USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 12
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"Ho spre 1
ATLANTIC
FEAR
Sketch Vicmity of FORT FISHER
'Headquarters
surveyed under the direction of
Brvt. Brig Gen. C.B Comstock Chief Engineer by Oto Juban Schultze Private L? NYV Eng.
Scale-1-13000
RIVER
FORT FISHER
-
--
MourABattery
FY Buchanan
Forwarded to Engineer Doparmmint mark
C # Comschob.
rul Point
OCEAN
(599)
600
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
I have no words to do justice to the behavior of both officers and men on this occasion : all that men could do they did. Better soldiers never fought. Of Gen. . Ames I have already spoken in a letter recommending his promotion. He commanded all the troops engaged, and was constantly under fire. His great coolness, good judgment and skill were never more conspicuous than in this assault. Brig .- Gen. Curtis and Cols. Pennypacker, Bell and Abbott, the brigade commanders, led them with the utmost gal- lantry. Curtis was wounded, after fighting in the front rank, rifle in hand. Pennypacker, while carrying the standard of one of the regiments, was the first man in a charge over the traverses. Bell was mortally wounded near the palisades. Brig .- Gen. Paine deserves high praise for the zeal and energy displayed by him in constructing our defensive line, a work absolutely essen- tial to our success. Brevet Brig .- Gen. Blackman deserves mention for the prompt manner in which he brought his regiment up to the work and after- wards followed up the retreating enemy. To Brevet Brig .- Gen. Comstock, Aide-de-Camp on the Staff of the Lieutenant-General, I am under the deepest. obligations. At every step of our progress I received from him the most valu- able assistance. For the final success of our part of the operations, the coun- try is more indebted to him than to me. Col. Geo. S. Dodge, Chief Quarter- master, Army of the James, accompanied me as Chief Quartermaster of the forces under my command. His able and energetic performance of his multifarious duties was all that could be wished for and reflect the highest honor upon him. Surgeon Norman S. Barnes, U.S.V., Medical Director, and Surgeon A. J. H. Buzzell, Third New Hampshire Volunteers. Medical Inspectors of the expedition, discharged their laborious duties on the field and in the hospital in a manner most creditable to their ability and humanity. I desire to express my highest appreciation of the services of these officers. I shall have the honor to submit a supplementary report in reference to those subordinate officers and enlisted men who distinguished themselves on this occasion.
I should signally fail to do my duty were I to omit to speak in terms of the highest admiration of the part borne by the navy in our operations. In all ranks, 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 forees. To him and to the untiring efforts of his officers and men, we are indebted that our men, stores, tools and ammunition were safely and expeditiously landed and that our wounded and prisoners were embarked for transportation to the North. To the great accuracy and power of their fire it is owing that we had not to confront a formidable artillery in the assault, and that we were able with but little loss to push forward the men, preparatory to it, to a point nearly as favorable for it as the one they would have occupied had siege operations been under- taken and the work systematically approached. The assault of the sailors and marines, although it failed, undoubtedly contributed somewhat to our success ; and certainly nothing could surpass the perfect skill with which the fleet was handled by its commander. Every request which I made to Admiral Porter was most cheerfully complied with, and the utmost harmony has existed between us from the outset to the present time. I herewith submit Gen. Amnes' report.
I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALFRED H. TERRY, Major-General.
Brig .- Gen. J. A. RAWLINS,
Chief of Staff, City Point, Va.
GEN. AMES' REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
FORT FISHER, N.C., 18 Jan. 1865.
Capt. A. TERRY, A. A .- G. :
I have the honor to submit the following report of the late movements and operations of this division. On the night of the 2d the division, which had just returned to its camp from a demonstration against this point, re- ceived orders to prepare for a second expedition. It left camp on the 3d
Jan. '65.]
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
601
and embarked on ocean transports at Bermuda Hundred, between the hours of 7 and 9 p.M., on the 4th inst. The transport fleet sailed from Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 6th, and the troops disembarked some + miles north of Fort Fisher on the 13th inst. At 3 P.M. on the 15th we stormed Fort Fisher. Brevet Brig .- Gen. N. M. Curtis' brigade (the First) made a lodgment in the northwest angle of the fort. I immediately ordered up Col. G. A. Pennypacker's brigade (the Second). The enemy was at once driven from behind the palisading, extending from the fort to the river, and about one-third of the work - its northwest angle - occupied by us. I then or- dered up Col. Bell's brigade (the Third), and moved it forward against and in rear of the sea face of the work. The ground being much obstructed by the ruins of the barracks, lumber and other rubbish; the enemy being pro- tected by traverses, and taking advantage of the cover afforded by maga- zines, etc., checked our advance. Fighting of a most obstinate character continued till after dark, during which time we made considerable ad- vancement on the left and captured about 400 prisoners. About 8 P.M. Col. Abbott wth his brigade completed the occupation of the face of the work, extending from ocean to river. A general advance was now made, and the fort occupied without opposition.
