Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/181

 \\'ifli>nii //''in-'/ elms,- \\'iiiii'ni/. 171

" I have only to add, that the Commanding General on learning of the approach of the enemy, would give me no orders whatever; and persistently refused from the beginning, to allow me to have any- thing to do with the troops from General Lee's army. I conse- (liu-ntly repaired to Fort Fisher, as the place where my own sense of duty called me.

" I am, General, very respectfully,

" Your obedient servant,

"W. H. C. WHITING, ' ' Major- General {prisoner of war). ' '

" HOSPITAL, FORT COLUMBUS, GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, " NEW YORK HARBOR, February 79, 1865.

" The above is an exact copy of the dispatch dictated to Major Hill, in the hospital at Fort Fisher (and preserved in his note-book) on the i8TH JANUARY, 1865, and which I intended to have endeav- ored to forward at that time by flag of truce, and accordingly made a request of General Terry. On his reply, that it would be nec.es- sary to refer it to Lieutenant-General Grant, I concluded to postpone the report. I wish to add a few remarks upon the difference be- tween the two attacks, and also give some information which I have acquired. Had the enemy assaulted the work on the first attack he would have been beaten off with great slaughter.

"The fire of the fleet on that occasion, though very severe and formidable, was very diffuse and scattered, seemingly more designed to render a naval entrance secure, than a land attack, consequently our defense was but slightly damaged. We had nineteen guns bear- in - on the assault, and above all the palisade was almost as good as new. Moreover, the fleet, during the first bombardment, hauled off at night, giving the garrison time lor rest, cooking, and refreshment. It is remarkable, that during the first bombardment, no gun's crew was ever driven from its gun; but on the i3th and 1 4th January, the fleet stationed itself with the definite object of de- stroying the land defence by direct and enfilade fire; the latter, a f<-u d* cnjllancnt to knockdown the traverses, destroying all guns and pound the northeast salient into a practicable slope for the as- saulting column.

" By u M. Sunday, not a gun remained on the land front. The

palisade was entirely swept away, and the mines in advance, so

ply did the enemy's shot plough, were isolated from the wires,