Blockade Running 495

the Lilian was down so much by the head that she was almost sub-
merged forward. The author with forty-eight men was taken aboard

the U. S. S. Keystone State, which the next day joined the blockading
fleet at New Inlet. The Lilian was towed into Beaufort and repaired

at Philadelphia. She was then equipped by the Federals with an arma-

ment of two heavy guns and took part in the second attack upon Fort
Fisher.

THE CAPTURE OF WILMINGTON.

Fort Fisher fell January 15, 1865. General Hoke, with

4,500 veteran troops, was intrenched in the sand-hills, opposite
Fort Anderson, and General Terry, deeming his force too weak,
awaited reinforcements before advancing.

At length, on February 11, his strength being 8,000, he
moved forward, but was checked by Hoke. On the night of the
14th, he sought to turn Hoke’s left flank, but again failed.
Abandoning the plan of a direct movement, he then threw Cox’s
division to the western shore of the river, purposing to approach
Wilmington from that direction. The ironclads began a brisk
bombardment of Fort Anderson, and Cox made a feint as if
to attack the fort in its front, but moved a brigade around
Orton Pond to gain the rear of the fort and possess himself of
the open road to Wilmington. This movement being discov-
ered, General Hagood at once abandoned the fort and took post
beyond Town Creek. The right and rear of his position thus
being opened to the fire of the Federal fleet, General Hoke fell
back to a more secure position, four miles from the town. On
the 19th General Cox advanced to Town Creek, and Terry fol-
lowed Hoke on the east side of the river. The following day
Cox crossed Town Creek below the Confederate position, and
was able to reach Hagood’s rear, after a stiff fight, capturing
Colonel Simonton, who was in temporary command, a large
number of officers, and 395 men. Two days later Cox reached
Eagle’s Island, and Wilmington was at his merey. Hoke there-
upon destroyed such property as would be of use to the Federal
Army, and retreated towards Goldsboro. On the morning of
the 22d, General Terry entered and took possession of the town.

The following is an abstract from the journal of Maj. Gen.
Jacob D. Cox, United States Army, with reference to daily
events after the capture of Fort Fisher. We quote from
Wednesday, February 15, 1865, up to Wednesday, February

22, 1865, when he entered Wilmington and took possession of
the town.