The Portland daily press., 1864-05-09
Important and Successful lH0re-
n,ents By Gen. Butler.
The Rebels Deceived by his Movements.

OF City Point, Ia. May 5M.-Lieut Gen.
Grant, commanding the armies of the United
States, Washington ID. Give have seized
Wilson's Wharf Landing. brigade of
Wildes' coiored troops are there. At Fort
Powhattan Landing, two regiments of the
same brigade have landed. AT City Point
Kinks division, with the remaining troops
and battery, have landed. The remainder of
both the 18th and 10Th corps are being landed
at Bermuda Hundreds, above the Appomat-
tox. No opposition experienced thus far.
The movement was apparently complete
surprise Both army corps left Yorktown
during last night. The monitors are all over
the bar at Harrison's Landing and above City
Point. The operations of the feet have been
conducted with energy and success. Gems.
Smith and Gilmore are pushing the landing of
the men. Gen. Graham, with the army gun
boats, led the advance during the night, cap
turing the signal station of the rebels. Col
West, with 1900 cavalry, made several demon
strations from Williamsburg Yesterday NORM
ing. Gen. Kurtz left Suffolk this morning
with his cavalry for the service indicated dur
ing the conference with the Lieut.. General
The New York flag of truce boat was found
lying at the wharf with 400 prisoners, whom
she had not time to deliver. She went up
yesterday morning. We are landing troops
during the night,--a hazardous service in the
face OF the enemy.
tSigned) BENZ. +. BUTLER,
Major General Comm indng.
A. +. Pufler, Captain and A. ID. c.
The Times letter from James River, dated
May 9Th, says:
To Major Gen. Butler, | am told, is exclu-
sively due whatever credit shall result from
the inception and execution of the plan.
When, four weeks since, Lieut.. Gen Grant,
the actual commander of the armies OF the
United States, visited Fortress Monroe, it was
for the purpose of asc raining the views of
Gen. Butler respecting an advance upon the
rebels by way OF the Peninsula, to be carried
out in Cooperation with the grand army Of
the Potomac. Gen. Grant had considered the
various plans proposed with this object in
view, but had committed himself to none, and
was inclined, therefore, 10 listen attentiyely
to what Gen. Butler might suggest. The Sc
quel proves that the proposition OF Gen. But
Ter fully commended itself to the judgment
and acqulescence OF the Commanding Genei :
al and measures were at once taken TO put
il into execution. Briefly the project was 10
advance upon Richmond by the James river,
get foothold as near the city as possible on
the south bank of the stream, seriously inter-
cept the communications of the rebel capital
southwark, aud eventually compel the evacu-
alton by Lees army of their strongly fortified
position on the RapidaD, thus forcing the
rebels to give Gen. Grant battle or press rap
idly rearward TO the walls of their capital
The first step towards organization was made
some weeks since by the concentration at
Yorktown from various posts IN the depart
ment OF North Carolina and Virginia Of the
great bulk oil The army corps. To the COM
nand oil these troops was assigned w. L.
Smith In addition to these war worn heroes
from the coast OF North Carolina aud the
posts in Virginia, nearly all the brave and
gallant followers of the 10th corps, under Maj
Gen: Gilmore, were sent to Gen. Butler to
participate IN the movement forming at their
encampinent at Gloucester Point, opposite
yorktown. That Yorktown and Gloucester
Point, both at the mouth ofs4 Ork river, should
nave been selected Tor the rendezvous OF these
troops naturally led to the superstition that
the advance was intended 10 be made up the
Peninsula. That the assurance of deception
might be made doubly sure, a brigade of Union
troops was dispatched by Gen. Butter ont as
late as yesterday to White House Landing,
where at sunrise, when we last heard from
tnere, they were seriously engaged III falling
timber and constructing wharf, as II prepar-
ing to facilitate the landing of large army.
10 aid IN TINS scheme OF justification, all the
iight draught steamers were kept until the
last moment at Fortress Monroe, whence early
yesterday morning they were dispatched to
YORK river. The work OF eInbarking the
:
had already been made, was begun promptly.
Soon after the shades OF evening had closed
over tue campaign ground the last tent was
struck, anu the troops were all on board.
ueh. butter orders 10 his subordinate Cen
erals made IL incumbent for them to repair to
hampton loads as quickly as possible after
DARK, where lhey were TO anchor Tor the night.
AT dayDresk the order commanded the adj
vance OF the troops up the James river, con-
voyed oy three army gunboats under Brig.
Ten Drahain, and naval force consisting OF
nVe monitors and eleven gnnboats under Rear
hulhirai Lee Inc cavalry branch OF the ex-
peoltloh is commanded by brig. zen. a. V.
hautZ' who' WIN a nue. oody oil several tnou-
sanu while troops, lett Suffolk, va, al day
Ight yesterday morning. Inc point az wnich
ne ai'ns PruiiaIHy 10 strike Is iIckI0ru,
low. s Vi, Tue Ietersourg hlcnuiohu@ weldon
haliroau. Inc railroaa orlnge there, Which
strong one ABOUT ooo net long, VIII be de-
stroyeu possioie, ana then the dashing
norsehen WIN 40 oiher damage 70 the enemy
means Vi supply as Jar as they can ma oppor-
luhity. Yen hautz mas received rowing
COMMISSION ana II not TOO hardly pressed by
tne reoeis ne may penetrate as Tar south as
Weldon, y: " returning wheh II SUITS ms
Jus cOhFeniehce' we may not near OF nun
io' "'on.u, ou', mesn"nhe, IL IS expected
lhat ne VIII make goou record. Starring
up tne fehlhsuia from Williamsburg, another
cavalry force, somewhat smaller, commanded
oy Col west, also set out at daybreak. Ills
OBJECT was 10 create diversion In our favor
Oy keeping me rebels excited, and attack the
guerriilas and garrisons OF the outposts. Col.
west would Try to cross the Chickahominy at
Bottoms Bridge, and make his way to the
main body on the James river, the main adj
s.lf ~