The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-04

sealed and were 10 be opened whom he was
ont at sea. His destination was not known
to any one In the army or navy, except
those who had to know il. Terry himself
was ignorant Of it until he broke the seals
of bis instructions out at sea. La these IN
etructions no was told to communicate
freely with Admiral ID. ID. Porter ana
seek to have entire harmony between the
army and navy In the expedition.
Porter had total Of As vessels, which
he formed In three lines, with reserve.
During tho night they anchored OIL Fort
Fisher, and Oh the morning OF tho i5th
tho new Ironsides ran up To within l,uoo
wards. Somo of tho ironclads reached rs
near as 700 yards and got into position
under a heavy fire. The landing Of Ter
rvs men was covered by several vessels
not engaged In the bombardment. The
troops went ashore on the sen beach about
five miles above the fort and between IL
and the intrcnched camps OF Bragg's army
OF Wilmington. BY 2 O'Clock p. m. the
troops and stores wero safely landed, anu
General Painc's colorsd division pusher
forward to Capc Fear siver the other sido
of the peninsula. Here a line OF defenses
was begun in order to repcl any advance
of the Confederates from Wilmington. 1t
was seen that the fire from tho navy was
doing much damage, and an assault was
determined upon for the afternoon OF the
18th. Terry was to send In three brigados,
in columns of brigade front, TO storm
tho land side, whilc 2,000 sailors and ma
rines should assail tho works on the sea-
side.
The Confederate garrison of the fort
numbered 1900 men. General Whiting
had entered the fort from Wilmington on
the 18th, after tho Union armada and
troops appeared, and had told tho COM
mandant, Colonel Lamb, that he and his
command were to be left to their fate, for
General Bragg was looking for position
TO which to retreat.
The preparations for assault were dis
covered in tho fort, and an attempt was
snade to confuse tho columns by firing
grape, but tho storms OF shot that swept
the works from navy guns cut down tho
Confederates' cannoncers at AN appalling
rate. md IL was evident that tho danger
could only be avcrted by hand to hand
struggles OH tho walls. At 3 o'clock
promptly tho signal was given by the noise
OF more than 90 steam whistles of tho
Union feet, and the land column sprang
forward TO the charge.
General Curtis brigade had the lead
and pushed forward TO the northwest bas-
tion. near tho river The Confederates
woro seen to man the parapcts tho mo-
ment the naval fire ceased, which was
dono to allow the Union troops to move
UP. Colonel Lamb Judged by the soul
stirring whistles that tho hour had como,
and no desired TO receive the assailants on
his torpedocs as soon as they reached the
walls. Leaving Instructions with the com
mnnder of the northwest front, he went to
the anglo Of the works where the naval
column had becn sighted fearing that
that was the vital point Tho sailors had
landod successfully and halted beyond
rifle range under cover OF the sand hills
that formed the surface Of the beach. The
men were in one long line and made u
formidable show, decciying the enemy into
the belief that this was the main assault
and dividing his garrison. At the signal
the sailors moved down the beach. shell
tered ly a line of sand hills, and then
turned sQuarcly upon the fort. But the
batteries farther down the Confederate
line could sweep the stretch of beach,
which al that point was nearly half n
mile wide, and theInuskots In the fort did
terrible execution. Three cannon in tho
fort poured canister into the assailnnts,
and both General Whiting and Colonel
Lamb stood on the parapct cheering tho
men ut their work.
Tho sailors wcro unaccustomod to land
mnneuvcrs and very soon si.Jwod the Sc
riousnoss of this defect Their officers,
among them tho gallant Lieutenant w.
b. Cushing, rallied and lul thcmas well