The conduct of the officers and men of this division was most gallant. Aided by the fire of the navy and an attacking column of sailors and marines along the sea beach, we were able to pass over the open ground in front of the fort through the gaps in the palisading in the ditch made by the naval fire, and finally to carry the work. Where the name of every officer and man engaged in this desperate conflict should be submitted, I shall at present only be able to give a few of those most conspicuous. It is to be hoped they may all be properly rewarded. Brevet Brig .- Gen. N. M. Curtis, Commanding First Brigade, was prominent throughout the day for his bravery, coolness and judgment. His services cannot be over-estimated. He fell a short time before dark seriously wounded in the head by a canister shot. Col. G. A. Pennypacker, Commanding Second Brigade, was seriously wounded while planting his colors on the third traverse of the work. This officer was surpassed by none; and his absence during the day was most deeply felt and seriously regretted. Col. Louis Bell, Commanding Third Brigade, was mortally wounded while crossing the bridge in advance of the palisading. lle was an able and efficient officer -one not easily replaced. I here submit the names of the regimental commanders; and in connection with the brigade commanders is the credit due them for the heroic conduct of their men : -
First Brigade : Brev. Brig. Gen. N.M. Curtis.
L 142d N. Y. - Lieut .- Col. A. M. Barney. 117th N. Y. - Lieut .- Col. F. H. Meyer. 112th N. Y. - Col. J. F. Smith. 3d N.Y. - Lieut. E. A. Behna. 48th N. Y. - Lieut .- Col. W. B. Coan.
Second Brigade :
Col. Galusha A. Pennypacker, 97th Penn.
76th Penn. - Col. J. S. Littell. 47th N. Y. - Col. J. M. McDonald.
203d Penn. - Col. J. W. Moore.
Third Brigade : Col. Lonis Bell, 4th N. II.
97th Penn. - Ist Lieut. J. Wainwright. 169th N. Y. - Col. Alonzo Alden. 13th Ind. - Lieut .- Col. S. M. Lent. 4th N. H. - Capt. J. H. Roberts. 115thı N. Y. - Lient .- Col. N. J. Johnson.
Col. J. W. Moore, Two Hundred and Third Pennsylvania, behaved with the most distinguished gallantry. IIe was killed while passing the second traverse of the fort, in the advance of his regiment, waving his colors. Few equalled, none surpassed, this brave officer. Lieut .- Col. S. M. Lent, Thirteenth Indiana, with 60 men of his own regiment and a detach- ment of volunteers from the First Brigade, numbering in all 100 men, de- ployed within 200 or 300 yards of the fort, and by their tire materially aided our. advance. Maj. J. R. Lawrence, Thirteenth Indiana and Lient .- Col. J. A. Colvin, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth New York, also behaved in the most
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THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
gallant manner and rendered efficient service in collecting and organizing the troops, which had become separated from their commands in the charge, and in leading them to positions where important advantages were gained. Capt. G. W. Huckins, Fourth New Hampshire, and First Lieut. J. Konig, Seventh U.S. Colored Troops, Aides on the Staff of Col. Louis Bell, Command- ing Third Brigade, were untiring in their labors and rendered valuable ser- vices in the absence of my Staff officers, who had been stricken down in the early part of the engagement. Privates Ulric Chapin and James Spring, Co. G, One IInndred and Forty-second New York; D. C. Hotchkiss, Co. A, and O. R. Kingsland, Co. D). One Hundred and Twelfth New York, volunteered to approach to a point considerably in advance of our skirmish line, which they did. By this step valuable information with reference to the ditch was gained. Privates James Cadman (wounded) and Wm. Cabe, Co. B; Geo. Hoyt and S. R. Porteous, Co. C; D. H. Morgan and Edward Petue, Co. E; E. Il. Cooper (wounded), Co. G; Silas Baker, missing, Co. HI; Geo. Merrill and Wm. J. McDuff, Co. I; Z. C. Neahel and Bruce Anderson, Co. K : One Hundred and Forty-second New York - volunteered to advance with the head of the column and cut down the palisading.
