The Washington herald., 1914-12-27
FEDERALS EXPLODE POWDER
NEAR WILMINGTON.
December "a.

Fifty years ago today a shipload OF
powder was exploded by the Federals on
the beach at Fort Fisher. n. C, with the
purpose Of damaging the fort but with
so little effect that the defenders of the
works-one of the chief defenses Of Will
mington-thought the noise resulted from
an exploding boiler on one Of the Fed
eral blockading squadron.
The failure of the powder ship was the
first in a series of miscarriages in an
expedition against Fort Fisher headed
by Gen. B. F. Butler.
The idea OF exploding the shipload of
powder was Gen. Buffers, and history
has emphasized its failure. The execu-
tlon of the idea was in the hands Of the
naval force under Gen. D. d. Porter.
Once the futility of the idea was demon
strated, every one connected with IL
hastened to disclaim Endorsement of it,
blamed the navy for its failure.
Gen. Butler had suggested the powder
boat idea to Gen. Grant some weeks
before the expedition started. He had
read of an explosion of a storehouse and
two barges filed with powder at Erith.
on the Thames, in England. that had
done great damage to houses at a con-
siderable distance from the river. II
such an explosion did so much damage,
why not try one against. a fort? Gen.
Grant had no faith in the idea He sec
onded the opinion Of one Of his staff
that the powder boat would have about
musket," yet he did nothing to prevent
the adoption Of the idea as he was care
ful not to clash with Gen. Butler.
Gen. Buffers. plan was submitted to
Washington and was indorsed by the
President and by naval men.
A board of naval and army officers
assigned to study the subject submitted
this opinion: That the explosion would
injure the earthworks (at Fort Fisher
to a very great extent, render the guns
unserviceable for a time and probably
affect the garrison to such a degree as
to deprive them Of power to resist the
passage of naval vessels by the forts
and the carrying OF these works by i'm
mediate assault
PreparinE Powder ship.
Although after its failure Admiral
Porter scoffed at the powder vessel. the
contemporary records show that he act
ed on the idea with vfgor, formulating
plans for fitting out the vessel. pushing
them to completion and predicting great
results.
In the mass of recriminations over Gen.
Buffers Fort Fisher expedition-one Of
the least creditable Of Federal failures
in the war-it is difflcult to find the nee
essary facts to establish clearly the
blame for the inglorious results. One
thing is apparent, however, there was
a lack Of cooperation between the army
and navy sufficient TO nave endangered
the best-laid plans. 1t Is also clear that
Gen. Butler In one vital particular, in not
intrenching and holding his position near
the fort after having effected a landing.
Fort F1sher-a very strong work. built
OF sand-stood on a long sandspit be-
tween the ocean and the Cape Fear
River, its guns covering the entrance to
the river, which wa the last haven OF
blockade runners left open in the South.
The holding Of this fort was OF the ut
most Importance to the Confederate
army under Lee, for with the Cape Fear
River closed the Confederates in the
field could receive no further supplies
from abroad.
II was Gen. Grants hope to take Fort
Fisher by surprise while the forces con-
centrated near Wilmington under Gen.
Braxton Bragg were being depleted to
re-enforce those opposing Sherman. His
orders, however. provided for an aiterna-
tive course. They stated that .the OBJ
ject Of the expedition viii be gained by
efectIng landing, and that once ef-