February 16-17, 1865-- Part 1: The Attack on Fort Anderson Begins

FEBRUARY 16TH-17TH, 1865:  As the combined operation to capture Wilmington got underway, ships of Rear Admiral Porter helped to ferry troops of General Schofield's two divisions from Fort Fisher to Smithville (now Southport), on the west bank of the Cape Fear River.

Fort Anderson, the initial objective for the two commanders,lay on the west bank mid-way between the mouth of the river and Wilmington.

On the morning of the 17th,  Major general Jacob D. Cox led 8,000 troops north from Smithville.

In support of the advance, the monitor USS Montauk, Lieutenant Commander Edward E. Stone, and four gunboats heavily bombarded Fort Anderson and successfully silenced its twelve guns.

--Old B-Runner