Fort Fisher

“First assault upon Fort Fisher, Sunday, January 15th, 1865. The One Hundred and Seventeenth New York troops, followed by the Third, planting the flag on the northern traverse of the fort. On the 13th of January the Federal fleet commenced the bombardment, which was continued with unabated vigor throughout the day. On the 15th it was resolved to take the place by storm. The boats containing the naval force intended to co-operate effected a landing on a shelving piece of beach about a mile and a half from the fort. At two o’clock, and when within eight hundred yards of the fort, the order to charge was given. The First Brigade of the Second Division of the Twenty-fourth Corps, headed by General Curtis, scaled the northeast salient of the fort, and forced a rapid entrance. Inch by inch they fought their way along the northeast face, the gallant First Brigade in the advance. It was a hand-to-hand struggle; bayonets were in general use; muskets were clubbed; and man stood up to man in deadly conflict. Night fell, and yet the fierce struggle raged unremittingly within the fort. About ten o’clock the final struggle took place, and, after a short but desperate hand-to-hand encounter, the Federals remained masters of the hitherto impregnable Fort Fisher."— Frank Leslie, 1896

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