Jan. 15, 1865-- Part 4: "Fort Fisher Is Ours"

Cries of victory rose from the embattled Confederate defenders, who with the defeat of the naval brigade, believed they had beaten back the main Union attack, but their exultation was short-lived.  While the naval land assault was going on, General Terry's troops had meanwhile taken the western end of the fort by the Cape Fear River.

The Confederates instantly launched a counter-attack and desperate hand-to-hand fighting ensued.

The naval shore bombardment then renewed again (it had fallen silent during the naval assault) and this intervention proved to be decisive.  The guns of Porter's armada, firing at right angles to the direction of the Union charge, opened with "deadly precision" into the Confederate ranks.

Other ships now directed their fire to neutralize the river bank behind the fort to stop any attempts to reinforce.  Lamb later recorded that "as the tide of the battle seemed to have turned in our favor, the remorseless fleet came to the rescue of the faltering Federals."

Both General Whiting and Colonel Lamb were put out of action with severe wounds leading the counter attacks.  Major James Reilly assumed command of the fort.  He and his men surrendered later that night.

"Fort Fisher," Porter wired Welles, "is ours."

--Old B-Runner