Copies of the reports of the brigade commanders will be forwarded. In these will be found lists of officers and men who particularly distinguished themselves. It is recommended that medals be bestowed upon all enlisted men mentioned. To my Staff officers I am particularly indebted for their zeal and gallantry throughout the day : they were constantly passing to and fro, and exposed to the hottest fire. I would respectfully recommend that they be brevetted for their services: Capt. Chas. A. Carlton, A. A .- G .; Capt. A. G. Lawrence, Act'g. A .- D .- C .; Capt. H. C. Lockwood, A .- D .- C .; Capt. R. W. Dawson, Asst. Insp .- Gen. ; Capt. J. S. Matthews, Provost Mar- shal; Capt. B. B. Keeler, Mustering Officer. Capt. Lawrence was the first man through the palisading : and while extending his hand to receive a guidon which he intended to place on the parapet of the work, a shell ex- ploded near him, taking off his left arm and seriously injuring his throat. He was afterwards shot in the right arm. For his services on this occasion, as well as those in a former one, I mnost earnestly urge his promotion. Capt. Dawson was disabled by a wound iu the left arm. To Capt. Lockwood, General Whiting and Col. Lamb surrendered with the garrison at Fort Buchanan.
I am, etc., ADELBERT AMES, Brig .- Gen. Vols.
GEN. COMSTOCK'S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, . FORT FISHER, N. C., 27 Jan. 1865.
Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report of engineer operations in connection with the capture of Fort Fisher, together with a sketch of that work and another of the county in the vicinity. Fort Fisher is situated on the peninsula between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, about a mile and a half northeast of Federal Point. This peninsula is sandy and low, not rising more than fifteen feet above high tide, the interior abounding in fresh water swamps, often wooded and almost impassable; while much of the dry land, till one gets within half a mile of Fort Fisher, is covered with wood or low undergrowth, except a strip about 300 yards wide along the seashore. The landing of the troops composing the expedi- tion was effected on the sea beach about five miles north of Fort Fisher on Jan. 12th. Paine's division was at once pushed across to Cape Fear River. with instructions to take up a line to be held against any attack from the direction of Wilmington. This line on the morning of Jan. 13th was already defensible, and was further strengthened during the day ; while on the 14th a second line was laid ont and begun under charge of Lient. J. H. Price in rear of its left. Pioneer companies were organized in Ames' and Paine's divisions ; and as during the 14th the fire of the rebel gunboat Chickamauga
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THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jan. '65.]
killed and wounded a number of our men, Lieut. O'Keefe, with his company of the Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers, was directed to build a battery for two 30-pounder Parrotts on the bank of the river to keep her off. On the afternoon of Jan. 14 a reconnoissance was pushed under the direction of the Major-General Commanding to within 500 yards of Fort Fisher, a small advanced work being taken possession of. This was at once turned into a defensive line, to be held against any attack from Fort Fisher. The reconnoissance showed that the palisading in front of the work had been severely injured by the navy fire. Only nine guns could be seen on the land front, where sixteen had been counted on Christmas Day. The steady though not rapid fire of the navy prevented the enemy from using either artillery or musketry on the reconnoitring party. It seemed probable that troops could be got within 200 yards of the work without serious loss ; and it was a matter of grave doubt whether the necessary ammunition could be supplied by the open beach, if regular approaches were determined upon.
It was decided to assault; and the assault was made on the 15th at 3.30 P.M., after three hours of heavy navy fire, by three deployed brigades, following one another at intervals of about 300 yards, and each making its final rush for the west end of the land face, from a rongh rifle-pit about 300 yards from the work. At the point attacked, the palisading was less injured than elsewhere, it being partially hidden; and it was necessary to use axes to cut and timbers to batter it down. in order that troops might pass rapidly through it. Powder saeks for blowing these palisades down had been prepared, but were not used. After some heavy fighting, gaining traverse by traverse, the work was won.
Fort Fisher consists of two fronts : the first or land front, running across the peninsula, - at this point 700 yards wide,- is 480 yards in length ; while the second or sea front runs from the right of the first parallel to the beach to the Mound Battery, a distance of 1,300 yards. The land front is intended to resist any attack from the north; the sea front to prevent any of our naval vessels from running through New Inlet or landing troops on Federal Point.
