“General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to Baltimore, and place them on sea-going vessels. These troops will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels until you are heard from. Should you require them they will be sent to you.
“U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
“Brevet Major-General A. H. Terry.”
“Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet brigadier general), who accompanied the former expedition, was assigned in orders as chief engineer to this.
“It will be seen that these instructions did not differ materially from those given for the first expedition; and that in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher. This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the commanding officer.”
The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th, arriving on the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its destination that evening.
The severity of the storm had scattered the vessels of the fleet, as well as the transports, but on the 12th, the combined force was slowly wending its way up the widely-expanded mouth of Cape Fear river. Admiral Porter, in his flagship, the Malvern, took his station at the head of the gunboat fleet, while the flag of General Terry was waving from the McClellan. The ships in the long line were lost to view beneath the roll of the waves, while the whole surface of the water, far as the eye could reach, was dotted at short intervals by the transports, in regular order, preceded and flanked by the guardian gunboats.
Signal lights were rapidly interchanged between the squadron and the blockade vessels near the shore, while an immense bonfire in the rear of Fort Fisher, gave warning to the inhabitants of Wilmington of the approach of the fleet.
On the morning of the 13th, the frigate Brooklyn, followed by other vessels, skirted the shore, at the distance of a mile, throwing enormous shells into the forest at intervals, and into every spot where it was possible a rebel force or battery might be concealed. After this effectual reconnoissance, preparations were made to land the troops, and at three P. M. it was completed without loss. While this was in progress, the New Ironsides, accompanied by the monitors, took position within point-blank range of Fort Fisher, and opened a terrific fire. The landing was effected upon a strip of hard beach about two hundred feet in width, five miles above Fort Fisher.
Early in the afternoon the rebel fleet came down to Fort Fisher from Wilmington, bringing reinforcements and supplies. At half past four Admiral Porter signaled for the rest of the fleet to come forward and take part in the bombardment. The fire of the ships was so incessant that they soon became enveloped in their own smoke, and beneath the power of the immense missiles hurled into the fort and against its walls, the solid embankment began to crumble, and the garrison to forsake their guns.