The Portland daily press., 1897-03-04

relative to the proposed expedition
against Fort Fisher which he, Gen.
We itzel, was to command. The expedi-
ton consisted of 6500 infantry, two
batteries of artillery and fifty cavalry.
Ames' 8 division of three brigades was
composed of New Hampshire, New York
and Pennsylvania and Indiana troops,
800 men in all. Gen. Paine led diyi-
sion of culorsd troops.
By aid of his maps Gen. Ames ex-
planned the defenses at Fort Fisher which
was situated on a neck of land half
mile wide with the Cape Fear river on
one side and the ocean ON the other. 1t
was all almost impregnabls work and
was gsrrisoned by 1400 men.
On the morning of the gath Admiral
Porter attacked the fort with his heet.
In letter to the Secretary OF the Navy
Porter said, "The forts are nearly all de-
molished' and the admiral claimed they
might have been easily captured had the
troops been ct hand. Gen. Ames stated
that Porter was misinformsd in regard
to the fort being almost demolished by
the fire of the fleet Col. Lamb, the Con-
federato commandment, said in his report
that what damage was done to the feet
during the day was easily repaired at
night. Gen. Weitzel testified before the
committee on the conduct OF the war
that the defenses were not at all injured
by the fleets fire.
Things were in this condition when
Ames and his division were landed and
ordered to storm the fort. This was De-
| cember 25th. Gen. Curtis with 500 men
were the first to land, and were seat to-
wards the fort by Gen. Weitzel, oom-
manding the land forces to make re-
connoisance. At dark Curtis's brigade,
having engaged the enelny's skrimishers
was ordered by Gen. Welt eel to remain
where it was. If any attack was made
the responsibility would rest with the
officer in immediate command. Curtis
reported to Ames that he could take the
fort. Ames ordered him to do so.
"Curtis made no further attempt ;. to
take tie fort, said Gen. Ames, "as l
had ordersd him to do, but sent word
| to me that he vas occupying his former
POSITION Why he failed to assault the
| fort after assumed the responsibility,
and gave the order have never known.
AT this time the troops we've ordered
hack to the ahips and the first expedition
ended in a failure.
| In discussing tbis first expedition Gen..
Ames said the committee on conduct OF
| the war reported that Gen. Butler, who
had ordered the abandonment of the first
expedition was justified in not attacking
the fort.
| "Hew can comprehend the penalty
Gen. Butler had to pay for this action on
| this OCCASION" continued Gen. Ames.
"The war was within few months of
it's end, and he had hoped for share Of
| the honors conferred on those who served
faithfully and well, but he was sent
horne ami the whole nation condemned
| him for the failure of the first Fort Fish
er expedition. Gen. Weitzel, one OF the
| best of men and one of our ablest gener-
ais was humbled in spirit before the
storm Of censure and ridioule."
THE SECOND EXPEDITION
was started without delay, and Gen. A.
Ia. Terry commanded it. Gen. Ames
was given the command of the assaults
| ing force on this occasion. The fleet
bonn barded Fort Fisher Saturday and
Sunday until 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
A force of 1000 sailors and marines un.
der ooln mand of Fleet Capt K r. Breese,
attacked the sea side of the fort at the
same time that the soldiers attacked.
the other side Gen. Ames
divided his attacking force into
| three divisions. Gen. Curtis com.
manded the first of these, Col. j. G.
Abbott commanded the second brigade
aud oil. Bell the third. BY order Of
| al
renee of his staff to order Curtis to Rss
ault. Capt. Lawrence led this assault t.
Hs was the first man through tbs pail.
sade and while reaching for guidon to
plant on the first traverse of the fort
be was dangerously wounded. Col.
| Pennypacker' brigade was next ordered
| to assault and the third brigade was
also sent forward into the fort A des-
per ate hand to hand fight ensued. As
| the sun sank to the horizon the ardoH
| Of the ASSAULT absted. The advance was
| slow. Ten of Ames's officers had been
killed, AZ wounded, and about 800 men
| were killed and wounded. The alta ok
Of the naval forces on the sea side OF the
fort had been repulsed by this time with
great slaughter, 800 or more being killed
Gen. Amss had now at dark eapiu red
the outer defenses, but Gen. Ames did
not allow the attack to langulsh. he
notified Gen. Terry of tbs situation, who
now Joined them in the fort. The ATTACK
was renewed by the aid of rsinforce-
ments- and after seven hours OF lighting,
more than five of which were after dark,
the land face Of the fort was occupied
and all resistance ceased. The enemy
aed to battery Buchanan and Gen. Terry
took Abbott and his brigade to attack
this point
4 Abbott in his report, says that the sur
render of Fort Fisher was made to him
BY the adjutant general ofzthe oom-
| mandant of the fort Gen. Ames said:
cool. Abbott was mistaken. The fort
had already been surrendered to Cap5.
Lockwood of my staff at 10 O'Clock.
Secretary stanton had an interview
with Gen. Terry and telegraphed Presi-
dent Lincoln from Fortress Munroe.
mentioning Terry, Ames's brigade COM
manders and some regimental COM
manders, but omittad Ames's name al
together Stanton telegraphed: The
assault on the most difficult side of the
fort was made by Gen. Curtis under
the immediate supervision Of Gen. Ter
ry."
Gen. Ames said: "This is not true in
| 49, othar can SO than that Curtis reached