An understatement by the Civil War Interactive Newswire. Probably the heaviest naval bombardment of land fortifications up until that time and very likely up until World War II.
The second day of the bombardment as the Navy was firing an average of 100 shells a minute. The Confederates had 300 dead and were unable to bury them because of the hellfire released on them. Only one gun on the half-mile wide land-face still operational. The Army protects itself against Bragg and make preparations to move forward.
According to the Fort Fisher North Carolina Historical Sites web site:
January 14, 1865
8 am-- Terry's troops finish entrenchments stretching all the way across the peninsula from the ocean to the Cape Fear River that they had commenced at 2 am.
Bragg probes Union's northern line with Hoke's troops, but Hoke determines it is too strong to attack.
1:30 pm-- Whiting, at Fort Fisher, telegraphs Bragg that the enemy should never have been allowed to entrench and if allowed to stay, Fort Fisher will fall. He had told Bragg this many times, but will hold Fisher as long as possible.
Bragg also said he would reinforce Fisher with part of Hoke's division in numbers enough to make the fort "impregnable against assault."
Late afternoon-- Terry and chief engineer Cyrus Comstock arrive at Battery Holland. Terry and brigade commander N. Martin Curtis reconnoiter and determine the time has come to attack.
Admiral Porter happy about this and says marines and sailors will be landed to assist in the attack.
Nightfall-- Most of Fort Fisher's land face is shattered.
What Got Me Intereted in the Civil War. --Old B-Runner
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