THE NAHY AT FORT FISHER. 657
the monitors, took position as close in as theirdraught would permit, engaging the north-eastface. The Ironsides was followed by the Min-nesota , Colorado, and Wabash. The enemy re-plied briskly, hut when these frigates foundthe range and commenced firing rapidly nothingcould withstand their broadsides of twenty-live9-inch guns. It was a magnificent sight to seethese frigates fairly engaged, and one never tobe forgotten. Their sides seemed a sheet offlame, and the roar of tlieir guns like a mightythunderbolt. Meanwhile all the other ships tookpositions as detailed, and so perfect were theplans of the admiral, and so well were they car-ried out by his captains, that not a mishap tookplace. Nothing could withstand such a stormof shot and shell as was now poured into thisfort. The enemy took refuge in their bomb-proofs, replying sullenly with an occasionalgun. The enemy’s fire being silenced, signalwas made to fire with deliberation, and atten-tion was turned to the dismounting of the guns.
So quickly had the guns of Port Fisher beensilenced that not a man had been injuredby their fire, though several ships had sustainedlosses by the bursting of their 100-pounderParrott rifles. The Mackinaw, however, hadhad her boiler exploded by a shot, and severalof her crew had been scalded, and the Osceolawas struck by a shell near her magazine, butwas saved from sinking by her captain, Com-mander Clitz.
During the bombardment the transports, withtroops, arrived from Beaufort. On Christmas day,as agreed upon between Admiral Porter and Gen-eral Butler, the smaller vessels were engaged incovering the disembarkation of the troops, whilethe iron-clads and frigates were sent in to resumethe bombardment of the fort. The larger portionof the army was landed by the boats of the fleetand advanced with little or no opposition to withina short distance of the fort, the skirmish-line within
CAPTAIN K. K. BKEESIC. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
MAJOR GENERAL A. II. TERRY. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
fifty yards. Butler and Weitzel decided that itcould not be taken by assault. Orders were issuedto reembark after being on shore but a few hours.Some seven hundred men were left on shore, thesea being too rough to get them off, but the de-moralized enemy did not attempt to attack them.They were taken off in the morning, and the trans-ports steamed away for Hampton Roads, the fleetreturning to Beaufort. Thus ended the first attackupon Fort Fisher. Words cannot express the bit-ter feeling and chagrin of the navy. We all feltthe fruit was ripe for plucking and with little exer-tion would have fallen into the hands of the army.
SECOND ATTACK UPON PORT FISHER.
Upon receiving Admiral Porter’s dispatches, Mr.Welles again sought the cooperation of the army,to which General Grant at once acceded, sendingback the same force of white troops, reenforced
T In a note to the editors Colonel Lamb says:
“ The guns of Fort Fisher were not silenced. O 11 account of alimited supply of ammunition, I gave orders to lire ench gunnot more than once in thirty minutes, except hy special order,unless an attempt should be made to run by the fort, whendiscretion was given each gun commander to use his pieceeffectively. There were forty-four guns. On the 24th ofDecember G72 shots were expended; a detailed report wasreceived from eacli battery. Only tliree guns were renderedunserviceable, and these by the tire of the fleet disabling thecarriages. On the 25th of December six hundred shots were ex-pended, exclusive of grape and canister. Detailed reports weremade. Five guns wore disabled by the fire of the fleet, makingeight in all. Besides, two 7-inch Brooke rifled guns exploded,leaving thirty-four heavy guns on Christmas night. The histguns on the 24tli and 25th were fired by Fort Fisher on theretiring fleet. In the first fight the total casualties were 61,as follows: December 24th, mortally wounded, 1; seriously3; slightly, 19 = 23. December 25th, killed, 3; mortallywounded, 2; severely, 7 ; slightly, 26. These included thosewounded by the explosion of the Brooke rifled guns = 38.”