The clock mechanism to blow the ship up failed to ignite the powder at the appointed time, 1:18 a.m., and after agonizing minutes of waiting, the fire set in the stern of the Louisiana reached the powder and a tremendous explosion occurred.
Fort Fisher and its garrison, however, were not measurably affected, although the blast was heard many miles away; in fact, Col. Lamb, the fort's commander wrote in his diary: "A blockader got aground near the fort, set fire to herself and blew up."
It remained for the massed gunfire from ships of Porter's huge fleet, the largest ever assembled up to that time under the American flag, to cover the landings and reduce Fort Fisher.
For tghe events of what happened today in te battle, hit the First Battle of Fort Fisher label below and go to Dec. 24, 2012.
--Old B-Runner
No comments:
Post a Comment