on with the capture of Fort Fisher, together with a sketch of that nother of the country in its vicinity. Fort Fisher is situated on the between the Cape Fear river and the Atlantic ocean, about a mile and heast of Federal Point. For five miles north of Federal Point this penandy and low, not rising more than fifteen feet above high tide, the unding in fresh-water swamps, often wooded and almost impassable, h of the dry land, till one gets within half a mile of Fort Fisher, is th wood or low undergrowth, except a strip about three hundred yards the sea shore. The landing of the troops composing the expedition d on the sea-beach, about five miles north of Fort Fisher, on January ine's division was at once pushed across to the Cape Fear river with s to take up a line to be held against any attack from the direction gton. This line on the morning of January 13 was already defensias further strengthened during the day, while on the 14th a second aid out and begun, under charge of Lieutenant J. H. Price, in rear Pioneer companies were organized in Ames's and Paine's divisions, uring the 14th the fire of the rebel gunboat Chickamauga killed and ɩ number of our men, Lieutenant O'Keeffe, with his company of the egiment New York volunteer engineers, was directed to build a batvo 30-pounder Parrots on the bank of the river to keep her off. afternoon of January 14 a reconnoissance was pushed, under the dithe major general commanding, to within five hundred yards of Fort small advanced work being taken possession of. This was at once to a defensive line to be held against any attempt from Fort Fisher. noissance showed that the palisading in front of the work had been injured by the navy fire; only nine guns could be seen on the land re sixteen had been counted on Christmas day. The steady though not of the navy prevented the enemy from using either artillery or mus-, the reconnoitring party. It seemed probable that troops could be got two hundred yards of the work without serious loss, and it was a matve doubt whether the necessary ammunition could be supplied by the h if regular approaches were determined on. It was decided to assault, ssault was made on the 15th, at half past three p. m., after three hours navy fire, by three deployed brigades following one another at interbout three hundred yards, and each making its final rush for the west e land face from a rough rifle-pit about three hundred yards from the point attacked the palisading was less injured than elsewhere, it being hidden, and it was necessary to use axes to cut and timbers to batter in order that troops might pass readily through it. Powder sacks ng these palisades down had been prepared, but were not used. After urs' fighting, gaining traverse by traverse, the work was won. isher consists of two fronts-the first, or land-front, running across the at this point, about seven hundred yards wide, is four hundred and rds in length; while the second, or sea-front, runs from the right of the llel to the beach to the mound battery, a distance of thirteen hundred The land front was intended to resist any attack from the north, the sea revent any of our naval vessels from running through New inlet or roops on Federal Point. d-front. This front consists of a half bastion on the left or Cape Fear , connected by a curtain, with a bastion on the ocean side. The parawenty-five feet thick, averages twenty feet in height, with traverses feet above it and running back on their tops, which were from a distance or thirty forty feet from the left half bastion were about twenty-five feet pet and the enormous traverses at their inner eight, was obtained partly from a shallow exinterior of the work. Between each pair of uns. The traverses on the right of this front A palisade, which is loopholed and has a banat a distance of about fifty feet in front of the he Cape Fear river to the ocean, with a position front and the river, and another between the Through the middle traverse on the curtain exterior opening was covered by a small redan k fire along the curtain. The traverses were r magazines. The slopes of the work appear to h marsh sod, or covered with grass, and to have degrees, or a little less. On those slopes most nent or grassing has been entirely destroyed, irty degrees. rise above the parapet are very ragged. Still ork can be readily repaired, its strength being nbardment. The damage done by the navy fire h were so injured as in most places to be little second, to guns and carriages. There were > heavy guns and three mortars. Of these threeable by injuries to either gun or carriage. The d-pieces in front of the postern, and one or two sauiting troops. m of torpedoes two hundred yards in advance g about eighty feet apart, and each containing owder. They were connected with the fort by the set leading directly to those over which the ading directly to those over which the