This reconnoissance disclosed the fact that the front of the
work had been seriously injured by the navy fire. In the afternoon of
the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was
captured, with its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by
the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important
successes of the war. Our loss was: killed, one hundred and ten;
wounded, five hundred and thirty-six. On the 16th and the 17th the
enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works on Smith's
Island, which were immediately occupied by us. This gave us entire
control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and
Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of Virginia and
North Carolina.
The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the force
which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now threatening it,
I determined to find other fields of operation for General Thomas's
surplus troops--fields from which they would co-operate with other
movements. General Thomas was therefore directed to collect all troops,
not essential to hold his communications at Eastport, in readiness for
orders. On the 7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was
assured of the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General
Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as possible.
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