This bastion received the hottest of our fire during the first day's action. The seavari front of the fort is of very peculiar construction. The main wall appears to be from six to eight feet higher than the rest of the work-in front of, and running parald with it, and flanking its outer wall, or cover, casemated at its eastern end and covered with railroad iron. This cover also protects a formidable battery facing towards the extremity of the point. The main wall of the fort behind this cover carries an escarp ment battery as well as several guns in casemates."

Previous to making the attack, a torpedo vessel on a large scale, with an amount of powder on board supposed to be sufficient to explode the powder-magazines of the fort, was prepared with great care, and placed under the command of Commander A. C. Rhind, who had s sociated with him on this perilous service Lieutenant S. W. Preston, Second Assistant Engineer A. T. E. Mullan, of the United States steamer Agawam, and Acting Master's Mate Paul Boyden, and seven men. This vessel, the Louisiana, disguised as a blockade-runner, was towed in on the 23d until within two hundred yards from the beach, ad about four hundred from Fort Fisher. Commander Rhind anchored her securely there, and coolly went to work to make all his arrange ments to blow her up. This he was enabled to do, owing to the blockade-runner going in right ahead of him, the forts making the blockaderunner signals, which they also did to the Louisiana. The gallant party, on leaving the vessel, set her on fire under the cabin. Thea taking to their boats, they made their escape off to the Wilderness, which put off shore with good speed, to avoid the explosion. A forty-five minutes past one on the morning of the 24th the explosi a took place, but the shock was nothing like so severe as was expected. It shook the vessel some, and broke one or two glasses, but nothing more. At daylight on the 24th, the fleet got under way, and stood in, iz line of battle. At half-past eleven A. M., the signal was made to engage the forts, the Ironsides leading, and the Monadnock, Canonicus, and Mahopac following. The other divisions of the fleet followed, opening fire as they got into position, and the whole throwing a shower cf missiles upon the fort, which drove the defenders to their casemates.

It was not until the 25th that the transports, which had been obliged, on account of a storm, to put into Beaufort, arrived, and it was then arranged that the troops should land under cover of a fresh attack by seventeen gunboats. While the attack was going on, about three thonsand men landed five miles east of the fleet. A reconnoissance was then made by General Weitzel, second in command under Butler, who reported the place so strong that, under the circumstances, it would be "butchery to order an assault." As this opinion coincided with that already formed by General Butler, orders were given to re embark the troops, and the transports thereupon returned to Hampton Roads. The following correspondence between Butler and Porter explains itself:

"HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA AND } "NORTH CAROLINA, December 25, 1864. "ADMIRAL:-Upon landing the troops and making a thorough reconnoissance of Fort Fisher, both General Weitzel and myself are fully of the opinion that the place conid not be carried by assault, as it was left substantially uninjured, as a defensive work by the navy fire. We found seventeen guns protected by traverses, two only of wilson

were dismounted, bearing up the beach and covering a strip of land, the only practicable route, not more than wide enough for a thousand men in line of battle.

"Having captured Flag Pond Hill Battery, the garrison of which, sixty-five men and two commissioned officers, were taken off by the navy, we also captured Half Moon Battery, and seven officers and two hundred and eighteen men of the Third N. C. Junior Reserves, including its commander, from whom I learned that a portion of Hoke's Division, consisting of Kirkland's and Haygood's Brigades, had been sent from the lines before Richmond on Tuesday last, arriving at Wilmington Friday night.

"General Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept in their bomb-proof by the fire of the navy, and so closely that three or four men of the picket line ventured upon the parapet and through the sally port of the work, capturing a horse, which they brought off, killing the orderly, who was the bearer of a dispatch from the chief of artillery of General Whiting to bring a light battery within the fort, and also brought away from the parapet the flag of the fort.

"This was done while the shells of the navy were falling about the heads of the daring men who entered the work, and it was evident, as soon as the fire of the navy ceased because of the darkness, that the fort was fully manned again and opened with grape and canister upon our picket line.

Finding that nothing but the operations of a regular siege, which did not come within my instructions, would reduce the fort, and in view of the threatening aspect of the weather, wind arising from the southeast, rendering it impossible to make further landing through the surf, I caused the troops with their prisoners to re-embark, and see nothing further that can be done by the land forces. I shall, therefore, sail for Hampton Roads as soon as the transport fleet can be got in order.

"My engineers and officers report Fort Fisher to me as substantially uninjured as a defensive work. I have the honor to be,

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Major-General Commanding. "To Rear-Admiral PORTER, commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron."

"NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, U. S. FLAG-SHIP MALVERN, "OFF NEW INLET, December 26, 1864.

"GENERAL:-I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, the Bubstance of which was communicated to me by General Weitzel last night.

"I have ordered the largest vessels to proceed off Beaufort, and fill up with ammunition, to be ready for another attack in case it is decided to proceed with this matter by making other arrangements.

