Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-14
rxpIosion of the Powder-sn'p NJ
Fort Fisher.

TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
please answer through your query
oolrmn next Sunday If 1t Is true that W.
49, otth dav OF December, 1864, Ben"
pntler DESTROYED an old hulk at fOr.
T,sher with 100 tons OF powder, with the
intent thereby to destroy The fort at reue-
'' Also OFF if IT is so that>he shock was felt
greater in Wilmington, y. =" Me"e,
miles distant. than it was Immediately I'it, ~
the fort? CONSAANi
Petersburg, Va.
We answer by giving the following eN-
tract from Colonel William Lambs al
dress on the battles at Fort Fisher. \. ="
delivered in June, 1893, before Cape Fear
Camp. United Confederate Veterans VII
mington, n. c.:
''The sun set in n cloudless SKY on ~
cember 2sd. and with it's parting rays the
Gale subsidized. At midnight the Dlockaue
runner. Little Hattie. came in. and Cap
tain L,ebbv came ashore 10 report his mar
row escape from capture. He had passeu
safely through The formidable fleet, ana
thought he had been followed in by one
of the enemy's ships. but she had not
molested him. He was about leaving Wieh
the officer of the day reported Vessel Oh
fire I'd the beach about a nile from the
fort. I went on the ramparts ana sa"
what looked like a blockade runner on
fire. Captain Lobby thought 1t must DE
the Agnes Fry, which steamer had lelt
Nassau with him for Wilmington, and
so telegraphed General Whiting. l Watch-
ed the burning vessel for hair an houi'
and ordered the mounted pickets TO De
careful not to fire on any approaching
note
the position of the vessel, and considered
her n mile from the fort. General Butter
some years after the war informed me
that the wreck was found and her exact
positien known but ] think the remains
of the Modern Greece were mistaken Tor
her and that nothing was LETT or thls
vessel. Returning to my quarters lall
down on my lounge 20 get rest before
the anticipated engagement next day, put
7 had hardly lain down before ] felt a
gentle rocking Of the small brick house
formerly the light-keeper'9 when
would have attributed TO imagination or
TO vertigo. but it was instantly Followed
by an explosion sounding very little louder
than the report of a lO-iDch Columplau.
The corporal of the guard was called for
I'm every direction by the sentinels, ana
the officer Of the day reported the blowing
had been on fire telegraphed General
Whiting at Wilmington Of the explosion
and retired 10 rest. In the morning the
explosion was the subject Of conversation
among the officers. and some had not even
been aroused by the commotion it created.
I thought so little of II that the only en-
try 1 made in my diary was q blockader
got aground near the fort, set fire TO her
self. and blew up I was surprised 10
learn from prisoners captured Christmas
night that the explosion was that Of a
great floating magazine, the steamer
Louisiana, with more than go tons OF
powder, intended 70 demolish the work
and paralyze the garrison. The vessel was
doubtless afloat when the explosion oc-
Cured or the result might have been
very serious. The shock was distinctly
felt in Wilmington"
General Butler suggested that Fort
Fisher be blown up by a powder ship,
and the United States navy adopted the
suggestion. Butler claimed that the ship
was Improperly exploded.