FROM FORT FISHER: DISPATCH FROM REAR ADMIRAL PORTER; The Blowing Up of Fort Caswell by the Rebels (1/27/1865)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 1/27/1865

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. 26.

The Navy Department to-day received the following report from Admiral POSTER:

NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP MALVERN, OFF SMITHVILLE, N.C., Jan. 20, 1865.

SIR: In my last I informed you that Fort Caswell had been blown up and evacuated, in consequence of the fall of Fort Fisher.

I sent Lieut. W.B. CUSHING around in the Monticello to the western bar to ascertain what had taken place, and to obtain aid from the officers in command of the Nyack and Vicksburgh, and to take advantage of the occasion.

Lieut. CUSHING did not obtain the aid he required, for what reason I have not yet learned; but, with his usual energy, he pushed on in his boats and found that Fort Caswell had been blown up and Bald Head Fort destroyed. Fort Shaw also, and Fort Campbell, to the eastward of Caswell, had been abandoned. All these forts mounted nine and ten inch guns and Armstrong one hundred and fifty pounders.

Lieut. CUSHING then pushed into Smithville, after hoisting the flag of the Union over Caswell.

The next thing I saw was the flag waving over Smithville, which the rebels had left in a great hurry, after they saw our boats approaching, leaving everything in the beautiful and heavy fort uninjured, and two nine-inch guns, only spiked, in the fort at Deep Water Point.

In the meantime I had succeeded in getting one gunboat, the Tacony, over the rip, an interior bar, and sent her up to Reeves' Point, to disable the guns at that place, about three miles on the west side of the river, above Fort Fisher. Thus in twenty-four hours after the fall of Fort Fisher and its outworks, all the formidable chain of forts in this river, at its entrance, built to keep

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

From Fort Fisher: Dispatch from Rear Admiral Porter– 2
The Rebel Iron-Clad Raid: Further Particulars – 2-3
Return of Mr. Blair: What He is “Understood to Report” – 3
Army of the Potomac: “All Quiet” – 3
News from Rebel Sources – 3-4
The Overland Mail Line: Danger of the Julesburgh Station – 4
News from Washington – 4
Thirty-Eighth Congress: Second Session – 4-5
Editorial: Savannah and Wilmington – Cotton Prospects Abroad – 5-6
Editorial: Official Reports – A Criticism – 6
Another “Blessing in Disguise” – 6
The Murder of Policeman Curran: Theodore Yates, the Prisoner Sentenced to be Executed – 6

[struggle]

Our extended family usually has our beach trip in Kure Beach, right next to Fort Fischer.