navy shells, and no torpedo was exploded. nsists of a series of batteries, mounting in all ent batteries being connected by a strong infantry ous line. The same system of heavy traverses s used as on the land front, and these traverses d. Captain M. Adams, fourth New Hampshire nt J. H. Price, fourth United States colored mpanies of Ames's and Paine's divisions, and - commanding company of fifteenth New York their commands, been of great service in the fensive works. First Lieutenant A. H. Knowlolunteers, has rendered valuable assistance in , as also private Schultze, fifteenth New York HEADQ I have the honor to sub operations of this division On the night of the 2d a demonstration against th The transport fleet saile At 3 o'clock p. m on t About 8 o'clock p. m. C The conduct of the offic by the fire of the navy and the sea-beach, we were abl through the gaps in the 1 finally to carry the work. Where the name of ever Brevet Brigadier General Colonel L. Bell, comma I here submit the names with the brigade commande their men. Regimental commanders: York volunteers, Lieutenan teenth New York volunteer and twelfth New York volu the honor to submit the following report of the late movements and s of this division: night of the 2d the division, which had just returned to its camp from tration against this point, received orders to prepare for a second ex It left camp on the 3d, and embarked on ocean transports at Berndred, between the hours of 7 and 9 p. m. on the 4th instant. ansport fleet sailed from Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 6th, roops disembarked some four miles north of Fort Fisher on the 13th clock p. m. on the 15th we stormed Fort Fisher. Brevet Brigadier N. M. Curtis's brigade (the first) made a lodgement on the northwest the fort. I immediately ordered up Colonel G. A. Pennypacker's the second.) The enemy was at once driven from behind the palisadding from the fort to the river, and about one-third of the work, its tangle, occupied by us. I then ordered up Colonel Bell's brigade ) and moved it forward against and in rear of the sea-face of the work, id being much obstructed by the ruins of the barracks, lumber, and bish; the enemy being protected by traverses, and taking advantage ver afforded by magazines, &c., checked our advance. ng of a most obstinate character continued till after dark, during which made considerable advancement on the left and captured about four prisoners. 8 o'clock p. m. Colonel Abbott, with his brigade, completed the occuthe face of the work extending from the ocean to the river. A gen nce was now made, and the fort occupied without opposition. onduct of the officers and men of this division was most gallant. Aided e of the navy and an attacking column of sailors and marines along each, we were able to pass over the open ground in front of the fort, the gaps in the palisading in the ditch made by the naval fire, and carry the work. the name of every officer and man engaged in this desperate conflict e submitted, I shall at present only be able to give a few of those most ous. It is to be hoped they all may be properly rewarded. - Brigadier General N. M. Curtis, commanding first brigade, was promiughout the day for his bravery, coolness, and judgment. His services e overestimated. He fell a short time before dark, seriously wounded ad by a canister shot. el G. A. Pennypacker, commanding second brigade, was seriously while planting his colors on the third traverse of the work. This as surpassed by none, and his absence during the day most deeply felt -usly regretted. el L. Bell, commanding third brigade, was mortally wounded while the bridge in advance of the palisading. He was an able and efficient ne not easily replaced. n. submit the names of the regimental commanders; and in connexion brigade commanders is the credit due them for the heroic conduct of ental commanders: First brigade, one hundred and forty-second New lunteers, Lieutenant Colonel A. M. Barney; one hundred and sevenew York volunteers, Lieutenant Colonel F. H. Meyer; one hundred Ifth New York volunteers, Colonel J. F. Smith; third New York volun Coan; seventy-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers, venth New York volunteers, Captain J. M. third Pennsylvania volunteers, Colonel J W. Ivania volunteers, First Lieutenant J. Wainndred and sixty-ninth New York volunteers, h Indiana volunteers, Lieutenant Colonel S. M. olunteers, Captain J. H. Roberts; one hundred rs, Lieutenant Colonel N. J. Johnson. Colonel hird Pennsylvania volunteers, behaved with the He was killed while passing the second traverse giment, waving his colors. Few equalled, none nt, in command of the thirteenth Indiana, with nent of volunteers from the first brigade, numdeployed within two or three hundred yards of ally aided our advance. nth Indiana volunteers, and Lieutenant Colonel sixty-ninth New York