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land force, Gen. Grant gave earnest attention to the furnishing it. During the latter part of November and early in the month following, a most formidable armada, over seventy vessels in all, under Admiral Porter, was gathered in Hampton Roads at the beginning of December; and a force of 6,500 men, taken from Butler's troops, was added, Gen. Weitzel being designated as their commander. Grant, having learned that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him the larger part of the forces about Wilmington, deemed it the opportune moment to urge forward the expedition. He wrote out full and careful instructions, intending them for Weitzel but sending them through Butler, who accompanied the expedition, and was greatly interested in a projected explosion of a powder-boat. After some delays, the fleet sailed, on the 13th of December, and arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort Fisher, on the evening of the 15th. Porter was hindered, for two or three days, having put in at Beaufort, to get ammunition for the monitors. A heavy gale set in from the south-west, and the sea becoming very rough, made it difficult to land troops; the supply also of water and coal being nearly exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th of December. "The powder-boat," as Grant sarcastically says, "was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the return of Gen. Butler from Beaufort; but, it would seem, from the notice taken of it in the southern news

1864.

papers, that the enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion until they were informed by the northern press."

Porter, on the morning of December 24th, gave order to engage the forts, which was gallantly done, and in little more than an hour after the first shot was fired, not a shot came from the fort. On the 25th, all the transports had arrived, and Porter and Weitzel, after a conference, determined that, while the ships attacked the forts, as before, the troops should land and assault them. if possible, under the heavy fire. The ships did their duty thoroughly; but after some 3,000 men had been landed, and a close approach made to the works, the troops were re-embarked, by order of Butler, and, as Grant says, "in direct violation of the instructions given." This was accomplished by the morning of December 27th. Porter was very much mortified at the course pursued by the troops, and believed the assault entirely practicable. "I don't pretend," said Porter, "to put my opinion in opposition to that of Gen. Weitzel, who is a thorough soldier and able engineer, and whose business it is to know more of assaulting than I do. But I can't help thinking that it was worth while to make the attempt, after arriving so far.

We have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could keep any rebels inside from moving their head until an assaulting column was within twenty yards of the works. I wish some more of our gallant fellows had followed the officer who took the flag from the parapet, and the brave fellow who brought the horse out from the

CH. XVI.]

EXPEDITION UNDER GENERAL TERRY.

fort. I think they would have found it an easier conquest than is supposed."* Butler returned with his troops to Hampton Roads, and shortly after was superseded by Gen. E. O. C. Ord, who took command of the department of Virginia and North Carolina. Butler, whose active connection with the war was now brought to a close, issued a farewell address to the "Army of the James," in which, after considerable flourish as to the glory of being able to say, "I, too, was of the Army of the James," he bestowed a severe sidethrust upon the lieutenant-general: "Knowing your willing obedience to orders, witnessing your ready devotion of your blood in your country's cause, I have been chary of the precious charge confided to me. I have refused to order useless sacrifices of the lives of such soldiers, and I am relieved from your command. The wasted blood of my men does not stain my garments. For action I am responsible to God and

my

my country."+

Porter, who was dissatisfied with the result, remained with his fleet off Fort Fisher, and sent word to the secretary of the navy, expressing his conviction that, under a proper leader, the fort could be taken. Grant thereupon very gladly resumed the effort which had

*Grant was quite indignant at Butler's conduct. He never expected Butler to interfere, and supposed that of course Weitzel received his instructions, which, it seems, never took place; and further, as Grant states, in his report," on return of the expedition, officers and men, Gen. Curtis being of the number, voluntarily reported to me that when recalled, they were nearly into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could have been taken without much loss." Early in January, 1865, Butler was relieved of his command, at Grant's request.

+ The rebel leaders were disposed to claim a victory, seeing that Fort Fisher was not taken. Bragg, the

499

On

thus far proved unsuccessful. He se lected for commander of the expedition Gen. A. H. Terry, an officer of some note, though young in years, and gave him the same troops that composed the former expedition, together with a brigade of about 1,500 men, and a small siege train. Terry sailed from Fortress Monroe on the 6th of January, 1865, and two days after, arrived off Beau fort, N. C. A violent storm set in, and for several days nothing could be done, except to care for the safety of the vessels and wait for better weather. the 12th, the fleet again got under way, and reached its destination about nightfall, but too late to land the troops. Under cover of the fleet, the disembark ation took place the next morning, and about 8,000 men, with rations for three days, ammunition, tools, etc., were landed, by three o'clock P.M. · After prepa ration of a defensive line across the peninsula, to protect the rear, and a careful reconnaissance, on the 14th of January, it was decided by Gen. Terry and Admiral Porter to attempt an assault the next day, provided that, in the meantime, the fire of the navy should so far destroy the palisades as to make one practicable.