"We have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could keep any rebels inside from showing their heads until an assaulting column was within twenty yards of the works. "I wish some more of your gallant fellows had followed the officer who took the flag from the parapet, and the brave fellow who brought the horse out from the fort. I think they would have found it an easier conquest than is supposed.

"I do not, however, pretend to place my opinion in opposition to General Weitzel, whom I know to be an accomplished soldier and engineer, and whose opinion has great weight with me.

"I will look out that the troops are all off in safety. We will have a west wind presently, and a smooth beach about three o'clock, when sufficient boats will be sent

for them.

"The prisoners now on board the Santiago de Cuba will be delivered to the ProvostMarshal at Fortress Monroe, unless you wish to take them on board one of the transports, which would be inconvenient just now.

"I remain, General, respectfully, your obedient servant, "DAVID D. PORTER, Rear-Admiral. "To Major-General B. F. BUTLER, Commanding, &c., &c.”

The rebels, with some reason, claimed that the result of the expedition was a triumph to their arms, as the fort, notwithstanding a bombardment perhaps unequalled in force in modern warfare, had received no essential injury. The following is taken from a Richmond paper :

"General Bragg has issued a congratulatory order on the defeat of the enemy's grand armada before Wilmington, paying a merited compliment to Generals Whiting and Kirkland, Colonel Lamb, and the officers and men engaged. The enemy's attack on the first day lasted five hours; on the second day, seven hours-firing, altogether, over twenty thousand shots from fifty kinds of vessels. The Confederates responded with six hundred and sixty-two shots on the first day, and six hundred on the second. Our loss is three killed and fifty-five wounded. The ground in front and rear of the fort is covered with shells, and is torn in deep pits. Two guns in the fort burst, two were dismounted by ourselves, and two by the enemy's fire, yet the fort is unhurt.”

While the expedition was operating against Wilmington, General Palmer made a co-operative move from Plymouth, North Carolina He sent, on the 9th, an expedition, under command of Colonel Frankle, which proceeded to Gardner's Bridge, beyond Jamestown, on the Roanoke River. The Ninth New Jersey charged the bridge in column of platoons, and soon swept away the small force which held it. 4: Spring Green Church, the Ninth New Jersey and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts again fell upon the enemy, inflicting considerable loss, and capturing five officers and thirty men. On the 19th, our forces preceeded to Rainbow Bluff, on the Roanoke, and found the enemy in force. Unfortunately, the gunboats, which were to have co-operated could not do so on account of the torpedoes in the river. Colond Frankle's expedition, therefore, returned to Plymouth.

CHAPTER LXXII.

Affairs at Petersburg-Renewed Attempt to Flank the Rebel Right-Battle st Hatcher's Run.-Fighting on the North Side of the James-Review of the YearImportance of Sherman's Operations. --Calls for Troops.-Relative Strength đ Arinies.-Second Attack on Fort Fisher.-Capture of Fort and Garrison.

THE Army of the Potomac, under General Grant, remained before Petersburg, occasionally operating in the front, while Sherman was pursuing his way across Georgia, and Sheridan was penetrating up the Shenandoah Valley. It was very evident that Lee was determined not to leave Richmond, and also that he could not be driven out of it by a direct attack on his front. The lieutenant-general was therefore compelled to wait until the operations of Sheridan and Sherman should bring those generals within striking distance of Lee's rear and thus compel the evacuation of Richmond. As it was certain that Lee would not commit the mistake of Hood at Atlanta, but would follow the sys tem of defence by which Johnston had so long delayed the advance of Sherman, it remained for Grant to hold his enemy within his fortifics tions, and to make occasional attempts to penetrate the extended line of works which Lee opposed to him, in the hope of being able sooner or later to reach the available point. Accordingly, soon after the victory of Cedar Creek by Sheridan, and when Sherman was following Hood into Northern Alabama, Grant determined on a renewal of the grand movement by his left. Several days were consumed in preparation, and, with profound secrecy, all the sick, baggage, and encumbrances,

commissary stores, &c., were sent to City Point under protection of the gunboats. Three days' rations and forage were issued to the cavalry, and four days' rations to the infantry. The long line of intrenchments was divested of men, except a sufficient rear-guard.

