Caddy Buddy books

He had
special detailed instructions from Grant, the greatest living
military commander; and he had under him and to cooperate
with him Admiral Porter who, with one possible exception,
was the ablest naval commander in our service.
Wilmington was stripped of troops. The fort was garrisoned
by four companies of infantry and one light battery. With
all the reinforcements which the enemy could muster but a
thousand and seventy-seven men were in the fort. The greatest
armada ever in American waters was under Butler's command--
fifty vessels, thirty-three for attack and seventeen in reserve,
including four iron-clads. The iron-clads opened fire upon
the fort, throwing one hundred and fifteen shells a minute.
"Fort Fisher replied at once with all its guns. But those
on the northeast face were silenced almost as soon as the
monitors opened their terrific fire, and by the time the last
of the large vessels had anchored and got their batteries into
play, only one or two of the enemy's guns were able to reply.
The shower of shells had driven the gunners to the bomb-proofs.


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