davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The following dispatch was received
here late on Saturday night:

The following dispatch was received
here late on Saturday night:
Smithville Jar 14th. 1864.
Journal-Fifty-two wounded received
from Fort Fisher today, Sergeant
Latham and Gillespie of Adams Light
Battery. n Carter of Captain Powelps
company, killed.
JAS. A. MILLER. Surgeon.
Later-At half past six last evening,
Sunday the enemy were making a
heavy assault by land n sea. The
b~Ombardment was going on ~furiously,
General Whiting slightly wounded.
At seven and a half the fighting was
still continued at the Fort-the enemy's
infantry force far out numbering ours.
1t is reported that the enemy had sue
ceeded in establishing a battery on the
river above Fort Fisher and below
Sugar Loaf, cutting communication
with the Fort by water. An uneasy
feeling pervades the community. The
gallant defenders of Fort Fisher are
passing through a terrible ordeal. God
grant that they may pass through it
successfully.
Still Later-The following official dis
patch from General Bragg has been
handed to is:
Sugar Loaf. Jar 15-S p. m.
The sensational reports about Fisher
are entirely unfounded. Official in
formation from General Whiting Of
later hour. reports enemy's attack I'M
successful. Fresh troops are being sent
to him, and we are confident they will
hold it. BRAXTON BRAGG.
P. S.-Jan. 16th-6 D.. m.-Fisher was
captured at l a. nj. this morning.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

From the files of the Wilmington
Journal of 1S64-5 we clip the following
interesting articles upon the stirring
events of those days. These extracts
will be read with much interest, es-
peciaIly by the people of Wilmington:
Sunday, Dec. 18th. 1861
At one O'Clock OH Saturday oath, 1864,
an immense fleet of steamers. led by
the Ironsides, and containing, it is said,
not less than %ffty-One others, among
them several monitors approached Fort
Fisher in line of battle, and opened a
most tremendous fire upon that work.
An eyewitness who passed the Inlet
in a steame coming up the Cape Fear
river says it exceeded in it's awful fury
anything he ever had witnessed or
could conceive of. In rapidity it re-
Sembled the roll of muSketry rather
than the distinct and separate reports
of cannOn.
The following official dispatch from
Forth Fisher, received at headquarters,
is the latest and most authentic news
we have:
Fort Fisher, Dec. "a. 1864.-6 p. NJ
The bornbardment of Fort Fisher was
rough. No attempt to pass the bar.
No death casualties. The firing from
the Fort was slow and deliberate. The
men are in good spirits. The fleet has
drawn off, but could not see that they
went west. Weath smoky.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER.
TUESDAY Ian. Il RI

Night before last we quietly went to
bed satisfied that all was right at Fort
Fisher. Dur attention. strained to the
utmost for days, tagged and we went
Immediately to sleep. On yesterday
morning we woke to find Fort Fisher
captured. AS We expected. General
Whiting fought like a paladin. Both
he and Colonel Lamb are seriously
wounded n in the hands of the
enemy.
1t is certain hat generally, the Fort
was fought with chivalric Drawer To
this there were exceptions. to which.
at some future time we may allude as
a matter of justice to others. We can
not say when hat time may occur
For the present it is enough for US
to know that Fort Fisher has fallen:
that a division of infantry in the field
were in gun-shot and did not fire a gun
to save it. that we know of. and that
heroic men like Whiting. Lemb and
others are prisoners-that the last port
of the Confederacy is gone, and that
it ought to have been saved.
We will not trust ourselves to say
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
THE LADIES VISIT.
(Friday. Jan. 6. 1869

General Bragg having In the O
courteous II rendered the use of
a boat TO the Ladies of the Soldiers
Aid Society. accompanied by an invi-
tatiOn TO visit Fort Fisher. the scene
of the recent fearful bombardment by
the enemy. and the heroic resistance by
our gallant troops. a goodly number of
the gentler sex with a considerable
sprinkling of the ~un-gentler. left town
on Wednesday morning at ten min
utes before nine o'clock in the steam
er Flora Macdonald and after a very
pleasant trip arrived at the landing
at Confederate Point between eleven
and twelve. The landing is probably
a mile and a half from the Fort. The
line of march. in very open order. was
taken up for the Fort and that powerful
work. with its gallant defenders. i'm
mediately surrendered al discretion.
We did not notice any serious marks
Of shot or shell on the houses on our
way to the Fort. until We approached
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
SECOND ATTACK ON WILL
lTTH-Crn%
(Monday, Jan. 16, 1869

