The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-04

NAS As%Sy A2N 5@
to cope with 627 In the feet, ana the
three frigates, Minnesota, Colorado
and Wabash. had more guns and far
heavier armament than Fort Fisher.
and when their ammunition was ex-
hausted they had only to haul out OF
range an0ml up from tenders.
Having described the arrival of me
"Canonicus'' within three-Quarters OF
a mile of northeast salient, we now
give the official export Of Lieutenant.
Commander Belknap, q. S. n, her con-
mander:
U. S. S. Canonicus.
Beaufort, n. c., December 81. 1864.
Sir-I have the honor to submit the
following report respecting the part
the cath and 18th instant at New Inlet,
near Wilmington, n. c.
At Ills a. m, December oath, in ODE
dience TO general signal from the lag
ship. | got under way, and taking posi-
ton in line of battle ~.mmediately
astern OF the New Ironsides. steamed
slowly In for Fort Fisher. and at Il 40
D.. m, opened fire On the works. Keep
ing underway, l engaged the enemy
during the afternoon at a distance
VARYING ITDI1 JUU 10 l,-UJ A1IuS-
The enemy paid little attention 20 the
ironclads, directing their principa: fire
ar the wooden ships, and in course o
an hour and. a half, SO far as I could
observe, were entirely silent.
a 5:35 p. m. withdrew from action
by signal from the New IrOnsides, and
anchored near that ship in eight faith
oms water. having expended So fifteen
inch Shells and II shrapnel.
At 9 o'clock the following morning,
general signal having been made 10
get underway and prepare for battle
weighed anchor and steamed i'll toward
day, and at 10:45 a. m. to engage the
enemy. In the course of three-Quar-
tiers of an hour we had the satisfaction
of dismounting two guns on the east
ern parapet of the fort, due to he x-
cellent gunnery of the executive Off
Ger. Lieutenant R. S. McCook.
About ~ o'clock (nOon) the other
, monitor having closed up near our po-
sition, came to anchor at a distance OF
500 yards from the fort.
+! At 2:40 p. m. u ammunition had be-
| come exhausted, when l reluctantly
! withdrew to the rear, having fire! 40
shells and 9 shrapnel.
Probably no work was ever subject
ed to so heavy a fire before, and GER
teinly the enemy could not and did not
| stand at their guns after the feet had
fairly become engaged. From the ex-
| plosions and large fires which occurred
inside the rebel works, there could have
ben no place of refuge for the garri-
| sd except in the bombproofs, and |
| am firmly of the opinion that at any
| time after 5 O'Clock p. m. ON each day
of attack the fort might have been oc'
| cupied and held by u land forces with
| very slight loss. Their failure to do so
| was doubtless more of a surprise to the
| enemy than to the fleet.
We received in all four hits-one on
| the side armor and three on the smoke
| stack. neither of which did any mate
rial damage.
am happy to report no casualties
on board.
The guns and turret worked beauti-
fully, and the officers and crew dis
! played the greatest enthusiasm
throughout both engagements. While
| all did their duty well, I cannot for
| bear special mention of the executive
! officer Lieutenant r. S. McCOOk, who
| has been untiring in his efforts to
make the ship efficient in every respect.
The accuracy and rapidity Of Il fire
| attest the proficiency of the guns crews
| under his drill and training.
NV thanks are also due to Chief En-
| gineer D. B. Macomb, who has taken
| great pains to keep the engines and
! turret machinery in perfect condition.
Assistant Paymaster r. P. Lislc rem
| dered good service. as signal officer.
Very respectfully, your obed1ent
| servant, Geo. E. Belknap,
Lieutenant Commander, commanding.
Rear Admiral D. D.. Porter,
! Commanding North Atlantic Squadron,
Flagship Malvern.
The above report is what the COM
] mander had to say about the first at
| tack on Fort Fisher: the garrison did
| not stand at their guns after the fleet
| had fairly become engaged" the Mont
| tor fred 1874 fifteen inch shells. weigh
| ing so, 92O pounds, and 10 fifteen inch
| shrapnela. These latter were the most
internal ~projectiles used in modern
| warfare, unlike shells which hen ex-
| ploding threw their fragments forward
they scatter grapeshot and canister in
every direction, some returning bun
| dreds of feet, searching for an opening
, and entering the hospital bombproof,
despite the high protecting curtain or
| sand and turf, cutting OFF legs and arms
Of some poor fellows who were al
ready under the surgeons knife for
| amputation , and converting the bomb
proof into q chamber Of horrors. They
| were worse than the barbaEors ,yhain
shot OF the olden times, for they went
forward and when one Was passed he
was safe.
AS no vessel ventured to run by the
fort 1 only fred on he 24th end 18th.
1872 shot and shell, each OF the a guns
firing every half hour. and different
batteries BY special orders firing re
peatedly but deliberately 30 as TO waste
a shot at vessels approaching close to
the bar, apparently to run by. or to
drive the gunners from their guns with
grape and canister, or at boat parties
N.-:-- 49, ohorno1 TA@o 4 GT2