New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-17
Letter or Gen. Stevens - Gen. Hunter.
uHApQu .grsRs % sTwvxSs's DIyIsr0S, !
uuruS HsAp, y. C., July ., leoi. J

uIApau .ErERs % STEVENS DIVISION,
uILrUS Hs,p, y. C., July ., lebk.
Major. Gen DAVID BrsTsE. eommanin9 Department he
Sos,l Hilton Head O.
Sir: I desirs TO state briefly few facts 10 reia-
ton to the operations Of my Division Mt the battle Of
Secesronyille Tough, on the 18th OF Jane, in rela
ton to which there is come strange Misrepresentation,
to present of my own views in relation to that
affair and some particulars of the conference held by
Gen. Benham with lis General Officers on the even
ing previous to the battle.
I. That conference was held with Generals Wright
and Williams and myself. All were Enthusiastically
opposed to the attempt. in the then condition Of the
enemy's works, TO take them By eoup-de-man,
and 20 unequivocally and Enthusiastically expressed
themselves. When Gen. Wright was called upon
for bis opinion, be answered that he would make his
reply In the shape Of certain interrogstories to me-
to which he desired answers.
Frat Interrogotory-" Have you impaired tho
strength OF tho enemys works at Secessionville by
the firing Of your baltery1" Gen. Stevenss an-
swer. "Not 10 the least. have driven the enemy
from his guns by my fire. and can do it again. But
90 soon % the fire ceases be returns. have not dis
mounted gun, and we shall find him in the morning
10 strong ~ ever"
Second Interrogatory-"Doy ou know Of any in
stance where volunteer troops have successfully
stormed FORKS as strong as those which defend tho
approach to Secessionvillel" Gen. Stevenss an
swer, 81 know Of no such instance"
Third Interrogat0ry-" Have you any reaAon to
believe that the result in the present case will be
different in its character from what it has invariably
been beretofore7" Gen. Stevens answer: " i
have no reason to expect different result. 1t |"
simply bare possibility to take the work."
In this Generals Wright, Williams and myself con-
Cured then proceeded to state with all possible
emphasis my objections TO his morning attack. /
urged that it should DO deferred to much later Pc
Rod In the day. That we should first shake the
morale of the garrison and eudesvor to weaken it's
defenses by continuous fire Of tho battery and OF
the gunboats that in the mean time We should care
fully survey the ground and prepare our troops and
make the attack whom the battery and the boats had
had the desired effect. closed by saying that, un.
der such circumstances, could do more with 1000
mea than could with 1000 men in the way he pro.
posed.
Gen. Wright moreover warned Gen. Benham that
hs orders were In fact orders not TO fight battle.
In this Gen. Williams and myself in express terms
concnrred.
Gen. Benham, however, overrulsd oil our objec.
lions, and peremptori'y ordered the attack TO DO
made. assured him, US did the other gentlemen
that he should rely upon my promptitude and ac-
tivitY in obeying lis orders; bat considered myself
as obeying orders to which / had expressed the
strongest possible objections and therefore deter.
mined there should not DO the least want of energy
or promptitude on my part.
II. 1t has been charged that was behind time
This ia not true. was exceedingly prompt and up
to time. The orders were to move at O'Clock. My
Division WA formed q. 2 O'Clock, aud was at the