Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-30
Headquarters OF THE ARMY
February %. 1862.
Major General b. F.. Butler. U. s. ArrnE:

GENERAL: on are assigned TO the command
of the land forces destined to CO operate with the
navy in the attack upon New Orleans. You will
use every means to keep the destination pro-
found secret. even from your staff officers, with
the exception OF your Chief of Staff and Lieut..
Weiize, of the engineers
The force at your disposal will consist of the
first thirteen regiments named in your memoran-
dunn handed to me in person. the 2lst Indiana,
4th Wisconsin aud Oh II chisan, (old and good
regiments from Baltinore) these three reg-
ments will await your orders At Fortress Monroe
Two companies of the 2lsI Indiana are well
drilled AT heavy artillery The cavalry force al
ready eli route for Ship Island will he sufficient
for yonr purposes. After full consultation with
officers well acquainted with the country ia which
it is proposed to operate, have arrived at the
conclusion that three light batteries fully equip
ped, and one without horses, will be all that will
be necessary.
This will make your force about IA, 400 in
fantry, 275 cavalry, $50 artillery; total, IL, 255
men.
The Commanding General oi>the Department
OF Key West is authorized to loan you, Temporal
rily, two regiments; Fort Pckens can probably
give you another, which will bring your force to
nearly $4,000 The object of your expedition is
one of vital imDortance-the capture of New
| Orleans. The route selected is up the Mississippi
| River, and the first obstacle to be encountered.
perhaps the only one, is in the resistance offered
by Forts ST. Phillip and Jackson. Ii is expected
that the navy can reduce the works; la that case,
you will, after their capture, leave sufficient
garrison in them to render them perfectly secure;
and it is recommended that upon the upward
passage few heavy guns and some troops be
left ut the pilot station, at the forks of the river
to cover a retreat in the case of disaster. The
troops and guns will of course be removed as
soon the forts ,ptured.
Should the navy fail 10 reduce the works, you
will land your forces and siege train, and Ell
deavor 10 breach the works, silence their fire. and
carry them bv assault.
| The next resistance will be near the English
Bend, where there some earthen batteries;
here it may be necessary for you to land your
troops to cooperate with the naval attack, al
though it is more than probable that the navy,
unassisted, can accomplish the result. If these
works taken the city of New Orleans neces
sariy falls.
In that event it will probably be best to occupy
| Algiers with the mass of your troops, also the
eastern bank of the river above the city-it may
be necessary to place some troops in the city To
preserve ORDER though, if there appears sufficient
Union sentiment to control the city, il may be
best for purposes of discipline to keep your men
out of the city.
After obtaining possession of New Orleans il
will necessary to reduce all the works guarding
its approaches from the east, and particularly 10
gain the Manchac Pass.
Baton Rouge, Berwick Bay, and Fort Liyings
ton will next claim your attention.
a feint on Galveston may facilitate the objects
we have in view | need not call your attention
to the necessity of gaining possession OF all the
rolling stock you can, on the different RAILWAYS
and of obtaining control of the roads them
selves. The occupation Of Baton Rouge, by q
combined naval and land force should be accom-
pIished as soon as possible after you have gained
| New Orlelns; then endeavor to open your com
munication with the northern column of the Mis-
sssippi, always bearing in mind the necessity OF
occupying jackson, Miss, as soon as you can
safely do so, either after or before you have
effected the junction Allow nothing to d.
vert you from obtaining from full possession
! of all the approaches to New Orleans
When the object is accomplished to its fullest
tent, it will be necessary to make combined
attack on MOBILE, in order to gain possession OF
the harbor and works, as well as to control the
railway terminus at the city. In regard to this,
| will send you more detailed instructions, as the
operations of the northern column velop them
selves | NAV simply states that the general ob
iects Of the expedition are, first, the reduction
| of New Orleans and all its approaches then
Mobile aud all its defenses, then Pensacola, Gal
weston, &C. 1t is probable that, by the time
New Orleans is reduced, it will be in the power
OF the Government to reinforce the land forces
sufficiently to accomplish all these objects; in
the meantime you will please give all the assist
ance in your power to the army and navy com
manders in your vicinity, never losing sight oil
the fact that the great object 10 be achieved Is
the capture and firm retention of New Orleans.
Very respectfully, your obeiient servant,
GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN,
Major General Commanding. Sc, &c.