The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-17
Gen. Hutiers Official Report Of Operations at
New Orleans.

New Orleans
| cEvERE LABORs OF THE MASS. TWENTY SIXTH.
The National Intelhgencer publishes Genera
Butler s report to the Secretary of War OF hi
share in the expedition against New Orleans
1t is dated April 20. The following are tn
material !ncts
" In case the forts were not reduced and ,
portion OF the tieev got by them. it had beer
arranged, between the Flag Officer and myse If
that should make a landing from the Gul
side, in rear of the forts at the Quarantine, anc
from thence attack Fort 81. Philip by storm
tinued 10y the feet. | Immediately went to Sa.
bic Island with my transports, twelve miles in
tie rear Of Fort st. Philip, the nearest poinl
at whcha sufficient depth of water could be
found Tor them. Captain Porter put at my dis.
posai the Miami, drawing seven and onc-hali
ieet, being the ligh,es: draft vessel in the fleet,
TO take the troops from The ship as far as the
water would ALLOW. We were delayed twenty
four hours by her running ashore at Pass
IL 'Ouie, The Goth Regiment Massachusetts
Volunteers, Col, jones, were then put on board
her and carried within six miles Of the fort,
when she again -r2unled
Opt. E,eIe,t OF the 9Th Massachusetts Batter
having very iuily Recommended the waters and
blyous III that vicinity, and t3reseeing the ne
cesslty, ! had collected and brought with Inc
some thirty boats, INTO which the troops were
again tEanshlppco, AID conveyed by most IA
tIguing and labonous row some four and a hall
miles further, there being within olo mile of the
steamer only two and half feet Of water. a
large portion OF this passage was against heavy
current through bayou. A the entrance of
Mamoel $ Canal Il mile aud halt IRON the point
OF landing, rowing became impossible, as well
from the narrOWness CT the canal us the strength
Of the current, which ran like a mll-rsce.
Through this the boats could only be impelled
by dragging them singiy, with the men up to
their Waists IN water 1t is due to this fine reg
ment, and to portion OF The 4th Wisconsin,
Volunteers and 2lst Indiana, who landed under
this hardship without Il ,nurnur, thar their Ia
bJrs should be made known 60 the department
as well as to account Tor the siOwnesS of our
operations. The enemy evidently considered
this mode of attack Impossible, as they had
taken no measures to oppcseit, wi!oh might very
easily have been successfully Gune. " Z occu pied
at once both sides OF the river, hos etf3ctully
cutting th. m eli from all supptiet, information,
CT Euccor, While Te -0Ie our d!-po-!I ions Ter
the assault
Meantime CAPT. Pvrsol Ia sent into the
bayou, III the rear OF Fort .acAsoil, twu schoon
9rs Of MS mortar fleet, TO pro.rnt the escape of
the enemy from the fort in thac direction.
On tie night OF the 9th, learning that the
fleet had got The city under It's guns, left Brig
General W ilians Ia charge of lie landing OF
the troops, and went up the river to the flag
ship to procure light draft transportation. That
night The larger portion (abOut two hundred
and fifty Of the garrison Of Fort jackson men
toned, spiked the guns bearing up the river,
me up and suri entered themselves to my pick
ete, debating tha, a. We had got in their rear,
resistance WAS useless, ana they would not be
sacrificed. No bomb had been thrown at them
for three days, nor had they fired shot at US
from either tort. They ayerred that they had
been impressed and would fight no longer On
the 2Sth the officers Of Forts jackson and st.
Philip surrendered 10 Capt. Porter, he having
means OF water transportation 10 them. have
taken possession Of the forts and find them sub
Srantially as dciensible as before the bombard.
ment-Sl Philip precisely So it being quite an
injured. They are fully provs.oncd, well sup
pied with ammunition, and the ravuges OF he
shells have been dcfenslbly repaired By the la
bora of tic rebels. will cause Lieut.. Wiezel
Of the Engineers to make detailed report Of
their condition TO the Department.
nave left the Twenty sixth Regiment Mass
achusetts Volunteers i'll garrison and am now
going up the river to occupy the city with my
troops, and make further demonslra ions n the
rear OF the enemy now at Corinth. The rebels
have abandoned ali their defensive works 10 and
around New Orleans. propose to SO far de-
part from the letter Of my instructions ~ to en-
deavor to persuade the Flag Officer to pass up
the river as far as the mouth of Red river, ii
possible 50 as to cut off their supplies, and make
there landing and demons tration in their
rear as diversion in favor of Gen. Buell., if a
decisive battle is not fought before such move
ment is possible. Mobile is ours whenever we
choose, and we can better wait
find the city under dominion of mob. They
insulted our hag-tore it down with indigni,y.
This outrage will be punished in such a manner
as in my judgment will caution both the perpe-
traitors and abettors of the act so that they
shall fear the stripes if they do not reverence
the stars of our banner | send u marked COW
of New Orleans paper containing an applaud.
ing account OF the outrage.
Trusting my action may meet the approba-
ton of the Department,
am, most respectfully,
your obedlent servant,
BENJAMIN f. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.