volunteers, also behaved d rendered efficient service in collecting and I become separated from their commands in the sitions where important advantages were gained. New Hampshire volunteers, and First Lieutentates colored troops, aids on the staff of Colonel de, were untiring in their labors, and rendered e of my staff officers, who had been stricken gagement. mes Spring, company G, one hundred and fortyny A, and O. R. Kingsland, company D, one volunteers, volunteered to approach to a point skirmish line, which they did do, and by this reference to the ditch was gained. Privates iam Cabe, company B; George Hoyt and S. R. organ and Edward Petue, company E; E. H. = Silas Baker, company H, missing; George uff, company I; Z. Č. Neahel and Bruce ndred and forty-second New York volunteers, head of the column and cut down the palisading. igade commanders will be forwarded. In them men who particularly distinguished themselves. be bestowed upon all enlisted men mentioned. ticularly indebted for their zeal and gallantry constantly passing to and fro, and exposed to fully recommend that they be brevetted for their arleton, assistant adjutant general; Captain A. mp; Captain H. C. Lockwood, aide-de-camp; at inspector general; Captain J. S. Mathews, Keeler, mustering officer. rst man through the palisading, and while exidon which he intended to place on the parapet r him, taking off his left arm and seriously inrward shot in the right arm. For his services e on a former one I most earnestly urge his Captain Lockwood, Gene garrison at Fort Buchanan I am, very respect Captain A. TERRY, Assistant Adjutant Official copy: ADJUTANT GENERAL'S Nove Report of Major General HEA COLONEL: The comm informed, by my current d late campaign against Pric submit a more detailed : understanding of their ext From early in the sprin and other rebel sources, tl which he expected the coby which he hoped to obt suance of these plans, the into Missouri clandestinely pose, began an insurrection that time guerilla warfare the north, and from Coope This department having raise volunteers to meet th complete and as many inc try had been organized pr On the 3d of September tion that the force under joined by Price for the inv this additional color of pr Smith passing Cairo with man, I telegraphed General division to halt at that poin the enemy. The division was halted General Halleck to "opera cable to penetrate betwee small column of infantry, i abouts as well as intention his command to a point nea or river, and await Price's From that time informat f Major General W. S. Rosecrans's operations against Price in the department of Missouri. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI, St. Louis, December 7, 1864. EL: The commanding general of the military division is already by my current official despatches, of the principal incidents of the aign against Price in this department; but it is proper that I should more detailed and connected report of the operations, for a correct nding of their extent and the importance of the results. early in the spring it was known, through the lodges of the O. A. K's r rebel sources, that Price intended a great invasion of this State, in expected the co-operation of that order, and of rebels generally, and he hoped to obtain important military and political results. In pur f these plans, the lodges, with rebel recruiting officers and agents, sent souri clandestinely or under cover of the amnesty oath for that purçan an insurrection in Platte county on the 7th of July last. From guerilla warfare raged in the river counties, west from Calloway on , and from Cooper on the south side of the Missouri. Hepartment having been depleted of troops, permission was obtained to unteers to meet the exigencies of our situation, and under it about five and as many incomplete regiments of twelve-months volunteer infanbeen organized previously to the raid. e3d of September General Washburn sounded the tocsin by informat the force under Shelby, at Batesville, Arkansas, was about to be y Price for the invasion of our State. The ripening of the corn lent to itional color of probability, so that on the 6th Major General A. J. passing Cairo with a division of infantry on the way to General Sherelegraphed General Halleck the state of affairs, requesting orders for this to halt at that point and wait until we could ascertain the designs of ny. livision was halted, and on the 9th General Smith received orders from Halleck to "operate against Price & Co.;" but, deeming it impracti- penetrate between one and two hundred miles into Arkansas with a lumn of infantry, in pursuit of a large mounted force, the exact wheres well as intentions of which were still unknown, he decided to move nand to a point near St. Louis, whence he could readily move by rail and await Price's movements. that time information accumulated showing the imminence of the ra |