WILMINGTON, Capture of. After Gen eral Terry's capture of Fort Fisher (q.v ) 15 Jan. 1865, Terry posted his troops on an in trenched line across the peninsula, about two miles above the fort. An advance on Wilming ton was not considered prudent until he could be reinforced, as General Hoke, the Confeder ate commander, was holding Fort Anderson on the west bank of Cape Fear River, about midway between Fort Fisher and Wilmington, and on the opposite bank had thrown up a line of intrenchments across the peninsula in Terry's front, behind which he had about 4,500 me-n. Fort Anderson was an extensive earthwork. mounting 10 heavy guns, commanding the ap proaches by land and water and held by General Hagood's brigade of 2,000 men. General Grant ordered General Schofield, with the 23d corps, from Tennessee to the coast of North Caro lina to co-operate with General Sherman. Schofield's troops arrived at Alexandria and Washington late in January, where they were detained some days by the ice in the Potomac. General Cox's division of 4,400 men went by steamers from Alexandria and landed on the peninsula, in rear of Terry, 9 February, raising Terry's command to 8.000 men. Schofield now took command; the fleet under Admiral Porter occupied positions in Cape Fear River and off the coast, covering both flanks of Terry's line. and, 11 February, Terry was pushed forward. supported by Cox, drove in Hoke's pickets and entrenched within 500 yards of his main line. An attempt on the 12th to turn Hoke's left by a co-operation of the army and navy was foiled by high winds and a violent storm. On the night of the 14th an attempt was made to move the pontoons upon their wagons along the beach with the troops; the wagons sank deeply in the sand, progress was very slow, and it having become evident that the pontoons could not be got tip to the point of crossing of Mason borough Sound before daylight, when the enemy would discover the movement, the at tempt was abandoned and attention turned to Hoke's right, where it would not be required to contend with the difficulties of both land and sea. On the 16th Cox's and Ames' divisions were crossed by steamboats to Smithville, or the right bank of the river, where they were joined by Col. 0. It Moore's brigade, of Couch's division, and a battery, and, on the 17th Cox with four brigades and the battery ad vanced along the main Wilmington road, driv ing the Confederate pickets and bivouacking near Fort Anderson, with his right resting on the river. Next morning the advance was re sumed and the enemy dnven within the works Moore's and Henderson's brigades were in trenched on the south side of the fort, while Cox, with his other two brigades, followed later by Ames' division, started around Orton Pond, covering the Confederate right, to gut the ilmington road in rear of the fort, the distance to be traveled being about 15 miles The guns of Fort Anderson opened fire on the two brigades confronting the fort, and the gent• boats opened heavily on the fort, the monitor Montauk lying close to it and the others en filading its parapet. General Hagood, warned
by his cavalry of Cox's movement around his right, hastily abandoned Fort Anderson during the night, taking with him six light guns and falling back behind Town Creek, eight miles above the fort. Hoke also retreated from his lines opposite Fort Anderson to within four miles of Wilmington. By these movements Schofield gained possession of the main de fenses of Cape Fear River and of Wilmington, with several pieces of heavy ordnance and a large amount of ammunition, and with but small loss. In this he had the assistance of the gunboats that moved up the river removing torpedoes and silencing batteries on both banks. On the 19th Cox pursued Hagood to Town Creek, behind which and near its mouth he was found intrenched and had destroyed the only bridge. The creek was not fordable and could not be bridged. Terry also advanced on the east side of the river, following Hoke, and found him in force, and Ames' division was re crossed to the east bank and joined Terry in the night. Terry again advanced on the morn ing of the 20th and after some sharp skirmish ing came upon Hoke well intrenched with artil lery in position. On the same day Cox crossed Town Creek below Hagood's position, by the use of a single flat boat found in the stream, which carried 50 men at a trip, and, by march ing through woods and swamps, reached Hagood's flank and rear, attacked and routed his brigade, after a stubborn resistance, captur ing two guns, three battle-flags and 375 prison ers, including Colonel Simonton, temporarily commanding the brigade, and nearly all the officers. During the night Cox rebuilt the bridge over Town Creek, crossed his artillery and the next morning pushed on toward Wil mington without opposition. Terry was unable to make any farther advance, but occupied Hoke's attention, so that he could not send any part of his force to replace the losses in Hagood's brigade. On the 21st Cox secured a portion of the Confederate pontoon bridge across Brunswick River, which Hoke had en deavored to destroy, put the 16th Kentucky regiment upon Eagle Island abreast Wilmington and threatened to cross Cape Fear River above the town. Hoke at once set fire to steamers, boats, cotton and naval stores, and abandoned the place, retreating in the direction of Golds boro. General Terry entered the place without opposition early in the morning of 22 February andpursued Hoke across Northeast River. Schofield reports that he took 51 heavy guns, 15 light ones, and a large amount of ammuni tion. The Union loss from 11 February to the capture of Wilmington on the 22d was about 200 killed and wounded. The Confederate loss is not definitely known, Schofield estimates it at not less than 1,000, in killed, wounded and prisoners. Consult 'Official Records' (Vol. XLVII) ; Cox, 'March to the Sea' ; Cox, 'Mili tary Reminiscences of the Civil War' (Vol. II).