AS already stated in Saturdays pa
per. the enemy suddenly appeared on
our coast on Thursday night last, and
commenced landing or Friday morning
at day light. On Friday they and
a considerable force. differently stated
by prisoners to be from ten to fifteen
thousand and to be under the command
of General Terry. Prisoner S differ
very much about the number, knowing
or protesting to know only the force
or the same vessel with themselves.
which we think is quite likely. All
seem to agree upon the statement that
General Terry is in command of the
land forces.
On Friday the b~ombardment of Fort
Fisher was heavy especially towards
night fall. Up to six o'c1"-'S Friday
evening the casualties by h enemv's
Smelling were some forty-four. our be-
ing killed and forty wounded. In the
wounded is Sergeant Thos. E. King, of
Southerland'S Battery. who was acting
as courier.
DR.. James A. Miller. chief surgeon
report ffty-two wounded as being re-
ceived at Smithville from Fort Fisher
on Saturday, also three were killed Of
which the names are given in his dis
patch. We cannot as yet 800 whether
these were killed or wounded or Sat
urday. or included part of the sufferers
On Friday. We learn that or Saturday
and yesterday the bombardment con-
tinued heavy. although not heard here
with any distinctness.
1t is pretty certain that the enemy
on Saturday had succeeded in extend
ing their lines cross to the river.
which their skirmishers struck at
Craig's Landing-the usual landing of
steamers to and from Fort Fisher and
Wilmington. and there captured the
| steamer James r. Grist. On Saturday
night or Sunday morning the Grist,
thus seized by the enemy. was blown
up by the Confederate Steame Chicka-
manga. The Grist was a small quarter
masters boat, old and of no great
| value.
| AS we write, about mid day On Sun
| day-in such times there are no Sun
| days to which at present we can lay
| claim-the last report We have heard is
that things remain pretty much in
"Statu quo" The enemy are said to
be entrenching across the narrow strip
of and between Fort Fisher and Sugar
Loaf, but had not landed either horses
or artillery. Some deSerterS from the
enemy, confined now in the military
prison, say that the enemy forces on
sist Of seven thousand white and four
thousand negroes. This is perhaps cor
rect. Terry commands. General Bragg
telegraphed Sunday afternoon that all
was quiet and that there was no cause
for excitement or apprehension. The
present attempt of the enemy is evi-
IDENTIFY destined to be more pertinaciOus
and determined than the last.
Information received here through
scouts says that the enemy. four thous-
and strong, started from New Bern on
Thursday or Friday. for an advance
upon KinStOn and a raid upon Will
mington and Weldon road, but turned
back. not deeming their number suf-
icient. They will probably start again
when reinforced.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
{ THURSDAY Dec %. 1S64O

CLEAN GONE-The vast armament
that had hung upon our coast for a
week and more was no longer visible
yesterday afternoon. and by night-fall
only the usual blockading force held
its place outside our bars. Where they
have one we cannot pretend to say,
surprise failed and their expedition
with it.
1t was told our authorities by a con-
fdential agent that Lincoln had said
that his agents here had fully apprized
him of the weakening OF our garrisons
to send to Georgia, and of our total
baroness of troops: and that he felt
certain of being able to take the place
with hardly the shadow of opposition.
Other things also he is reported to have
said which we will not repeat. If so.
they are already known to the au
thOrities. If not so. it would do no
good to make them known to anybody
else.
But indeed it does seem as if the
enemy had made his calculations pretty
accurately. and but for the element of
the weather. might have come much
nearer ACCOMPLISHING his ends. The
next time he will hardly try a landing
on an open coast, meditating a sur
prise will include the element in his
calculation.
1t was a short campaign. but it spoil
ed Christmas here in town. It can't
be helped now. but really it was spite
full of the Yankees to choose the very
day they did. and We respectfully re-
quest hat they do not do it again.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
Sour


