Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-25
TIE CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANs-HoCLELLANs
ORDER To BUTLER.


Pirtons History 6f General Butler in New Orleans
fa;s the My Journal of Commerce, contains much
itter. ts'ems that General Mcclellan Is entitled to
he cr.d; for laying down tbs plan of operations in the
Southwest and Il General Batter tad done ell that he
ordered 10 de- should have had very different
story from there Gen. raj YcClelsns genius and fore
sight are admirably exhibited in tho orders under which
Gen,ral Batter weat to New Orleans, and whatever
credit is due to military operations there clearly belongs
to the young Commander in. Chief The following are
The orders
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY,
February 2s, 1852.
Major General Butler, United States Army
General: You assigned to the command of the
land forces destined to cooperate with the navy n TIE
attack upon New OtIeaas You will use every means to
ksrD the destination profound secret from your
stan officers with the exception Of your Chief of STAFF
ami Lieut.. Weizsl, of the Engineers
The force a. your dspoisl " Il consist Of the first
tffte N reg men;s named in your memorandum handed
&c me IN p,sop, the 2lst Indiana, 4!h Wisconsin and
sth Michigan (old aud good regiments from B.more)-
these three resin sns will await YOUR or1ers at Fort
Aonroa Two companies of tbs 2lst Indiana are we'll
dned at heavy artillery. Toe cavalry force alresdy
Ell route for Sup Island wi be sufficient for your pur
p,sss. AteF full coDspltatcn with officers well &C.
iAnted sih III. country in which it lie proposed to
operate have arrived the conclusion that three light
bGtterss fully EQUIPPED, aud one without 10 will be
all that will be necessary.
This will make yOur force about 900 infantry, 97s
| clvilGy $50 artillery; total, Is ass men.
The Commanding General Of the Department OF Key
West is authorized 10 loan you, temporarily two rsg-
ments; Fort Phkens can probably I'VE you another,
Nh.ch will bng your force TO nearly 49, 900. The OF
&C, OF your expedition Is Of yt. imporauce-the
capture OF New Orleans. The route eeect, 10 Up the
bias .sipp river and tao first obstacle to be encounter
ed perhaps the only one, In the resis offered by
Fors s.. Phi and Jackson. l. is expected that the
navy can reduce the works. in that case you will, after
their capture, leave sufficient garrison in them to
render them :rfecty secure and il Is recommended
that the upward passage few heavy guns and some
troops be left at the pilot saoa e. the forks Of the
river to co'er retreat in case Of disaster. The
troop. a1d guns will OF b, removed a.
the forts are tsp urd.
Should the navy fail to reduce the works you will
land your forces and ege r1io and eneavor 10 breach
tle works lence their fire. aud carry them by sult
Tee next resistance will DC the English Bend,
where there eahen batteries; hsre may be
Necessary for you to aud your troops to cooperate
VITA the naval stack although l. Is more than probable
that the navy, unassted, accomplish the result II
these works taken the city Of New Orleans
rily falls.
IA taa; event. il will probably be best to occupy Al
gers with the OF your troops also the eastern bask
tie river above the city. 1t may be necessary 70
place troops in the CITY to preserve order; though,
1t there appears sufficient Union sentiment to control
the city, IL may be best for the purposes Of discipline,
% keep your meu out of tie ty.
After obtaining possession of New Orleans, 1t will be
ueces-siy 10 reduce all the wo.ks guarding its fp1
proschss from the east and particularly to gain the
hanchao Pan.
B.son Rouge, B.rKicks Bay and Fort Livingston,
viii next cam your a,tent on.
A flint on Galveston may facilitate the object NO
have In view need not cal your att nton to she
ceSi.y Of gaining possesslon Of all rolling stock you
ca the different railways and Of obtaining control
tf the ROADS themsel'el. Tbs occupaifsz.tf BAtoa
Rouge, by comb DeI naval and land fore. should be
accomplished possible aft you have gained
New 0.leans shen ord, asor 10 open your communca.
ton with the North COLUMN OF the Mississippi always
bearing N mind tie necessity of occupying Jackson,
Miss as ycu can do so With safety either alter
before yea have effected the juno ion. Allow Moth
rg vert you from gaining tul possession Of all the
app caches TO New Osl'sns
When the osjec: ia sccomp he'd to lie fullest extett,
Il viii be necessary 10 make combined attack on Mo-
bic, In ord,r to gain Possession Of the haroor ard
works as wess to coutrol the railway terminus tie
city In regard to this will send more detailed in