Porter at once placed a division of his vessels in a position to accomplish

commander at Wilmington, wrote to Davis, in this wise: "The enemy has re-embarked under the cover of his fleet. His movement is not developed. I have visited Fort Fisher, and find the damage slight, excepting the buildings not necessary for defence. Only two guns were disabled. The marks remaining indicate that the bombardment was very heavy. Gen. Whiting, commanding the defences at the mouth of the river; Col. Lamb, commanding the fort, and the officers and men comprising the garrison, deserve especial commendation for the gallantry, efficiency, and for titude displayed under very trying roumstances.”

1865.

the destruction of the palisades. "It ous fire, they were unable to get up the was arranged," says Terry, in his re- parapet. After a severe struggle and port, "in consultation with Admiral a heavy loss of valuable officers and Porter, that a heavy bombardment men, it became apparent that nothing from all the vessels should commence could be effected at that point, and they early in the morning, and continue up were withdrawn. On this side to the moment of the assault, and then it should not cease, but should be diverted from the points of attack to other parts of the work. It was decided that the assault should be made at three o'clock P.M.; that the army should attack on the western half of the land face, and that a column of sailors and marines should assault at the north-east bastion. The fire of the navy continued during the night. At eight o'clock A.M. of the 15th of January, all of the vessels, except a division left to aid in the defence of our northern line, moved into position, and a fire, magnificent alike for its power and accuracy, was opened. At 2.25 P.M., all the preparations were completed, the order to move forward was given to Gen. Ames, and a concerted signal was made to Admiral Porter to change the direction of his fire. Curtis's brigade at once sprung from their trenches and dashed forward in line; its left was exposed to a severe enfilading fire, and it obliqued to the right so as to envelop the left of the land front; the ground over which it moved was marshy and difficult, but it soon reached the palisades, passed through them, and effected a lodgment on the parapet. At the same time the column of sailors and marines, under Capt. Breese, advanced up the beach in the most gallant manner, and attacked the northeast bastion; but, exposed to a murder

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(between the work and the river), there
was no regular parapet, but there was
abundance of cover afforded to the ene-
my by cavities from which sand had been
taken for the parapet, the ruins of bar-
racks and storehouses, the large maga-
zine, and by traverses, behind which
they stubbornly resisted our advance.
Hand to hand fighting of the most des-
perate character ensued, the huge tra-
verses of the land face being used suc-
cessively by the enemy as breast work?,
over the tops of which the contending
parties fired in each other's faces. Nine
of these were carried one after the other
by our men.
Until six o'clock
P.M., the fire of the navy continued upon
that portion of the work not occupied
by us; after that time it was directed
on the beach, to prevent the coming up
of reinforcements, which it was thought
might possibly be thrown over from
the right bank of the river to Battery
Buchanan. The fighting for the tra
verses continued till nearly nine o'clock,
two more of them being carried; then
a portion of Abbott's brigade drove
the enemy from their last remaining
strongholds, and the occupation of the
work was completed. The same bri-
gade, with Gen. Blackman's regiment,
were immediately pushed down the
Point to Battery Buchanan, whither
many of the garrison had fled. On
reaching the battery, all of the enemy
who had not been previously captured

CH. XVI.]

RESULTS OF FORT FISHER CAPTURE.

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The losses in this expedition were, on the part of the navy, about 300; on the part of the land forces, about 700. The capture of Fort Fisher was followed the next day by the blowing up by the rebels, of Forts Caswell and Campbell on the Old Inlet, and the abandonment of these and the works on Smith's Island and those at Smithville and Reeves's Point. These places were occupied by the navy. The whole number of guns captured in the defences, as reported by Admiral Porter, on the 20th of January, was 168. Gen. Terry reported the number of prisoners, 112 commissioned officers, and 1,971 enlisted men. In his dispatch, enumerating the different forts taken, Ad* Porter's report of his share in the capture of Fort Fisher gives many interesting details, and he states that, in his opinion, Fort Fisher was a stronger work

than the famous Malakoff Tower, which Porter had an

opportunity of examining shortly after its surrender to

the British and French in the Crimea.

