Daniel Ammen, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.2, The Atlantic Coast
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

Fort Fisher had a northern or land face of 480 yards and mounted on it 21 guns, and a sea face of 1,300 yards, upon which were mounted 17 guns. The heavy calibres and character of the guns will appear in the Appendix or in the plan of the work. The parapets were 25 feet thick and an average of 20 feet in height; traverses ten feet higher, sloping back on their tops, were 8 to 12 feet thick. The traverses were generally bomb-proofed for men or magazines. Thirty bomb-proofs and magazines had a superficial area of 14,500 feet, not including the main magazine, which was exploded.

In all the works defending the two entrances of Cape Fear River were found one hundred and sixty-nine pieces of artillery, nearly all of which were heavy, and two thousand stand of small arms.

In common with his comrades afloat, the writer would fail in his duty were he to omit an expression of the universal sentiment of admiration of the ability and courage shown by General Terry, his Chief-of-Staff, General Comstock, and of General Ames, who led the assaulting columns, and of their gallant comrades, the living and the dead, who achieved this gallant work. Nothing could exceed the devotion and the courage shown by them.

The army losses in killed and severely wounded in the assault are given as 700. When the work accomplished is considered the losses are light, which show the true merit of the soldier. They met and conquered not less than 2,500 men in the best constructed earthwork known; 112 officers and 1,971 enlisted men were taken prisoners.

The night of the 16th and 17th was lurid with burning forts and barracks on Smith's Island, Fort Caswell, and elsewhere, and from time to time the explosions of powder magazines ‘vexed the dull ear of night.’ As soon as possible, after getting into the river, Admiral Porter pressed on