Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/81

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 55 Savannah, and forced the enemy to evacuate it on the night of December 20. Grant had sent Butler in charge of an expedi tion against Fort Fisher, at the mouth of Cape Fear river, to act in conjunction with the naval fleet under Admiral Porter. He sailed from Fort Mon roe, December 14, landed his troops December 25, and advanced against the fort, which had been vigorously shelled by the navy; but, while the as saulting party had every prospect of entering the work, they received an order to fall back and re- embark. The expedition reached Fort Monroe, on its return, December 27. Butler was relieved, and Gen. E. O. C. Ord was assigned to the command of the army of the James. Grant fitted out an other expedition against Fort Fisher, under Gen. Alfred H. Terry, which sailed from Fort Monroe on January 6, 1865. On the 13th the navy directed a heavy fire against the fort. Terry landed his troops, intrenched against a force of the enemy threatening him from the direction of Wilming ton, and on the 15th made a vigorous assault, cap turing the fort with its garrison and 169 heavy guns, and a large quantity of ammunition. It was at first thought best to transfer Sherman s army by sea to Virginia, but this plan was abandoned, and on December 27 he was ordered to move north by land. His army numbered 60,000 men, and was accompanied by 68 guns and 2,500 wagons. On