In the list of the forts with their armaments taken

possession of after the fall of Fort Fisher, is a sufficient explanation of the protection given for so long a time to the blockade runners: Reeves's Point, two 10-inch guns; above Smithville, two 10-inch guns; Smithville,

four 10-inch guns; Fort Caswell, ten 10-inch guns, two 9-inch, one Armstrong, and four 32's (rifled), two 32's (smooth), three 8-inch, one Parrot twenty pounder,

three rifled field pieces, three guns buried-twenty

nine guns. Forts Campbell and Shaw, six 10-inch, six 32's (smooth), one 32 (rifled), one 8-inch, six field pieces,

two mortars-twenty-two guns. Smith's Island, three

10-inch, six 32's (smooth), two 32's (rifled), four field pieces, two mortars and seventeen guns. Reported at

the other end of Smith's Island, six guns. Total captured, eighty-three guns.

501

"We have found

miral Porter adds: in each an Armstrong gun, with the 'broad arrow' on it and the name 'Sir William Armstrong' marked in full on the trunnels. As the British government claims the exclusive right to use these guns, it would be interesting to know how they came into forts held by the southern rebels. I find that immense quantities of provisions, stores, and clothing have come through this port into rebeldom. I am almost afraid to mention the amount, but it is enough to supply over 60,000 men. It is all English, and they have received the last cargo; no more will ever come this way."

The gallant conduct of all concerned in this expedition is spoken of, in the highest terms, by both Porter and Terry. "The troops fought like lions, and knew no such word as fail,” said the former. "I should signally fail to do my duty," said the latter, “were I to omit to speak in terms of the highest admiration of the part borne by the In all ranks, navy in our operations. from Admiral Porter to his seamen, there was the utmost desire not only to do their proper work, but to facilitate in every possible manner the operations of the land forces." And, as Grant briefly remarks, in his report, thus was secured, by the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important successes of the

war."

CHAPTER XVII.

1864.

CLOSING OF THE YEAR: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: REBEL ENORMITIES.

The approaching election for president - Fremont withdraws - Division in the democratic party — Active canvassing Result Lincoln re-elected by a large majority - Jeff. Davis and his lofty style of talking and promising - Rather gloomy realities, however - Thirty-eighth Congress, second session — Cabinet changes-Mr. Lincoln's message - Extracts from-The treasury and navy reports · Price's invasion of Missouri - Rosecrans in command in the department — Attack, by the rebels, on Pilot Knob - Pleasanton's cavalry operations - Result of the invasion - Grant's opinion- Sufferings of our officers and men in rebel prisons and dens - The United States Sanitary Commission-Report by gentlemen appointed to inquire into the matter - Horrible revelations - Extracts from the report - Conclusion as to rebel malignity Efforts to mitigate suffering - Raids from Canada into the United States - St. Albans, Vermont, attacked Steps taken - Attempt to fire New York city, in November - Not successful.

1864.

In a previous chapter (p. 455), we have given an account of the proceedings, in the summer of 1864, of the political conventions for the nomination of candidates for the presidency. As the autumn election approached, the canvassing became very active, and the issue settled at last between the supporters of the principles and policy which were represented, on the one hand, by Abraham Lincoln, and on the other, by George B. McClellan. Fremont, who had been nominated by "the radical democracy," deemed it best, on reflection, to withdraw from the field, and in a letter, dated at Boston, September 21st, gave his reasons for this course. He professed to be unchanged in his sentiments as to Mr. Lincoln; he "considered his administration, politically, militarily, and financially, a failure, and its necessary continuance a cause of regret to the country;" and he had, he said, no wish" to aid in the triumphs of Mr. Lincoln, but to do his part to ward preventing the election of the democratic candidate." As, however,

the republican party was pledged "to re-establish the Union without slavery,” while the democrats of the Chicago convention, which nominated McClellan, were pledged to "separation or re-estab lishment with slavery," Fremont preferred to withdraw and leave the field clear for Abraham Lincoln.

The democratic party, who had George B. McClellan as candidate for the presidency, were by no means unanimous in favor of the platform laid down by the Chicago convention (p. 462). Men like Gen. Dix and others,* known as "war democrats," were entirely op

* Gen. Dix, in a letter written in October, said: “In

calling for a cessation of hostilities, the members of misrepresented the feelings and opinions of the great body of the democracy. The policy produced in its name makes it so far as such a declaration can-what it has never been before, a peace party, degrading it from the eminence on which it has stood in every other national conflict. In this injustice to the country, and to a great party indentified with all that is honorable

the Chicago convention have, in my judgment, totally

in our history, I can have no part. I can only mourn over the reproach which has been brought upon it by

its leaders, and cherish the hope that it may hereafter, under the auspices of better counsellors, resume its

ancient effective and beneficent influence in the ad

ministration of the government."

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