13. The great fleet opened fire upon the land-face, and having dismounted all but one of the twenty-two heavy guns defending that flank, on the evening of the 15th, General Terry by signal, changed the fire of the fleet to the sea-face batteries. The three Federal brigades that had worked their way close up, sprang forward in a charge that resulted in the capture of seven traverses and four hundred prisoners. The assailants lost their three commanders and five hundred men. It was a fatal blow. The Federals could not be dislodged, and, after brave and unavailing combat within the works, Fort Fisher was taken; and its garrison, numbering two thousand men, became prisoners of war. General Whiting and Colonel Lamb were both badly wounded, and the former soon died of his injuries. QUESTIONS. 1. What is said of the re-election of Governor Vance in 1864? 2. What course had Governor Vance pursued? What is said of the approaching election? 3. Who was Governor Vance's opponent? What measures were being advocated by Mr. Holden and his followers? 4. How did Governor Vance and the people consider these measures? 5. What proposition had certain members of the Confederate Congress communicated to Governor Vance, and how had he received them? What was the result of the election? 6. Where was General Grant placing fresh troops? What was the result? 7. What is said of Wilmington and its defences? 8. What occurred on December 25th, 1864? 9. Describe the attack on Fort Fisher. 10. What was the conclusion of the attack? 11 How did the state receive the news of this Federal failure? What forces were removed from Fort Fisher? 12. Describe the preparations for renewal of attack on January 12th. 13. Give an account of the engagement. What was the sad result? CHAPTER LXII. THE WAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE. A. D. 1865. 1. With the fall of Fort Fisher the fate of Wilmington was sealed. With the Federal troops in such a position the port was most effectually closed. The last connection of the beleaguered Confederacy with the outer world was thus broken, and North Carolina, with beating heart, listened to the approaching footsteps of countless invaders. General Lee, who had been made General-in-Chief of all the Southern armies, selected General Joseph E. Johnston to command in North Carolina. 2. General Bragg's forces having retired from Wilmington, met the corps of Major-General Schofield in an ineffectual engagement at Kinston on March 8th, and retired upon Goldsboro. This command, with the troops lately in Charleston and Savannah, the remnant of the Army of Tennessee and Hampton's Division from Virginia, soon made an army of twenty-five thousand men, under the command of General Johnston.