FORT FISHER, an earthwork in North Carolina, on the peninsula between the ocean and Cape Fear river, defending the entrance to the port of Wilmington. In the last year of the war of the rebellion this was the only port open to the confederates, and it became a matter of importance to the unionists to close it. To effect this purpose, a formidable fleet left Hampton roads Dec. 13, 1864, and arrived off Federal point on the 15th. On the 23d, gen. Benjamin F. Butler, who was chief in command, prepared to attack, and did so the next clay. One of his reliances was on a hulk laden with 215 tons of pow der, to be exploded as near to the fort as it could be brought. This hulk was brought to a point 600 ft. from the shore and about 3,000 ft. from the fort, and fired. The explosion did no appreciable damage to the fort. The fleet then opened fire, and in a.
little over an hour the guns of the fort were silenced. On the 25th the bombardment was renewed, and under cover of it a reconnoitering force went within 150 yards of the fort, but an assault was deemed unadvisable, and the troops were re-embarked, and returned to James river. The fleet, however, remained, and Jan. 2d and 3d, 1865, 8,000 men were assembled at Bermuda Hundred, under command of gen. A. H. Terry. Embarking on the 4th and 5th, they landed on the 13th under cover of the fire of the vessels. There was hard fighting on the 14th and 15th, resulting in the capture of the fort, with over 2,000 prisoners and 169 guns. The union loss was 110 killed and 536. wounded. The confederates then blew up their remaining works, and the control of the mouth of Cape Fear river passed into union hands.