The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-19
Special Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Il.
TIE MovEMENT on RIoHMovD.

WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
THE MOVEMENT on RICHMOND.
It was proposed to slip in at the back
door Of Richmond, while the rebels
guarded the front door.
The idea Of gaining great advantages
by taking Richmond, has always been q
folly; it is not a strategic point, not val
liable as q base Of operations or as q
point in q practicable line Of advance /;
the sole importance of taking il would
lie in the release Of our prisoners, the
destruction Of tho iron works, aud the
dispersion or possible capture Of the
rebel authorities. This much could be
ss we'll accomplished by strategem az
by fightIng; and this much il was pro-
posed TO do.
Gen. Buffers plsns embraced a Coop
eratiVe movement Of the army Of the Po-
tomac, which should keep Lee too busy
10 attend 70 Richmond; aad three divi-
siOns of bis own force, one instructed 10
proceed at once 10 the destruction Of the
Tredegar Iron Works another 10 release
the twelve to eighteen thousand prisoners
confined in Libby Prison snd on Belle
Island and the third 70 guard the ayen-
ues Of escape, and ssizs IS many Of the
rebel officials as possible.
He visited Washington, and laid these
plans before the President who approved
in the main, but referred him 70 Gen. Hal
leck. Il don't care anything about your
plans, ifyou move on Richmond. you do
It on your own responsibility" was the
substance Of that officers reply. Gen.
Butlsr decided, if they would give him
the troops, 10 take the responsibility, and
returned % Fortress Monroe.
be had bis spies al through Rich
mond, and bad familiarizsd himself with
the defenses, avenues Of approach. and
plumbers 90 be overcoms. It vas report
ed that cur prisoners were likely 20 be
speedily removed 70 safer points in the
Confedsragy, snd whatever was done,
therefore repaired to be done speedily.
Statements Of the case. and requests
for the needed troops were sent to wash
ingt0n; aud on the understanding re-
csivsd that the troops would be furnish
ed, the arrangements for the movement
were al complete. With five or elk
thousand cavalry, (for, Of course, the
quick work Of the dash into the rebel
capital must be done by csvslry,) be
would have been satisfied. After wait
ing and waiting till the last possible
moment, he received beggsrly three or
four hundred
THers is the real secret Of the brilliant
failure. Gen. Builer determined to go
ahead and make the effort anyway; but
his original plans had not depended on
absolute surprise Of the rebel garrison 81
Richmond for their success. There were
forty thousand spare troops about wash
iugfon, with fge thousand more cavalry
the leader Of the expedition w01ld have
been prepared 20 force past the 0pposi-
ton &C Bottom Badge iight his way
into the town, and hberaie the prison
ers At least whether the remainder Of
sbe programme had or had not been de-
tested bv the uatimeiy disclosure.
I would not say that Gen. Halleck, or
whoever else controlled the failure 10
furnish TIE needed troops, was unwilling
that under the existing circumstances,
military and political, an officer Ike
Gen. Butler shoald haV5 ths hOnor Of -
brilliant an achievement Is be was on
the very verge Of accomplishing. That
such a ihing can even be thought of ~
the many who can see no other good
reason for the course pursued, is the besi
possible commentary on the PRESIDENT .
policy in the retention Of Gen HAiisck'