three millions of dollars in money, of which one million came from the Pacific States; they sent it nine millions' worth of supplies. From fairs held in its interest very large sums were derived. One in New York yielded a million and a quarter of dollars; one in Philadelphia more than a million. In towns comparatively small, there were often collected at such fairs more than twenty thousand dollars.

What country, what age of the world can show such a Other relief asso- splendid example of "organized mercy?" And ciations. yet this is not all. Besides the United States Sanitary Commission, there was the "Western Sanitary. Commission," with similar duties, though on a smaller scale. It disbursed about one million in money and two millions in supplies. There were also "State Sanitary Commissions," which took charge of matters more directly lo cal, for the special benefit of soldiers of their particular

states.

The Christian

The Christian Commission emulated the noble conduct of the United States Sanitary Commission. Commission. It, too, received the recognition and counte nance of the government. Its object was to promote the physical and spiritual welfare of soldiers and sailors. Its central office was in Philadelphia, but it had agencies in all the large towns. "It aided the surgeon, helped the chap. lain, followed the armies in their marches, went into the trenches and along the picket-line. Wherever there was a sick, a wounded, a dying man, an agent of the Christian Commission was near by." It gave Christian burial whenever possible; it marked the graves of the dead. It had its religious services, its little extemporized chapels, its prayer-meetings. The American Bible Society gave it Bibles and Testaments; the Tract Society its publications. The government furnished its agents and supplies free transportation; it had the use of the telegraph for its poses. Steam-boat and railroad companies furthered its

pur.

objects with all their ability. It distributed nearly five millions of dollars in money and supplies.

They extend their care to the discharged soldier.

Faithful to the last, these noble commissions did not for sake the soldier when he had fought through the war and conquered a peace. They threw open their "Homes" to welcome him returning to his home. Their agents met him at railroad stations and steam-boat landings; protected him from impositions, and carried him to their lodges; looked after his arrears of pay, saw that full justice was rendered to him, and that no man took advantage of him. They set up "bureaus of information and employment," to find for each, desirous of obtaining it, a situation such as he was capable of filling.

SECTION XXI.

THE DOWNFALL OF THE CONFEDERACY.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

OPERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINAL CAMPAIGNS. THE CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER. THE CAPTURE OF MOBILE. THE EXPEDITIONS OF SCHOFIELD, STONEMAN, WILSON, AND SHERIDAN. Grant caused preparations to be made in North Carolina for the approach of Sherman, who was advancing from Savannah through the Carolinas.

Fort Fisher was reduced, and Wilmington and Goldsboro captured. From General Thomas's army, which, since the battle of Nashville, had no enemy before it, detachments were sent to North Carolina, to Virginia, to Alabama. Sheridan, with his cavalry, moved against the communications of Richmond north of James River.

Necessity of obtaining possession of Wilmington.

WILMINGTON, in North Carolina, was, in the spring of 1865, the only sea-port remaining to the Confederacy through which foreign supplies could be obtained. The navy had used every exertion to blockade it, but such are the peculiarities of the harbor that this could not be accomplished effectually without the capture of Fort Fisher, one of its defensive works. In view of Sherman's contemplated march from Savannah northward, it became necessary to reduce those forts and to capture Wilmington.

Description of

Fort Fisher is situated on the peninsula between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. For five Fort Fisher. miles north of Federal Point this peninsula is sandy and low, not rising more than 15 feet above high tide. The interior abounds in fresh-water swamps, often wooded, and almost impassable. Much of the dry land to within half a mile of the fort is covered with a low undergrowth. There is a bare strip of about 300 yards in width along the sea-shore.

The fort presents two fronts: the first, or land front, running across the peninsula, at this point 700 yards wide, is 486 yards in length; the second, or sea front, runs from the right of the first parallel to the beach to the Mound Battery, a distance of 1300 yards. The land front is intended to resist any attack from the north; the sea front to prevent any vessels from running through New Inlet, or landing troops on Federal Point.

Arrangements for its capture.

FORT FISHER.

To secure possession of this fort, a formidable armada, under Admiral Porter, was assembled in Hampton Roads. In the latter part of November, 1864, a conference was held between Grant, Butler, and Porter, and suitable arrangements made. General Weitzel was designated to command the land forces. Advantage was taken of the circumstance that a large part of the Confederate force at Wilmington had gone to resist Sherman in Georgia.

General Butler had formed great expectations of the ef Butler's powder- fect that would be produced on Fort Fisher boat a failure. by the explosion of a boat loaded with a very large quantity of powder. Some delay occurred in properly preparing the contrivance. The boat was stored with 215 tons of gunpowder, and fuses were so arranged as to secure the instantaneous ignition of the whole mass. There was a clock-work mechanism to fire it at the proper mo

ment.

On the 13th of December the expedition started, and arrived near Fort Fisher on the evening of the 15th; but, through a storm-one of those storms which have given its name to Cape Fear-and other causes, delays occurred until the 24th, when the powder-boat was exploded, producing, however, no effect.

At daylight on that day, the ships, led by the Ironsides, Bombardment by got under way. Nothing could long endure Porter's fleet. their shot and shells. The fire was declared to be "magnificent for its power and its accuracy." Earthbanks, guns, and men alike went down before it. Clouds. of dust arose from the fort as the crest of the parapet was shot away, or when shells buried themselves in the earth, and there exploded. Gun-carriages were struck and destroyed. In one hour and a quarter the fort was silenced. Two magazines were blown up.

Butler orders the

withdraw.

General Butler had accompanied the expedition, and, indeed, had taken command of it, though Grant attacking force to had intended that Weitzel should have had that responsibility. A reconnoissance of the fort was made on the 25th, and then Butler ordered the reembarkation of the troops, and the return of the expedition. Several of the officers voluntarily reported to Grant that when recalled they had nearly reached the fort, and, in their opinion, could have taken it without much loss.

The fleet, under Porter, still lay off the place, and that officer, writing to Grant, expressed his conviction that, un