The troops north of the James were to make an attack, while those south of the river were to form a combined movement upon Hatcher's Run. In accordance with this design, the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps, on Thursday, the 27th of October, began operations on the right. The Tenth Corps early occupied the ground between the Darbytown and Charles City roads, the First Division, under Ames (late Terry), holding the right, the Second, Porter (late Turner), the centre, and the Third, Hawley (late Birney), the left. The centre having been pushed on to Darbytown, four and a half miles from Richmond, a sharp encounter with the enemy's skirmishers soon took place, the latter falling back upon a line of intrenchments, from which a galling fire caused the Union troops to recoil with severe loss. Towards evening the attack was renewed, with the same results. Meanwhile the Eighteenth Corps, General Weitzel commanding, took up a position on the Darbytown road, in the rear of the Tenth Corps, and then continued its route northerly to the Williamsburg road, in the neighborhood of the old Seven Pines or Fair Oaks battle-ground. At four o'clock Weitzel was across the Williamsburg road, which the enemy's works commanded. Still's Pennsylvania Battery moved up the road and engaged the enemy's batteries, while a brigade of Marston's Division, on the right of the road, and one of Heckman's, on the left, advanced, supported by the remainder of the divisions. The enemy made but feeble resistance until the troops reached the focus of his fire, when a terrible discharge decimated them and broke the organization. To retire was as fatal as to advance, and the enemy completed the disaster by sallying out and capturing portions of the two advanced brigades, and driving back Still's battery. Dusk approaching, the remainder of the troops drew back out of range. Holman's colored division meanwhile had gallantly carried a two-gun redoubt, but the approach of night compelled him to abandon it. The whole force then returned to camp under orders from General Grant. The Federal loss was from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred men, and that of the enemy, according to his own account, about two hundred men. Thus ended the feint on the right.

The attack on the left was undertaken by the Second Corps, aided by Gregg's Cavalry, which was to march round the enemy's right flank, turn it, and seize his line of defences on Hatcher's Run, at the same moment that the Fifth and Ninth Corps by direct approach should attack these works in front. Accordingly, the Second Corps, on Wednesday evening, the 26th, marched across to the Church road, and at three and a half o'clock Thursday morning reached the Vaughan road, along which they proceeded, reaching Hatcher's Run at half-past seven A. M. The crossing was disputed by a small body of men, who were soon dispersed. The corps then proceeded on the west side of the run to the Boydton plank road, which they reached at a quarter past eleven A. M. Here Gregg's Cavalry connected on the left, about the

same time that Generals Grant and Meade arrived on the ground. Egan's Division was deployed on the right of the Boydton plank road, facing up towards the bridge over Hatcher's Run, and Mott's was deployed on the left of the road. De Trobriand's Brigade connected with Gregg, who held the extreme left. One brigade was left to take care of the enemy in our rear. In Egan's advance was Rugg's Brigade, and his skirmishers, at the command, rushed forward to Hatcher's Run, seized the bridge, and crossed the creek.

The next movement was to carry the enemy's works beyond Hatcher's Run. Egan's Division was accordingly disposed with Rugg's Brigade on the left, Price in the centre, and Smyth on the right, Beck's Battery co-operating as before. McAllister's Brigade of Mott's Division was in support of Egan. The Fifth Corps was now heard firing rapidly on the right, and it was expected that they would sweep about and effect a junction with the Second. But, owing to the exceedingly perplexing character of the country, and the uncertainty as to the roads, they were unable to do so. Of course the enemy was prompt to seize this advantage; and about four o'clock, while we were preparing to advance, Mahone's Division, of Hill's Corps, broke in on the right flank of Hancock, and instantly swept off Metcalf's section of Beck's Battery, which was there posted. Continuing his attack, be got across the Boydton road and bore down upon Egan's Division. With commendable energy and promptitude, Egan changed front with his own brigades and McAllister's, and, with the aid of the three batteries, Beck's and Roder's Fifth and Fourth regular, and Sleeper's Tenth Massachusetts (under Granger), succeeded in repulsing the enemy, after a hard and prolonged fight. In the fury of his first onset against Smyth's Brigade, it was driven back, several hundred prisoners captured, and our line so disordered as to allow the enemy to get upen the plankroad. A part of these prisoners were recaptured by being conducted by mistake into the Fifth Corps' lines. Hancock's prompt dispositions, and the firmness of Egan's troops, soon arrested the disaster likely to follow. In his turn falling upon the enemy's flank, Egan drove him back, Smith's and McAllister's Brigades behaving handsomely, while Mott promptly co-operated with De Trobriand's Brigade. The enemy abandoned Metcalf's guns and began to retreat. But he left three flags and five or six hundred prisoners-those who had come over on the plank road-in our possession.

The Federal loss in this affair was nine hundred killed and wounded and four hundred prisoners. This repulse placed the column in a precarious position, as the ammunition and rations were growing scarce, notwithstanding that sufficient for four days had been served out. The rain fell in torrents, and the troops retraced their weary steps to camp, leaving some of the wounded on the field.

Meantime, the Fifth and Ninth Corps left camp at daylight on the 27th, and during the forenoon got into position with the Ninth on the right and the Fifth on the left, confronting the enemy's works at Hatcher's Run. Here they made demonstrations and skirmished sharply during the day, returning to camp at night. The losses of the two corps were about four hundred. Thus the whole movement,