Second Battle of Fort Fisher Timeline-- Part 2

JANUARY 15, 1865--  Midday--  Union bombardment had destroyed every gun on Fort Fisher's land face except two 8-inch Columbiads.

3:25 p.m.--  Naval landing party of 2,500 sailors and Marines who had landed earlier, attack the Northeast Bastion (where the sea and land faces of the fort came together) but are repulsed with heavy losses.

Simultaneously, a brigade of Ames' Division attacks the western end of the land face (by the Cape Fear River and succeed in getting into the fort.  A traverse to traverse battle then begins all the way eastward along the fort's land face.

9 p.m.--  Lamb and Whiting are both wounded and Major James Reilly assumes command of of worsening situation.  The fort's defenders are slowly pushed southward along the sea face of the fort to Battery Buchanan.

10 p.m.--  With no escape, Reilly surrenders the fort at Battery Buchanan.  Union ships fire off a huge fireworks display at the fort's surrender.

JANUARY 16, 1865--  The fort's main powder magazine explodes, killing about 250 Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers.

--Old B-Runner