rks to pieces. But in this the projectors were
disappointed; for the explosion, though a terrific one, did absolutely
no harm to the Confederate works. When Porter finally did get into the
fort, he asked a soldier what he thought of the attempt to blow them
up. "It was a mighty mean trick," responded the Southerner
satirically. "You woke us all up."

After this fiasco had set all the world laughing, Butler retired
voluntarily, and was succeeded by Gen. Terry; and on Christmas Eve of
the year 1864 the fleet began the bombardment, although the land
forces were not yet prepared for the assault. It was the grandest
armada that was ever arrayed against any fortress. The thunder of
nearly five hundred guns rent the air on that Christmas Eve, when
carols were being sung in Christian churches throughout the world.
Tremendous as was the cannonade, the earthworks were almost a match
for it. The fort was not a mass of masonry that these enormous guns
might batter down and crumble into rubbish, but a huge bank of earth
in which the shells might harmlessly bury themselves. But five hundred
cannon are more than a match for any fort, and so they soon proved to
be in this instance. Earthworks, guns, and men alike went down before
them. The iron-clads were stationed about three-quarters of a mile
from the fort, a little farther out were the frigates and heavy
sloops, and still beyond were the smaller vessels,--all firing to
cover themselves; and all along the whole extended line there blazed
one almost continuous sheet of flame, while the rolling thunder of the
broadsides, and the defiant answering roar from the guns of the forts,
shook earth and sea. Clouds of dust went up from the bastions of the
fort, and mingled with the floating smoke above. Within the forts,
there was a scene of the most terrible confusion: guns were
overturned, piles of cannon-balls were knocked to pieces and scattered
about, and two magazines were blown up and scattered fragments all
over the parade. In one hour and a quarter all the gunners were driven
to the bomb-proofs, and the forts were silenced, not returning a
single shot.

[Illustration: Charge of Sailors at Fort Fisher.]

On Christmas morning Gen. Terry arrived with all his transports, and
the attack was recommenced. Early in the morning the ships fell into
position and began a slow fire, merely to cover the landing of the
troops. Again the garrison was driven to the bomb-proofs; and, indeed,
so ent