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for baby" ~s " |" 'm~
kodol Digests What You Eat.
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The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

portion Of heavily armed frigates and
loops of war. commenced a furious
b~ombardment Of Fort Fisher at 20 min
utes to one o'clock, which they kept UP
until $50 p. M, when they withdrew.
No part of the work was greatly in
jured. Casualties % wounded, one NOR
tally, three severely, - slightly.
The officers, soldiers and seamen all
did their whole duty. AS the enemy at
tempted no passage OF the bar and
staid out at long range-with the ex-
ception Of h iron-clads-I fired very
slowly and deliberately. I am unable
to know Wha damage was done them,
but l an certain the injury inflicted
upon them far exceeds the injury their
b~ombardment did us. Our Heavenly
Father has protected my garrison this
day, and I feel that he will sustain us
in defending our homes from the in
Vaders.
(Signed) VIM. LAMB,
Colonel Commanding.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
THURSDAY. Dec. %, 1861

All quiet along the Cape Fear. And
all quiet. and more than quiet in town,
for all the stores are shut up and the
market silent and deserted. The own
ers of the stores are in the trenches
the people from the surrounding
country are also in service for the time
This is right enough. All mere bust
ness, as business, must give way to the
necessities of the public defence. But
the trade in groceries and provisions
must be resumed if suffering would be
avoided. No doubt the prOpe arrange
ments will be made in a few days, and
things resume their wonted course or
something like It.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
THE SITUATION.

Wednesday. Dec. %. 1861
An official dispatch, from Sugar Loaf,
of the date of 2 p. m. yesterday. states
that the enemy had evacuated Battery
Anderson and r~e-embarked. So. for the
time. ends that attempt at landing and
invasion. The nemy has suffered far
more severelv in killed and wounded
that we have. and his fleet will be
found shattered to an extent that will
take a long time to repair. The NEST
of pirates is safe.
Fort Fisher a sustained a most ter
rife bombardment. Just look at the
list of war vessels brought against her.
But her defence was as gallant as the
attack was terrific. The damage to
the Fort is slight. except to buildings
not necessary to defence. The troops
all behaVed we'll and are in fine spirits.
But III enemy is ~perSeVering. and al
though Signally fOiled this time. will
hardly be willing to give up the de-
sign so fOndly entertained without max
ing some further demonstration. His
discounted legions have sought refuge
aboard his ships. ready to be cast forth
upon some point which he may ope
to find unprotected, and his ~stupendous
armada still prOwls round our coasts
baffled, but still formidable. The i'm
mediate danger is over and Wilmington
may breathe freer than she has done
for months. The strength of her de-
fences has been tried by the most for
midable fleet. all things considered, of
modern times. and nobly have they
borne the trial There is no cause now
for panic. fear or uneasiness. Let us
resume the even tenor of our way. If
any, in panic. have refused Confed-
crate monev let them be ashamed of
themselves and sin no more. The next
time they will be marked and hardly
escape serious consequences. Business
ought SOOn to be resumed.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
(ThurSdav. Jan. 10, 1869

When a great public calamity Occurs,
it is natural that people who are inn
mediate sufferers by such calamity,
should seek some victim upOn whom
to place the responsibility. We DO not
claim to be any better or purer than
our n%eighbors. If the town of Will
mington falls, it seems to us that the
labors of a reasonably intelligent n
tolerably Industrious lifetime are gone.
Knowing his to be the fact-sympa-
thising with otherS-with loved friends
n relatiVeS-ladieS whom we can no
longer protect: with servant whom we
have protected, who look to us for pro-
lection, who beg US to protect them
who beg us to carry them with us
wherever we go. Seeing and feeling all
this, We may have said something about
General Bragg, which under other cir
cumstances we would not have said.
Generally, we are thoughtful and eau
tious. This is simply because we con-
troll Jul feelings. Possibly we have
given vent to them-possibly we have
blamed u authorities when we ought
not to have blamed them. We do not
know. We say this however: whether
we lose, other people just as good peo-
pie. have already lost as much. Any
sacrifice that is due and necessary for
us to make. that sacrifice we are will
ing and ready to make. We can do
no more.
The cause is not gone. We do not
give up the ship. We do not mean to
give it up. We must expect to meet
difficulties. We must hav expected
that from the first. Let us be men.
Now is the time to try our manhood.
We must throw ourselves upon the
kindness and courtesy Of u readers,
and ask them to excus lateness of is
sue and all other defects. We are al
most alone. Our effective force is on
guard. and We re required to do the
best We can under the circumstances.
This is what we all must do. and things
will come out better than we think.
FLAG OF TRUCE.
(Friday, January 20, 1869
Major Venable, of General Writings
staff carried a flag of truce down TO
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
THE WAY OPEN SOUTH

