, 1864-09-14
FROM GEN. sUTLERsS
CORPS.


Wednesday, sept. Z, 1861
The great Internal Improvement known rs
the "bntlers Cana" at Dutch Gap. on the
James River, progresses apnce and bids fair
to be soon an accomplished fact. The main
military object in cutting this canal has been
stated often, viz: To open passage for our
iron-clads to the upper part Of the river, and
thus avoid the shonl Hater at the bend known
as Trent's Reach, near the end of long pc
ntnsu1a. mfsnamed Farrar's Island, while the
incidental advantages Of a successful result
Of the marvellous work will be the turning Of
the rebel batteries at the HnW1ett House, a
commanding position On the river, as well
as rendering OF no effect line Of sunken yes
eels with which, in the early days Of our oc-
cupation, Admiral Lee Thought It the part OF
prudence to obstruct navigation at this point.
But aside from the hoped for military achieve.
ment, the canal will confer IN lnestimsble
benefit upon Richmond after the war,
In 0 commercial way, by shortening
the distance at least fourteen miles. Instead
Of making the long circuit around this neck
OF land, steamboats and sailing vessels will
pass through the canal, avoiding the raPid
current and conqusripg the battling winds
Which have made THE Particular reach Of the
river the dread and ye1otion OF steamboat
men and impatient skippers. Although be-
ieve that to Gen. ButleE-is due the credit Of
projecting this enterprise, IT appears to have
been thought Of before 1t suggested itself to
his mind. 4 late Richmond paper said that
about TWENTY-FIVE years since company was
formed expressly to prosecute this scheme,
but, after surveying the ground thoroughly,
It was decided to be Utopian, and was there
fore abandoned. But the Southern people,
all experience proves, are apt to yield to
physical difficulties without 1ni1 tsial. They
lack the enterprise and perseverance which
characterize thctr Northern countTymen, who,
in this instance, Us In many others, will
achieve what their faint-heartedness DEEM
ed impossible. The work is, in pro
6ea bacEs with nase geat as& iaeSattads thess
obstacles in the way Of the laborers-p.ltfng
them with shells and grapeshot fashion
that would be "more lonored In the breach
than In the observance Happily the cusu-
alties to the working parties have thus tsr
giDg goes braYely on. "A few d4ys since
visited the place, and was eourteou5ly re-
ceived By Major Ludlow, Of Gen. Buffers
sta1i, the officer in command Of operations
Leaving my horse in ravine where 1t would
be partially sheltered from the occasional
House, crossed the James river in ekiff,
Without being able to say that was blown
into the water, and indeed the enemy politely
refrained from firing while I was On the
ground. The scene about the works Eas cx-.
tremely animated. About 1900 negro sol
diers were working zealously with picks and
spades, and blowing and hauling away the
high-at Its highest elevation, I should Judge
about forty feet, and the space to be dug
through was at least fifty yards in length By
the came distance in width-ottering task
riya]lng that Of Hercules in diVerting the
river Of classic fable into the Augean stables.
7ery compact, adding vastly to the difficulty
Of excayating. I am not at liberty to give
the precise condition Of the work at this
etage Of lis progress, but nm assured that
day By day the likelihood OF Its successful
completion grows more certain. Major Lud
low has several pieces Of ordnance In posi-
tiop, Which open upon the enemy's batter
ics ii their Tire becomes any Way annoying,
and generally manage to silence them The
steep bluffs on each side Of the canal look
very bold, resembling colossal honey.comb
-burroWcd into, as theJ are, by the work
men, who sleep securely IN these holes, uu.
disturbed BY chance missiles sent from the
rebel batteries directly across the. river.
Maj. LudloW's quarters arc far more exposed
than those Of bis mes. He sleeps upon the
deck OF canal boat. which also does tempo
rarS duty rs wharf or landing PLACE, but ha
hoptB that few bales Of hay arranged on
that side Of his bed which is toward the rebel
fragment Of q shell. The plckets on Maj1r
Ludlow's front are very good nstured. The,
never fire at each other, and every daF they
exchange paperr, 60 that the Major counts
with certainty upon reading the Richmond
news when be takes his luncheon.
/ understood thst au order has been Issued
hy Provost Marshal General Patrick, exact
ing that hereafter correspondent sha1l sign
hfs fnll name to his letter. The object Of the
order il simply to indicate the writer: Some
time stuce, in conversiDg With Gen. Patrick
nron this matter, be consented that might
etijl rEe my Initials, III. J. w." agreeing
thst the purpose Of his order WAS thus served
eonaljy es well as if my whole name were
n1inted. Supposlng him to be still Of the
ZANE mind, / subscfibe mJ Jsell, In the usual
manner. very respectfully the obedisnt SER
Tnnt Of himself and the public,
PA; Gen. Butler returned to camp this
evening, after len days visit at the North.
His short absence has evidently improved
bis health, and his coming back was warmly
We]cou1eQ "a By his staff and large number Of
Officers in bic command. Dr.: Charles Nc
Cornick, Medical Director Of the Depart
meut Of Virginia and North Csr0llpa, #ho
accompanied the General North. also return
ed With him..