General Butler determined to make a second attempt. So on Christmas day at 10:30 a. m., the fleet, reinforced by one more monitor and some additional wooden steamers, began another bombardment. Colonel Lamb tells the result: "At 5:30 p. m., a most terrific enfilading fire against the land face and palisade commenced, unparalleled in severity. Admiral Porter reported it at 130 shot and shell per minute, more than two every second. The men were required to protect themselves behind the traverses; the extra men were sent to the bombproof s with orders to rally to the ramparts as soon as the firing ceased. As soon as this fire commenced, a line of skirmishers advanced toward the works. When the firing ceased, the guns were manned and opened with grape and canister, and the palisade was manned by two veterans and Junior reserves. No assault was made. Our casualties for the day, were, killed 5, wounded 33. In the afternoon both of the 7 -inch Brooke rifles exploded. . . .five other guns were disabled by the enemy. . . . There were only 3,600 shot and shell exclusive of grape and shrapnel in the works. . . . Except when special orders were given the guns were only fired every half hour. In the two days, the frigates Minnesota and Colorado fired 3,551 shot and shell, almost as many as were in all the batteries of Fort Fisher."
With this second experience, General Butler retired, and the fort had a respite until January. The expedition had been fitted out elaborately and was unusually strong. Captain Self ridge, who commanded one of Butler s ships, says: "The navy department was able to concentrate before Fort Fisher a larger force than had ever before assembled under one command in the history of the American navy—a total of nearly sixty vessels. The total number of guns and howitzers, according to the computation of the editors of "Battles and Leaders," was over 600, and the total weight of projectiles at a single discharge of all the guns was over 22 tons. The