1t gives US pleasure to state on the
authority of the g~entlemanly superin-
Of the Wilmington and Man.
railroad, Captain Henry NJ.
|Drane, that his trains are now run
ming through to Kingsville, and that
Communication is open to Columbia.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
Interesting Extracts From the
Wilmington Journal of
That Period.

The First Attack on Fort Fisher.
Congregations Disturbed BY
Booming of Cannon. Dis
patches From the For. De-
parfure of the Fleet. Ladies'
Visit TO the Fort. The Second
Attack. The Capture. Severe
Criticisms. Issuing Paper Un-
der Difficulties.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

We are informed, that if i becomes
necessary to ~evacuate this town, 1t is
1.-The intention of the commanding gen.
leral to exercise the authority vested
i'm him by act of congress and destroy
TIE cotton remaining here. 1nstruc-
lt,ons have already been given to faclll-
ltate the removal of that in private
Hands, and parties not promptly avail
ling themselves of this privilege OF re-
moving their property to a place OF
safety, will have no cause Of complaint,
when the military authority destroys
lit. Should Wilmington unfortunately
fall. let the enemy find it a barren gain,
lane not realize a capture such as made
lin Savannah.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

the enemy's line on Wednesday morn
ing and returned late on that evening.
General Whiting has been quite Sc
lverely wounded, while also Colonel
Lamb in the thigh, severely. Both are
believed 10 be doing we'll. The tight
ling at the Fort was desperate on both
sides. The casualties on our SIDE we
lare unable to report. They will be
published as soon as circumstances will
permit.
Our losses are heavy. From what we
lCan learn from private source they VIII
laInount to over one hundred killed,
lane four or five hundred wound
ed. Our whole loss in killed,
Wounded and prisoners will not amount
ito less than three thousand. When We
SAY that among the prisoners are Cen
Ieral Whiting, Colonel Lamb, Major Hill
Major Stevenson, and SO many other
men, good true and brave, our feelings
lean be appreciated.
OF course the fall of Fort Fisher ne
lcessitated the fall of the other forts
lon the river below it. Everything be-
How New Inlet is in the power of the
lenemy. even if it is not already in his
possession. But that does not by any
means imply possession of the town
lOI "llHllilSlOIl. II uOtS llSdIl NlOSA14C
Iup h blockade running port of Will
lmirgton. In hat II Of the word
Int is a severe blow.
BetwiXt US and the enemy there are
lFcrts Anderson and other works. They
are now attacking them. We think
I'VE know the men in them. John He'd
rick. and men like him, will fight the
Thing out. We only regret that We are
mot with them. God knows we would
rather be with hem in the forts than
trying to set up type here, as we are
doing now.
We do not think hat Wilmington
must necessarily fall. The port of Will
lmlrgtOn is already gone. That mas
lgone cheap. The Co~nfederacy has lost
Its best port. The men of Wilmington
must now defend their homes. we
think they can do O:-W think they
Twill do so. Let us all try. The truth
lis, every tolerab1y decent white man,
lwho Ices not want to be a slave, must
take his position, willing to give up
Ibis life for the in which he Is
Iengaged. 1t is perfectly useless to blow
Iup the president or General Bragg. we
do not believe that either Of these gen.
ltlemen are perfect, nor do we think that
leven if they were perfect, they could
Isave US. They are simply clever ana
lpatriotic gentlemen. Let us-all OF u.s.
Ibe equally so. That is simply the way
Ito say it. and to do it, or at least try
Ito do it. Neither President Davis nor
General Bragg can fight for US. We
must fight for ourselves, and for our
country.
P. S.-We are officially Informed that
tine c~annonading below last afternoon
luJas from the enemy'S gunbOatS at our
l~forces at or near Sugar Loaf. Other
reports say that the enemy attacked
lHoke's forces yesterday afternoon, but
whether this is true or not we are I'M
liable to say.
We are Informed, that if i becomes
necessary to evacuate this town, 1t is
1.-THE intention of the commanding gen
leral to exercise the authority vested
lin him by act of congress and destroy
Tie cotton remaining here. 1nstruc-
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21
Saturday, January q, 1869

