636 NortH CaRo.ina Troops, 1861-65.

that had often entered this inlet. Some 10,000 shot and shell
were fired by the fleet. The fort being obliged to husband
its ammunition fired only 672 projectiles. The last gun was
fired by Fort Fisher on the retiring vessels. In the first’
day’s fight, one-half of the quarters were burned, three gun
carriages disabled, a light artillery caisson exploded, large
quantities of the earth work torn and plowed up, with some
revetments splintered, but not a single bomb-proof, or maga-
zine injured. Only twenty-three men were wounded, one
mortally, three seriously, and nineteen slightly. Never since
the invention of gun powder was there so much harmlessly ex-
pended as in the first day’s attack on Fort Fisher. Among
the acts of individual heroism, one must be mentioned: When
the garrison flag staff, standing in the parade, was shivered
by shot and shell and the flag had fallen, orders were given
to Captain Daniel Munn, Company B, to raise a flag on the
staff on the Mound battery. The halyards had become un-
reeved and it was necessary to climb the staff to fasten the
flag. Private Christopher C. Bland, of Company K, Thirty-
sixth North Carolina, volunteered, climbed the staff under
a heavy fire of the fleet and fastened the flag. At once a ter-
rific fire was poured on the Mound, and the lower end of the
flag being cut loose, that heroic soldier repeated the daring
act, amid the cheers of the garrison, and fastened the flag
securely to the staff, where it floated triumphantly, although
torn and rent by fragments of shell, until the victory was
won.

On Christmas day, at 10:30 a. m., the fleet having come in,
reinforced by another monitor and some additional wooden
steamers, commenced an incessant bombardment, if possible,
more noisy and furious than that of the preceding day. At
5:30 p. m., a most terrific enfilading fire against the land face
and palisade commenced, unparalleled in severity. Admiral
Porter reported it at 130 shot and shell per minute, more
than two every second. The men were required to protect
themselves behind the traverses; the extra men were sent to
the bomb-proofs with orders to rally to the ramparts as soon as
the firing ceased. As soon as this fire commenced, a line of
skirmishers advanced towards the works. When the fire