1st Battle Of Fort Fisher - December, 1864: A "Fiasco"

1st Battle Of Fort Fisher - December, 1864: A "Fiasco". . , Determined to close the port of Wilmington, a combined effort by Union army and naval forces gathered to capture Fort Fisher in December 1864. 64 warships, mounting 619 guns, fired 20,000 shells, making the naval bombardment the largest of the war up to that time. Fort Fisher was only able to mount 44 heavy guns, and Confederate gunners could only answer back with 1,390 rounds. Colonel Lamb counted 130 incoming shells a minute during the height of the bombardment., At approximately 1:40 am on Christmas Eve morning, the USS Louisiana, a powder boat carrying 215 tons of black powder, exploded within 600 yards of the northeast part of the fort. The plan was conceived by General Butler, who was convinced that the blast would destroy the fort in that area. The plan proved to be a dismal failure., During the height of the bombardment, 5 ships reported their 100-pounder Parrotts bursting, killing and wounding 45 officers and men on the Ticonderoga, Yantic, Mackinaw, Quaker City, and Juanita., 2,700 Federal troops of the 6,500-man army force disembarked to attack the land face of the fort. However, they were shortly recalled due to bad weather, poor coordination between naval and army officers, and concerns about an outcome similar to that at the recent attack on Battery Wagner in South Carolina. Despite the embarrassing failure, the effort proved to be a rehearsal. Likened to a reconnaissance in force, the effort provided valuable intelligence and experience, as well as inspiring a determination to return., In recognition of he valor of all combatants at the Battle of Fort Fisher , Rountree and Losee, LLP Attorneys at Law , Serving North Carolina since 1896.