498 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

region. I learn that there is no ford at which men or horses
can pass for fifteen miles above, but find a flatboat about a mile
down the stream which I secure for tomorrow’s operations.
Monday, February 20:—Order Henderson to keep the enemy
amused by pressing as closely as possible in front, and direct
Casement to take opposite side of the creek, and thence around

to the enemy’s rear. A little later I order Moore’s brigade, —

which is temporarily in my command, to follow Casement, and
go with it myself. We overtake Casement before he reaches the
road to Wilmington behind the rebels. I order Moore across to
the old Wilmington Road, so called, to stop any retreat in that
direction, and with the two brigades under Casement push down
upon the rear of the enemy. They are evidently taken by sur-
prise and we charge over them, capturing their two pieces of
artillery and nearly 400 prisoners, including the colonel com-
manding the brigade. We also take three battle flags. Our loss
was about 30, caused chiefly by the few discharges of cannon
they were able to make before our men could reach their lines.
Moore fails to come to time on the old Wilmington Road, and
the remainder escape that way. The action ended just at night-
fall. I have the bridge repaired during the night, ready to move
in the morning.

Tuesday, February 21:—Marched toward Wilmington, meet-
ing no opposition. The bridges along the road were destroyed,
causing much delay in repairing them, but in spite of delays my
advance reached the Brunswick Ferry, opposite Wilmington, a
little after noon. The enemy had a few skirmishers on Eagles’
Island, between us and the city, and had sunk and partly de-
stroyed their pontoon bridge at this place. We get up some of
the boats and with them ferry over a regiment (Sixteenth Ken-
tucky). These skirmish across the island, about one mile and a
half, and find some of the enemy on the farther side of it with
a piece of artillery posted so as to rake the road, which is very
straight and flanked by impassable swamps on both sides. I
keep the regiment there, ordering them to make the best cover
they can and set to work to raise and repair the rest of the pon-
toon boats. The rebels immediately begin to burn the supplies
and stores in Wilmington, the smoke rising in columns more
immense than any I have ever seen. I send a dispatch to Gen-
eral Schofield, informing him of my progress and of these indi-
cations of evacuation by the enemy, but before I can get an
answer I receive his dispatch, sent earlier, in which he informs
me that General Terry has made no headway, and orders me to

a See ee eae
BS ts

> ~—
apni — . ¥ ‘ ~ Saal isn ioe
bes ui ee ry eee _ Sor hide whic ean aia ;
See a ia ik C Ian Sy Mats SEONG ARMM SESE Be oe ORES RN el eae
ies a ee ON Ee es A RL EIEN, O sOME Non iad ape Se aE 7
Nut i itnnews ig a eld Fs cna ere ee = ees ea ae a
-

Blockade Running 499

withdraw my command and cross the river to Terry’s support.

I start one brigade, and send him a dispatch urging him not to

remove all of my troops, as I am sure the enemy is evacuating.

A second dispatch reiterates the order to move, and I start an-

Wednesday, February 22:—As I expected, we enter Wil-
mington this morning without Opposition, and as it is Washing-
ton’s birthday we hail the event as a good omen. The enemy
has retreated up the road to Goldsboro. I complete the repair

and relaying of the rebel pontoon bridge, and by noon cross the
Brunswick River and the island to the ferry across Cape Fear

(the channel on the west of the island is called Bruns-
wick River), and so into Wilmington with my troops. General
Terry, being on the same side of the river, marches through in
pursuit of Hoke. My troops are put in camp around the town,
and I assume command of the place. Assigned One Hundred
and Fourth Ohio to duty as provost-guard, and fix my head-

quarters temporarily at the house of a Dr. Bellamy, a fugitive
rebel.

USE OF TORPEDOES IN THE CAPE FEAR RIVER
DURING THE WAR.

_ Shortly after the occupation of Fort Anderson by the advane-
ing Federals and the supposed clearing of the river of Confed-
erate mines and torpedoes, the Federal transport Thorn, laden
with army supplies, was proceeding up the river towards Wil-
mington when she struck a torpedo which had been planted in
the channel in Orton Cove and was blown up and sunk. This
vessel was subsequently raised and floated by the Baker Wreck-
ing Company, of Norfolk. The Thorn was piloted by a well-
known negro man from Smithville, who before the war had
served on board a United States Coast-Survey schooner.

With reference to the use of torpedoes in the Cape Fear at
the time, Capt. E. §. Martin, ordnance officer, Confederate
States Army, has furnished the following information:

I do not recollect that torpedoes were used until the fal]
of 1864, when they were sent to Fort Caswell to be placed on or
near the bar. They were placed there by me, connected by wire

with electric batteries in the fort, to be exploded as occasion