Saturday, January 17, 2015

Lights Out at Fort Fisher-- Part 2: "Under a Perfect Hail of Lead"

JANUARY 15TH, 1865:

The Naval Brigade Attacks.

The Union attack land attack on the fort consisted of two columns who were supposed to strike at the same time, but the naval one, approaching along the beach targeting the Northeast Bastion, where the land and sea faces joined, got off first.

Ensign "Fighting Bob" Evans, later Rear Admiral, suffered four wounds in the attack, two that crippled his legs.  He later vividly described the naval assault: "About five hundred yards from the fort, the head of the column suddenly stopped, and, as if by magic,  the whole mass of men went down like a row of falling bricks....

"The officers called on the men, and they responded instantly, starting forward as fast as they could go.  At about three hundred yards they again went down, this time under the effect of canister added to the rifle fire.  Again we rallied them, and once more started to the front under a perfect hail of lead, with men dropping rapidly in every direction."

A Lot Different From Fighting On Ships.  --Old B-Runner

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