[317]
 |
| Discussing the plans-porter and Meade On the left sits Rear-Admiral David Dixon Porter, in conference with Major-General George Gordon Meade. There were many such interviews both on shore and aboard the “Malvern” before the details of the expedition against Fort Fisher were finally settled. Porter had been promised the necessary troops to cooperate in an attack on the fort, but it was months before they were finally detached and actually embarked. Grant and Meade had their hands full in the military operations around Petersburg and Richmond and could not give much attention to the expedition. General Butler had more time at his disposal and proposed a plan for exploding close to Fort Fisher a vessel loaded with powder. This was bravely carried out by the navy but proved entirely futile. |
