January 15, 1865: The Fall of Fort Fisher-- Part 1: The Naval Column Comes Under Heavy Fire

JANUARY 15TH, 1865:  Porter's fleet reopened their terrific bombardment while Union troops readied for an attack on the western end of Fort Fisher's land face by the river.  Meanwhile, sailors and Marines landed to the north of the fort and advanced along the beach in preparation to attack the northeast part of the fort by the ocean.

At 3 pm on the 15th, the signal to cease firing was sent to the fleet, and the soldiers, sailors and Marines ashore charged the Confederate fortifications.  Because the Army advanced through a wooded area while the Naval Brigade dashed across an open beach, the defenders opened a concentrated fire at point-blank range on the naval attack, "ploughing lanes in the ranks.'

Leading the assault, Lieutenant Samuel W. Preston, one of the Union's ablest young naval officers, and Lieutenant Benjamin H. Porter (no relation to the admiral), commanding officer of the flagship USS Malvern, were among those killed.

Unchecked, however, this assaulting force under the command of Lieutenant Commander K. Randolph Breese pressed forward.

There is a whole lot more about the attack and fall of Fort Fisher that I will write about the next several weeks.

The End of Fort Fisher.  --Old B-Runner