“nerved … to the conflict” (Admiral Porter and staff, December 1864)
and pertinacity
Here are some examples of Northern newspaper reaction to the Union capture of Fort Fisher.
A local paper in upstate New York thought the price was way too high if the port of Wilmington was not totally sealed off. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865:
The Capture of Fort Fisher.
The fall of Fort Fisher is the military event of the week. It was captured by our forces on Sunday last, after a most gallant and stubborn resistance on the part of the enemy. The bombardment by the fleet was undoubtedly the severest ever witnessed, and it was the determination of Admiral Porter and Gen. Terry, who commanded the land forces, to capture the fort at whatever cost or sacrifice. The failure of the attempt a few weeks ago nerved them to the conflict, and the result is one of the most brilliant achievements of the war. – Our loss was very severe and, unquestionably greater than has been reported.
yeah, but Wilmington still hasn’t been captured
The capture of Fort Fisher does not necessarily involve the fall of Wilmington, neither does it entirely close the port to blockade runners. All this becomes a matter of uncertainty in the future, and if we judge of the result by what followed in the capture of Fort Morgan at the entrance of mobile bay some time since, all the sacrifice of like and treasure will have been in vain.
I’m pretty sure the Albany Argus was a strongly pro-Democratic party publication during the war. It appreciated the display of American courage. From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in January 1865:
The Argus says the capture of Fort Fisher by acts of singnal [sic] valor of fleet and land forces, is the brightest achievement of our arms. The captured fort will stand a monument of the cowardice and incapacity of BUTLER, and the valor and skill of TERRY and PORTER, and of the intrepidity of American troops.
“indomitable pertinacity”
A more widely read and pro-war paper chalked the up the victory to the character of Lieutenant General Grant. From the January 28, 1865 issue of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South:
THE FALL OF FORT FISHER.
THE history of the Wilmington Expedition is another proof of our Lieutenant-General’s indomitable pertinacity. He never undertakes without final accomplishment. He may not succeed in the first instance, or a partial reverse may reveal to him the insufficiency in the means taken, or the incompetency of his subordinates. But he holds on notwithstanding, providing new means and shelving incapable officers, knowing that in the end, sooner or later, victory awaits the patient soldier.
General Terry with a resume highlight
BUTLER failed to take Fort Fisher, and men had hardly got through with reasoning upon his failure and its causes before the news of complete success, under another commander, upsets or modifies their military critiques. This success is of the first importance. The capture of Fort Fisher does not mean alone the taking of 75 guns and several hundred prisoners. It involves a loss to the rebels of their principal port, and to us whatever gain may come from the release of our blockading fleet at this point. But its chief value is in relation to the future military operations of Generals GRANT and SHERMAN. The Cape Fear River is a convenient base for the most efficient co-operation of the two great armies now overshadowing the Atlantic rebel States.
The assault made on the 15th, and the five hours’ fight hand to hand with the garrison of the fort, is not surpassed in the annals of war. …
