January 1, 1865: Fort Fisher Attack To Be Renewed, Porter Gets Ready

JANUARY 1ST, 1865:  Receiving General Grant's December 30 notification of a renewed Army assault on Fort Fisher with "an increased force and without the former commander [General Benjamin Butler]", Rear Admiral Porter acted vigorously to set up a massive and overwhelming attack behind the fleet's heavy guns.

He directed that his 43 warships  concentrate at Beaufort, North Carolina, and the 23 on station off the Cape Fear River send in their operational charts for corrections and on-load "every shell that can be carried" for shore bombardment.

--Old B-R'er