Dec. 28, 1864-- 144 years ago.
MORNING-- The blockade-runner Banshee enters at New Inlet.
5:30 PM-- President Lincoln asks Grant, "If there be no objection, please tell me what you understand of the Wilmington expedition, present and prospective."
Grant replies, "The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable failure. many of the troops are now back here. Delays and free talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defeat it. After the expedition sailed from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself. Who is to blame I hope will be known."
Why, that guy would be Beast Butler himself.
A great day for the Confederacy, but not long-lived. Union forces would come back in three weeks, this time under the command of General Alfred Terry.
So Much for the First Battle. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
