Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-26


CORRESPONDENT of the Boston Journal,
writing from fortress Monroe, speaks for Gen.
Butler and explains his position. We think
he is entirely mistaken when he inmates that
it was expected that Gen. Butler would make
forward movements, and that the people are
stormng at his delay to do something. But
this correspondent gives what seems to be a
truthful account of his present position =
"Great expectations have centered around
Gen. Butler and Fortress Monroe; and the
public have anticipated, from day to day, the
report of some important undertaking. Now
it has been the battery on Sewall's Point
now again, the entrenched camp of the enemy
at Yorktown; and abjurgations are loud and
deep upon Gen. Scott and Secretary Cameron,
because the means are not placed at Gen. But
ler's disposal to accomplish what expectation
has marked out as the proper programme OF
operations in the vicinity of the fortress.
Gen. Butler is certainly, and doubt not
painfully restricted. 70 quote his own state
ments, made to me OH Sunday last, 81 have in
and about the fortress something short of 49,
900 men. Two thousand Of these (Massachu.
sets three months men) leave for home dur
ing the present week. Two thousand more
must be subtracted as necessary to garrison
the fortress. Fifteen hundred more will be
used up in the various camp labors, and what
force is there remaining with which to take
the field =? Furthermore, have not a single
field gun at the fortress. Until lately had no
horses to draw gun OF to mount the officers.
The howitzer used at Big Bethel was drawn
by mules Thus, while the people are giving
me credit for large army, have really 10
army all and while they are storming at my
delay to do something, l am cooped up here,
compelled TO act strictly on the defensive"
Now it will strike any reasonable mind as a
direct corollary from the explanation | have
given, as TO the causes of the delay TO advance
the columns of Gems Mcdowell and Patter-
son, that the same causes would operate 10
cramp and eonhne Gen. Buller And such is
represented TO me to be the fact. Neither men,
guns, nor horses, could be spared to him until
the great central armies should be thoroughly
provided for, since no military necessity is
elt to exist for him to make demonstration
toward Richmond, in combination with
the other columns. In good time, he
will be reinforced and fully provided for
and the inaction that has prevailed in the
fortress and its vicinity will exist no more.
But he will not attack SewalIs Point bat
terry, either in front or in rear. The assertions
of the letter writers, that keep the public mind
on the stretch of expectation in this regard, are
utterly gratuitous and groundless. For, as he
himself kindly demonstrated to me, ON a
large chart that hangs in his office, any at
tempt IN that battery wond be a sheer waste
of powder, if not of life Below the battery
aud between it and Norfolk is considerable
stream called .'Tanner's Creek" that half en-
circles the city on the northern side. And
from this extremity OF this creek the enemy
have cut ditch sixteen feet wide, down TO the
harbor, thus isoating the city completely,
while along the extent of both creek and ditch
are powerful batteries. What advantage then
would there be in the possession of Sewall's
Point 81 can take it, said Gen. Butler, "but
why should | risk one life in such an enter
prise? have not had, nor La | now, the
hottest purpose of the kind"