1. Land Front .- This front consists of a half bastion on the left, or Cape Fear River, side, connected by a curtain with a bastion on the ocean side. The parapet is 25 feet thick, averages 20 feet in height, with traverses rising 10 feet above it and running back on their tops, which were 8 to 12 feet in thickness, to a distance of 30 or 40 feet from the interior crest. The traverses on the left half bastion were about 25 feet in length on top. The earth for this heavy parapet and the enormous traverses at their inner ends - more than 30 feet in height - was obtained partly from a shallow exterior ditch, but mainly from the interior of the work. Between each pair of traverses there was one or two guns. The traverses on the right of the pond were only partially completed. A palisade, which is loop-holed and has a banquette, runs in front of the face at a distance of about 50 feet in front of the foot of the exterior slope, from the Cape Fear River to the ocean, with a position for a gun on the left of the front and the river, and others between the right of the front and the ocean. Through the middle traverse on the curtain was a bomb-proof postern whose exterior opening was covered by a small redan for two field pieces, to give flank fire along the curtain. The traverses were generally bomb. proofed for men or wagoners. The slopes of the work appeared to have been re- vetted with marsh sod or covered with grass and to have had an in- clination of 45 degrees or a little less. On these slopes most exposed to navy fire, revetment or grassing had been entirely destroyed and the inclination reduced to 30 degrees. The ends of traverses as they rise above the parapet are very ragged. Still all damage done to the earth- work can be readily repaired, its strength being about the same as before the bombardment. The damage done by the navy ilre was: first, to the palisades. which were so injured as in most places to be little obstacle to assaulting troops; second, to guns and carriages. There were originally on the front 21 guns and 3 mortars. Of these three-fourths were rendered
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THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
unserviceable by injuries to either gun or carriage. The gun in the right bastion, the field pieces in front of the postern, and one or two mortars, were used against the assaulting troops. There was a formidable system of torpedoes 200 yards in advance of this front, the torpedoes being about 80 feet apart and each containing about 100 lbs. powder. They were connected with the fort by three sets of wires. Fortunately the set leading directly to those over which the ariny and navy columns moved had been cut by shells and no torpedo was exploded.
2. Sea Front. - This front consists of a series of batteries, mounting in all 24 guns, the different batteries being connected by a strong infantry parapet, so as to form a continuous line. The same system of heavy traverses for the protection of the guns is used as on the land front, and these traverses are also generally bomb-proof.
Capt. N. Adams. Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers, and Ist Lieut. J. H. Price, Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, commanding pioneer companies of Aines' and Paine's divisions, and Ist Lieut. K. S. O'Keefe, commanding a company of the Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers, have with their commands been of great service in the construction of batteries and defensive works. Ist Lient. A. H. Knowlton, Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers, has rendered valuable assistance in making sketches of Fort Fisher, as also Private Schultz, Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. B. COMSTOCK,
Lieut .- Col. and Brevet Brig-Gen., Chief Engineer.
Maj. A. TERRY adds : It may be added that in 30 bomb-proofs and magazines and their passages there were 14,500 feet of floor space, not in- cluding the main magazine, which was exploded and whose dimensions are unknown. C. B. C.
THE NAVAL COLUMN.
The following are extracts from the landing orders : -
Land out of gunshot of fort. Boats when unloaded to be pulled off" and hung to stern of the Nausemond (anchored). Lieut. Preston to have charge of the men with shovels ; he to run up as near fort as can without risking a single man, then rapidly throw up rifle-pits, three and a half feet deep, same height in front (7 feet in all). The marines then to go into thein in three squads. Advance again, dig another trench, while another line of sappers reaches the first line and digs it deeper; and so on, alternating. These trenches to flee to in case of grape and canister by enemy. No move forward to assault till army moves to assault. The sailors to go on parapet with a rush, cutlass and revolver in hand : marines to follow closely ; and when reach parapet, lie down and pick off the enemy. The sailors then to charge the field pieces and kill the gunners. Sailors to then secure the mouths of the bomb-proofs, giving no quarter if the enemy fires after they get into the fort. Flags to be kept rolled up till parapet is reached. If the Mound Battery fires into Fisher after the sailors get in, every three men will seize a prisoner, pitch him over the walls [! ], and then get into bomb- proofs or behind the works for protection.
