The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-22

Fisher.
Norfolk Public Ledger JanszEv 1eth.
1904.
On this day 1856. after q mssx mem
orabse struggle o. three days ana tive
nights tfrom before day Friday 0orn-
ing until . O'Clock Sunday nh. with
out one moments intermissioa, Tort
Fisher. N. 9. the last gateway between
the Confederacy and b ouai4e world.
commanded BY Colonel William Lamb.
OF this city. was captured. The
lest armed arrnada the history &C the
world records Cslxty United states
m~cc-of-war carrying over Sc heavy
guns. three frigates IN the net with
more gans n ammunition zach than
in Fort Fisher I9.seo troops aad 3eoe
sailors and marines ashore against n
eacoa york. with half q me- o. and
face and one mile OF sea face. mount
ing only ~forty-four heavy guns. and
having in addition bat two mcrtars
and four pieces OF light artillery with
only 1890 men from first 10 asst 1t
was the longest hand to hand fight
recorded in history-from J p n. Co .
p m--six hours on the parapets. I'm
possible TO preserve organization. 10 was
a soldiers fight courage On both sides.
but desperate valor on the part Of the
outnumbered North C~rolInisna de-
~"&S @~~~ $3.50 ~ rs 49,
ert Z Lee ringing IN their o n IF
Fort Fisher falls / cannot e the
army and mi ~evacuate Richmond"
And the home defenders wou 4 have
won. but the fleet reopened its Are in
espons 10 signals. keeping &c up long
after dark. n killed and wounded
more or the Confederates than I'D the
assailants who had gained q fcothcid
On the parapet and a portion o< he
terreplain OF the work
But n most fearful struggle OF this
historic fight occurred In the attempt
OF twelve hundred sailors and eight
hundred marines. led by the very flower
or the American navy. TO capture the
northeast salient OF the work vAsRe
land ana sea face Joined.
Colonel Lamb rallied between four
n five hundred OF the garrison TO It's
defense. holding over half on the para
pets and keeping the remainder TO load
and pass UP rifles TO take the p.aee %
those discharged. The fleet had stop
ped its fire. and the army covered by
the river bank and rife pits were
charging on the left n half 4 mile from
this position. Lamb let the naval col
umn get close enough to see n r eyes.
when he commenced a murdero1s Are
from his infantry. supplemented by
grape and canister from two Napoteons
on their flank and the she'll firing or the
three heavy guns. which had some.
what demoraliZed the column in As ap-
proach.
In thirty minutes four hundred Of the
naval column were killed and wounded
(Inore than were killed and wosRded i'm
the capturing OF Cuba in the late war;
among them some OF the mo { gallant
officers in the Federal naNy-Port r.
Preston and others represen ing { ius-
trious fami les. II was more than the
bravest could Withstand. and tie sail
ors and marines commenced n most
disorderly retreat. the first time Ia the
war showing their backs to the foe: no
e~ntreaties of officers could control b
disorganized mob that II had fecoMae.
But this "Belaclava charge" enabled
the army 10 enter the fort. and this led
to its fall.
Among the most celebrated officers
wounded and not killed in this charge
vas Midshipmen Evans and Higrtnson.
now Admirals. the former 'E1ghting
Bob"
Colonel Lambs escape was miraculous
Che was not wounded for some time
afterwards and then in attempting to
lead his men in a charge pom ~ foe
which a CAPTURED . part OF terre-
plan) any number OF the nava: CO umn.
including Admiral Evans. said they de-
hberately fired upon him, as he stood
a tail figure on the parapet directing
the fire Of ais devoted men. He SEEM
ed to nave a charmed life.