Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-11

GgN. BENuAM's Casa correspondent
Of the Eucning Pod gives what he calls a cor
rect statement Of the affair at James Island,
and Of the responsibility Of General Benham
for the result. 1t appears from this article
that circumstances of unforeseen importance
Influenced his conduct
General Hunter" the writer says, upon leaving
James Island for Hilton Head, lcfl General Benham in
command, with distinct orders not 90 advance upon
Charleston and not TO attack Fort johnson without re-
niorecmentsi but 20 provide secure aud inuenched
position in which the arrival u rcnorccments could be
awaited The rebels however. had established in front
Of small group Of houses called Secessionvie, and
bout mile and halfn advance Of works. battery
rom when one very heavy gun threw its shells into our
camps ana even over General Wfghts camp into Stone
u'cr, where our gunboats lay
General Benham deemed it proper and ne
cessary to the security OF the Federal position
10 capture this battery, as until it was in our
hands, our gunboats could not ascend Stone
Creek, and there was this great danger that
their aid would fail the army in time of nee
essity Everything was previously done,
however, to obviate the assault, but the bat
tory arranged for this purpose failed in effect
The taking Of the rebel works by dash APP
peared then the only way LEFT "to secure an
intrenched position" It was triod, failed,
and the consequence to General Benham is
hH"Mhs ut cM correspondent says
Tho first intelligence of the miscarriage came IN Cen
crM Hunter simultaneously with the arrival NJ large
number OF the wounded and naturally awakened great
surprise and excitement in his mind. lie at once SUM
moncd General Bcuham headquarters under the i'm
preston that his orders not 90 advance had been debcr-
ately violated An interview failed disspatc this i'm
precision, and General Bcnham was summary relieved
OF nus command and ordered to report BY way o New
Notk, 70 the War Department. General Hunter was,
however probably not swarc that the three Generals
commanding bughdes-Stc,cus Wright and William
had al ouncuucd IN approving tho attack and that in
the council AZ which it determined upon no one Of
them suggcsed or entertained the idea that was VIC
lauou N his orders.
So important did the movement zscm TO the security
of OUT forces ia their present position, that there
general concurrence ia the cNpedency OF 10. There
could not therefore have ncjn any idea " dsobedeure
the part of General Bcnham whom this severe aud
sudden penalty falls His Undertaking was not AN ad
vance upon Chancston. attack upon Fort John
SON. but seems Goo have been honestly designed fof the
security of our position ON James Island. Good au-
lhouucs believe that 10 indispensable for that pur-
pose. and that events will show this that the pos
ton hold must be abadoned or this battery most
be taken
The difference between the Generals seems much
more probably o arise fom different constructions " an
order, which perhaps, free from ambiguity
and which was mot supposed 20 forbid an advances but
only those distinctly specified Such, however is the
state Of the case at present; and h will be Tor the War
Department TO decide between them