January 4, 1865: Porter's Plan For a Sailor Assault on Fort Fisher

JANUARY 4TH, 1865:   Rear Admiral Porter, laying meticulous plans for the second Fort Fisher attack, ordered each of his commanding officers to "detail as many of his men as he can spare from the guns as a landing party."

They were to be armed with cutlasses and revolvers, and were to hit the beach when the assault signal was made "and board the fort in a seaman-like way.  The marines will form in the rear and cover  the sailors.  While the soldiers are going over the parapets in front, the sailors will take the sea face of Fort Fisher."

--Old B-Runner