We understand hat on Thursday last
there was some skirmishing between
the left wing of our forces in the
of Sugar Foaf, and the
Yankee infantry, who had made an
advance from their ~entrenched position
During the afternoon, it is reported,
W hilst the Yankee vessels were ngaged
Smelling the woods, their infantry made
an attack on Clingham's brigade, (oc-
our left,) with the evident in
|tentiOn of flanking them, but were re-
pulsed and driven back to their en-
No casualties have as yet
beer reported. but we learn that sew
sraI Of our men were Wounded
John Sipe, Company 3. And regiment,
North Carolina Troops, (of Newton,
n. CD wounded in above skirmish, and
brought to General Hospital No. 4, died
ON yesterday.
In the river below no movements
have been made by the enemy's vessels
we are aware Of.
We would call the attention Of our
contemporaries to the fact that Fort
Fisher never was surrendered-but was
carried at the point Of the bayonet oy
overwhelming numbers, after all the
on the land face had been dis
mounted by the terrific fire from the
fleet.
The enemy's loss, in Sundays fight,
is estimated to be at least one thous-
|an6 in killed and wounded. The Fort
wa. charged three times on Sunday af-
Iternoon and night, before it was cap
|tured.
.-5- of %ho ooT14-+ NEaso-
Reilly, need have no fears Of his being
treated by the enemy, because
Iof his having been in the United States
~Iservice, as w have been show the
I~originaI acceptance of his resignation,
Washington, May, 1851,
THE MAY nDEN CnIrTH
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

Continued on Third Page.)
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

For sale by r. r. Bellamy.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

FLAG OF TRUCE.
Friday, January 20, 1869
Major Venable, of General Writings
staff carried a flag of truce down TO
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-21

Fort Fisher-e o'clock. D. m.
The enemy's fleet consisting of over
fifty vessels. including two monitors.
several armed vessels and a large pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-29
CAPT. PLUMMER's GALLANTRY.
Given a Gold Medal for Rescuing Per
eons at Galveston

The Secretary of the Treasury has for
warded to Capt. w. H. Plummer. now at
Willbridge. Me-, gold life-saving medal.
awarded to him under the acts of Congress
approved June 90 1874. and May 4. 1882. in
recognition Of his heroic conduct in saving
and assisting to save very large number
of persons from drowning during the men,
orable hurricane of September 8. 1900, at
Galveston. Tex. Capt. Plummer. 1t is
stated. rescued and delivered, to places of
safety upward of one hundred and fifty
men. women and children. In closing his
letter which accompanied the medal the
Secretary says:
1T would be difficult to exaggerate the
merits of your services. You acted entirely
of your own motion. under no compulsion
from any source except your own COM
manding sense OF humanity; you neglected
your own property, and gave up the work
of rescue only when your boat was SO dis
abled that you were compelled to abandon
It and swim to place of refuge. Your con-
duct was of the highest order. and deserves
the highest recognition. That is, afforded
by the accompanying medal. which is au-
thOrized by law to be bestowed only upon
those who perform. at the jeopardy of their
own lives, deeds of the most extreme and
heroic daring in saving others from the
perils of the sea-
Capt. Piummer was assisted In his work
Of rescue by Joseph ContheH and by his
two sons. Guy and Jack Piummer.