The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

A MAN FROM MAINE. 61
All honor to the officers and men on land and sea, who, dis-
heartened by no defeat, discouraged by no obstacle, appalled
by no danger, neither paused nor swerved until the national
colors floated over the ramparts of Fort Fisher, thus closing
the gate-way of the Confederacy to the outer world.
While the events that have just been described were taking
place before Fort Fisher, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton,
who had been at Savannah, in conference with General Sher-
man, was returning north on the steamer " Spaulding." On the
day following the capture of the fort he arrived off New Inlet,
and called on Admiral Porter and General Terry, who had gone
on board the " Malvern," and then learned of this brilliant
achievement of the army and navy. After receiving the infor-
mation imparted to him by Admiral Porter as to the navy and
by General Terry as to the army, he proceeded to Fortress
Monroe. On his arrival at that place he sent a dispatch to the
President. That this famous telegram, which recites the move-
ments and action of the army was inspired by Alfred H. Terry
and dictated by him to Edwin M. Stanton does not admit of
a shadow of a doubt, nay more, that portion of it which
describes the army operations discloses its source as clearly as
if it had been signed b)- Terry himself.
The Secretary's dispatch to the President is marked " Official."
It is dated Fortress Monroe, Tuesday, lo A. M., January 17th,
1865. This was the first official statement that reached the
people. The names, it contains, became impressed on the public
mind, and incredible as it may appear the name of Adelbert
Ames is not once mentioned in this dispatch to the President as
proved by the following extracts which include every name
occurring therein :
EXTRACTS.
" The rebel flag of Fort Fisher was delivered to me on board
the steamer ' Spaulding,' off that place, yesterday morning,
January 16, by Major-General Terry. An acknowledgment and
thanks for their gallant achievement was given in your name to