The naval column was made up of small squads of men from a number of the war ships, under command of their own officers (see elsewhere).
Admiral Porter says he " detailed 1, 600 sailors and 400 marines to accompany the troops, the sailors to board the sea face, while the troops assaulted the land side . . . . the sailors went to the attack by the flank, along the beach, while the troops rushed in at the [rebel's] left, through the palisades that had been knocked away by the fire of the fleet . . . . they succeeded in getting up to within a short distance of the fort, and lay securely in their ditches, with but
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Jan. '65.]
few killed or wounded up to this time. The marines were to have held the rifle-pits and cover the boarding purty, but failed to do so . . . some reached the parapet, and some the ditch. The advance was swept from the parapet like chaff . the soldiers had gained two traverses, and the Ironsides fired upon the others. Four, five, six, were carried in an hour. These traverses were immense bomb-proofs, about 60 feet long, 50 feet wide and 20 feet high : seventeen of them on the land face. Between the traverses, heavy guns. The fort was cap- tured about 10 o'clock (even- ing)."
The landing of the marines and sailors to attack the fort- a novelty in itself, - must have a place, as it is inseparable from the general whole, and in fact proved to be an important factor in the fight. Lieut. S. W. Preston had a force of about 10 men from each ship, armed with shovels and picks. The ma- rines, as skirmishers, to follow, were under 2d Lieut. L. E. Fagan of the U.S. Marine Corps.
I 0 STOCKADE
The assaulting column was as follows : First Line, marines,- Capt. L. L. Dawson, U.S. Marine Corps. Second Line, com- posed of the landing party of the First and Fourth Divisions of the squadron, under Lieut .- Comdr. C. H. Cushman. Third Line, com- posed of the landing party of the Second Division of the squadron, under Lieut .- Comdr. James Parker, who waived his seniority in favor of Capt. Breeze, who represented Admiral Porter and was in charge of the whole. Fourth Line, composed of the landing party of the Third Division of the squadron, under Lieutenant-Commander. T. O. Self- ridge. The second, third and fourth lines were of about equal strength.
The naval column landed abont a mile from the fort. Lieut .- Comdr. Parker formed the men, pending the arrival of the officer who was to command. He formed them in three companies, which he himself designated as -
Van.
(Right)- Comdr. C. H. Cushing.
Center.
- Lient .- Comdr. James Parker.
Rear.
- Lient .- Comdr. T. O. Selfridge.
(Left)
The column had actually begun to move forward (under fire at that time) before the officer appeared who was to command.
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THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[.Jim. '65.
This was Lieut .- Comdr. K. R. Breeze, the junior of Parker; but as Breeze represented the Admiral on shore, Parker waived his own seniority. Breeze carried the Admiral's blue flag, and had just come from an interview with Gen. Terry. "The sand-beach over which we marched," says Parker, "was as level as a floor. The march was by the left flank in column, and close to the shore, which afforded a little protection." Col. Lamb says the sub-terra mines were capable of blowing up the beach from river to sea for 100 yards in front.
When within assaulting distance, the sailors lay down, waiting for the army to assault. When the army assaulted, the naval column sprang to their feet, and rushed forward to obey Porter's order to " board the fort in a seamanlike manner." Says Parker : "This was impossible. The rush was gallantly made; but the walls were 40 feet high and nearly perpendicular. Jack," says Parker, " after finding it impossible to board the fort, did the next best thing - to ' git out o' that'; and they scudded away like ships before the wind, as fast as their legs would carry them. They were not in a panic, but knew that nothing but flight could save them from annihilation. I had reached the opening in the palisade [see "A" on plan] made by our shells. The parapet swarmed with men who dared us to come in. I started through the opening, and then started to see if the men were following, but saw them scudding away. Those of us who were left (about 60 in all) thought it safer to remain than retreat, and we took refuge behind [really in front of] the palisades from the fire of the Johnnies on the parapet."
Parker says of Porter's report, that " ' the sailors reached the parapet, and were swept away like chaff,' was a fine figure of speech : but as a matter of fact only one man got any nearer the fort than myself, and he was killed. His name was James Tallentyne, a Quartermaster from the Tacony. The squad of 60 remained near the palisades till the surrender of the fort." After the capture he made it a point to climb the side of the fort, which he accomplished with great difficulty, albeit there were none to oppose.
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