The weekly Butte record., 1864-01-09
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army,
February %. 1862.
IVUI u4I -O' IOU-. J
Major General Is. +. Butler, United Srate


Major General B. f. Butler, United Srates
Army:
GENERAL.-You are assigned to the COM
mand of the land forces destined to cooperate
with the navy in the attack upon New Or
leans. You will use every means to keep the
destination q profound secret, even from your
staff officers with the exception Of your chief
of staff, and Lieu enant Weilze, of the eugi.
neers.
The force OF your disposal will consist Of the
first thirteen regiments named in your memo.
randum handed to me in person, the twenty.
first Indiana Fonrth Wisconsin, and SIKH
Michigan (od and good regiments from Bali
more these three regiments will await your
orders at Fort Monroe. Two companies of
the Twenty-frst Indiana are well drilled at
heavy artillery. The cavalry force already en-
route for Ship Island will be sufficient fer Jour
purposes After full consultation with officers
well acquainted with the country in which il is
proposed 10 operate, have arrived at the
conclusion that three light batteries fully
equipped aud one without horses will be all
that will be necessary.
This will make your force about ii 400 in.
fantry, 375 cavalry, $50 artillery; total IL, ,225
men.
The commanding General of the Depart.
meut of Key West is authorized to loan you
temporarily, two regiments; Fort rIckens can
probably give you another which Will br az
/ your force to nearly $4,000. The object of
your expedition is one Of vital import. nee
/ the capture Of New Orleans The route se>
/ ected 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. It is expected that the
navy can reduce the works in that case you
will, after their capture, leave sufficient gar
ason in them to render them perfectly secure.
and it is rec nmneuded that on the upward
passage few heavy guns ard some troops be
left CT the pilot station. at the forks of the
river. to cover s re.rCst in the case Of diSas-
ter. The troops and guns will of course be
removed as soon as the forts are captured.
Should The navy fail 10 reduce the works
You will land vour forces and seige train, and
endeavor to breach he works, silence their fire
and carry them by assault,
The next resistance viii be near the English
Bend. where there are some earthern batteries;
here il may be necessary for vou to land your
troops, TO co operate with tie naval attack
although it is more than probable that the na-
w. unassisted can accomplish this result II
these works are taken, the city Of New Orleans
necessarily falls
In that event it viii probably be best to
occupy \ giers with The mass OF your troops
also the eastern bank Of the river above the
city--ii may be necessary 10 place some troops
IA the city 50 preserve order. though if there
appears Sufficient Union sentiment 10 control
the city, il may be best for purposes Of disci-
pline to keep your men out OF the city.
After obtaining possession OF New Orleans
il will be necessary TO reduce all the works
gpandjng the approaches from the east, aud
particularly to gain Na9chac Pass.
Baton Rouge, Berwick Bay AID Fort Liz
iugStoU viii next claim your attention.
4 f5iat on Galvestoa may facilitate the CD
jects We baye 10 view. need not call youi
attention to the necessity Of gaining possession
OF all the rolling stock YOU eau on tie different
Z railways, and oI obtaining control Of The road:
I themselves. The occupation Of Baton Roug,
, by combined naval and land foEce, should b,
accomplished as soon as possible after JOE aavs
- gained New Orleans, then endeavor 10 ops.
? yeur communication wiki The northern eo.umg
of the Mississippi always bearing in mind II.
necessity OF occupying Jackson, Mississippi, a
s1Cu IS yea can safely Do So. either after e
before vau aavs e6.tol p, ieac,iar Aa07