcely visible
Those under the traverses upon the para
pet have been filled with sand by the ac-
ton of the wind and water. Cacti and
small shrubs and trees are growing on
portions of the parapet. The whole beach
near the fort between the Atlantic coast
and the Cape Fear river has been greatly
81,
and the western portion north of the fort
has grown up thickiy with small scrub
timber Indigenous to that region
First Visit Since the War.
"Was this your first visit since the war.
general
Yes, 1t was my first visit since the bat
tie. l regret that 1 did not have time to go
further north, to the portion which three
fourths of the L. S. troops occupied pre-
vious to the assault; that is, the position
which was occupied by the cocred troops
and Abbott's brigade of white troops from
the landing. January 10, 1866 until after
shutdown of the 18th of January, when Abb
bolts brigade was withdrawn and sent
into Fort Fisher.
The portion of the work attacked by the
navy and marines was the northeast sa-
lent, which they failed to occupy. The
occuDa ton of the fort resulted from the
lent, and the unchecked progress made
along the parapet in the capture of the
traverses, until about one-half was carried
by shutdown
Col. Lambs Criticism.
IAN examination of the ground con-
unued the general, seems to give strong
support to the criticism made by Col
Lamb upon the non-action of the depa TT
ment commander of the confederate forces
(Cien. Braxton Bragg In net giving aid to
him, even to the extent of annoying me
when i remained, with about 200 of my
brigade and 800 prisoners, from midnight
Sunday. the 25th of December, until Tues
day evening, the 9th of December at a
point between three and four miles above
the fort, virtually without protection from
the navy because of the fearful storm rag
ing during the whole of that time Nv
troops on the beach were without shelter
food or fresh water, from breakfast Sun
day morning until late Friday evening in
sleet storm. Gen. Bragg had, within ten
miles of me, five six times as many men
Col. Lamb complained that Bragg did not
use some of them in attacking me- While
had no cause of complaint for Gen
Bragg's failure to attack me, / can we'll ap-
preciate Col. Lambs disappointment at Gen
Bragg's refusal to respond, as in Mexico
to the command, a little more :~rape Capt
Bragg"
The Importance of the battle of Fort
Fisher is somewhat dwarfed in popular
estimation by the momentous events which
so closely followed it, Had it occurred at
almost any other period of the war than
that Immediately preceding the inal disso-
luton of the confederacy 1t no doubt would
have attracted much more attention. Fort