4.92 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

who never forgot his friends nor forgave his enemies. He
seemed determined to sustain Bragg at all events, though the
feeling throughout the whole army, and, in fact, the South, was
against that general. When Wilmington was known to be

threatened and Bragg was sent there, the Richmond Examiner
simply remarked, “Good-bye, Wilmington!” and the prediction
was verified.

Whiting, after the first attack, wrote to Bragg, suggesting
that in case of another attack, which would probably be made,
to prevent surprise he would advise that Hagood’s South Caro-
lina brigade, numbering about 2,000 effective men, be thrown

into Fort Fisher, the garrison of which consisted of one raw,
inexperienced regiment, that had never smelled powder except
in the first attack, and which did not number over 700 effective
men. Hagood’s troops were veterans, and had been in many a
battle. He also advised that the three other brigades of Hoke’s
division be placed along about the spot where the Federals had
first landed, and be intrenched so as to prevent a landing above
the fort. Wise precautions, if they had been adopted. Bragg
endorsed on the letter of advice from Whiting that he saw no
necessity in carrying out those suggestions. It was the failure
to carry out those suggestions that caused the loss of Wilmine-
ton. Had they been followed, Wilmington would not have
fallen when it did, nor Fisher have been taken. Instead, Bragg
brought Hoke’s division up about half a mile back of Wilming-
ton, over twenty miles from the Fort, and had a grand review
there, in which he paraded himself in a new suit of uniform,
presented to him by his admirers in Wilmington.

Whiting’s prediction about a surprise was shortly to be veri-
fied. Thursday night, the 12th of J anuary, 1865, the fleet
again appeared off Fisher. “This time, through Bragg’s im-
becility, it did its work effectually. Friday morning the citi-
zens of Wilmington were aroused by the booming of Porter’s

cannon, a second time opening on Fisher. When the news came
up at midnight that the fleet had again appeared, the band of

Hoke’s division was in town serenading, the officers were visit-
ing, and the men scattered about—Bragg, no doubt, asleep in
fancied security.

Of the capture of Fort Fisher, and the subsequent inevitable
loss of Wilmington, I shall not speak. These events have passed

into history. My purpose has been simply to portray the aspect
of Wilmington when blockaded.

Blockade Running

THE FIRST AND SECOND ATTACKS UPON
FORT FISHER.

On the morning of December 20, 1864, a Federal fleet began
to assemble at New Inlet. It bore the force General Grant had
sent under Gen. B. F. Butler to reduce Fort Fisher, and the
Federal Navy, under Admiral Porter, was codperating with
92 warships, the greatest flotilla ever brought together in Amert-
can waters. But General Butler hoped for the practical de-
struction of the fort by means of an explosion of powder on a
vessel, the Louisiana. All being in readiness, on the night of
the 23d the Louisiana was brought in, and at 1.52 a. m. the
explosion occurred. To the amazement of Butler nothing hap-
pened. Colonel Lamb, the next morning, reported: “A blocks
ader got aground near the fort, set fire to herself and blew up.
So little was the explosion noticed that its purpose was not
conjectured.

During the 24th a terrific bombardment was kept up by the
Federal fleet, but without much damage, Colonel Lamb noting
that the greatest penetration into his sand defenses was not more
than five feet perpendicularly. On Christmas day, Sunday, a
large force of infantry was landed at Battery Anderson, three
miles up the beach. ‘These, being unopposed by infantry and
well beyond the fire of the fort, prepared for the assault. The
beach was swept by the guns of the fleet and had there been an
infantry force to attack the Federal troops it could not have
approached them. At 4.30 p. m. the expected assault was
made, but successfully repulsed; and the next morning, General
Butler, admitting failure, withdrew his troops to his ships; and,
although the bombardment continued, this first attack ended in
disaster for the Federals, the defense being a glorious victory.

Admiral Porter and General Grant were much disappointed
at Butler’s fiasco, and they arranged to make another attempt.
General Grant enjoined the utmost secrecy, and a new force
was quietly collected under General Terry and transported
to Beaufort. The Confederates were jubilant at the defeat
of Butler, and General Bragg, who did not expect an early
renewal of the attack, moved Hoke’s division to Wilmington,
en route to make an effort to capture New Bern. General
Whiting, however, was of a different opinion and looked for the
return of the Federal forces. On the 8th of January the new