Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-12
.Is. skill, energy, .Ad as.


nuy could devse has been contributed make this cam
pagn a Under the eye Of Gen Butler all these
preparations have been made and to him and his faithful
corps Of assistants belongs all the credit OF the substantial
manner in which every thing has been prepared.
The organization of the troops to take part the cam
pagn has been supervised by Major General W. f. Smith,
who made his headquarters at Yorktown. The Eigh
teeuth Army Corps is his special command, while the
Tenth Corps, under Gen. O. A Gilmore, at present at
tached the Department of Virginia and North Carolina
was likewise commanded by him until the latter named
officer arrived yesterday from Port Royal The Eigh-
teenth Corps was encamped at Yorktown and the Tenth
at Gloucester Point When every thing in readiness
and the troops properly brgaded aud assigned to d
Visions Gen Butler held review, which proved satsac
tory to every one concerned
The means of transportation furnished by the Govern
ment for the campaign have been very extensive and
large scale Steamboat after steamboat has been dis
patched for Hampton Roads, and, there, directed to
await orders from the chief quarermaser Lieutenant
Colonel Herman Biggs. But steamboats, not the
only mode of transportation provided Schooners barges
steamships, and in fact all kinds Of craft ahoat
chartered for the occasion, and sent to this department to
carry troops. ffs ,gfl.tsl a.a
The management of the boats entrusted to Captain
Andrew Answorh, master of transportation and captain
Of the port Day and night he was at bis post and boat
after boat received Instructions to take lis assigned place
The commssary department il conducted by Lieutenant
Colonel Small chief commssary ably assisted by Captain
James Curry, depot commissary The hospital arrange
ments under the able p3rinteDdence Of medical d.
rector DIR. Charles Mccormick who is also medical pur
veyor Of this department He has loaded several vessels
with medical stores and placed some oil his assistants 10
charge These and tho hospital boats will bring up the
rear of the army. @
All other branches of this department in like good
order those mentioned, and the only event we now
await il the bOw--the crushing blow
FORTRESS MONROE MAY s. 1864 a
night 10 Hampton Roads, witnessed here last
evening Of the most brilliant grandeur aud
eauaed only on one occason viz the rende vousng of
ha imma flat mt fOr ntura IF nrt
Royal The night was clear and beautiful and the
myrads of lights flashing from the hundreds of mastheads
rivaled the stars in brliancy. The water was calm,
and the lazy splashng of the the sandy beach,
occasionally the shrill whstng of seamtugs scuddiDg
around the harbor with orders, and the toDg of half
hour bells board of the naval vessels the only
sounds that disturbed the stiffness of the grand
Inside of the garrison every thing equally tranquil
The commanding General issued his orders late in the az
srnoon his staff to get readiness to accompany him.
The fat had scarcely gone forth before large number of
horses taken to the wharf where the headquarters
boat was awaiting the General and staff The last meal Of
these officers the fort dispatched in haste amid the
packing of desks and personal effects Yet all the work
done was accomplished in quiet peaceful manner.
Orders to issued to the troops at Yorktown
during yesterday morning and afternoon All the boats
sent around to the York rser and the embarkaon of the
men progressed rapidly possible At dark the first
boat 1.-THE Metamora) left Yorktown, having Major Gen
Smith on board, who led off the advance On arriving
here Gen. Smith called Gen. Butler and had short in
tervew with him. but left after for Newport Ncws
The issued to the transports to report at the
latter place for further Instructions During the night the
vessels with their living freight arrived and passed
their destination At daybreak this morning only three or
four slow craft were seen azy moving up towards the
James river s.s, iIeG .et et as*.
The departure of Gen. Butler took place at half past six
o'clock this morning The fine steamer Greyhound, Capt
Samuel Martin, lying at the wharf all night The
General ard staff went board about three o'clock. At
the bow of the boat oaed the colors Of the Eighteenth
army corpsbue and red with star in the centre-and
the noble vessel gded out into the stream she looked like
thing of life, and moving with ease aud grace to-
wards the James river. a# sg f.3#@# go
The destination of the army is at this moment unknown
to us-tha u.s. the precise location where it is to land As
stated before it has up the James river but how far
remains yet to be Its ultimate destination is Rich
mond and this time the rebel capital must succumb to the
forces advancing Its TANKS under the glorious
Stars aud Stripes.
The operations of the navy in conjunction with Gen.
Butler are to be on grand scale day two ago Rear
Admiral p Lee commanding the North Atlantic block
aiding squadron transferred his broad pennant from the
agshp Minnesota to the guhboat Malvern and returned
and the captured rebel Atlanta besides five
six double enders and boats Of lesser calibre s4
The fent movement to draw off the enemy's attention
from the real point of attack made by Gen Butler du
ring this week The massng of troops at Yorktown
blind" and landing of brigade also effected at
West Point at the mouth Of the Pamunkey river which
must have been duly reported at Richmond aod no doubt
bad the effect to lead the rebels in the opinion that
another Peninsuar campaign at hand. Before any
battle off shall probably have few such
diversions and it will be matter OF great shrewdness
part of the enemy to where the main attack 10
TO be made. The prospect Of success is great
WHITE SHOALS, JAMES RIVER. MAY 5, 1864
The feet was full of excitement last evening orders
received to get under way at an early hour this
ing The naval portion of the expedition readiness
to move signal and must credit the military autho
rites with being ready much sooner than anticipated
and with prompttude never exceed in this any other
department. H
A portion of fotils moved up 10 advance to
make Reconnaissance, and at the time to prevent
the puerras from harssng the unarmed transports as
they came up At early dawn the iron clads as well Ma
the rest OF the hos hove up their anchors and started
ahead. 1t grand sight-such one as has never
before been witnessed upon these waters Five iron cads
aud more than of wooden vessels make up our
n let.
We expect before the week has ended TO be able to
show the rebels the intention of our naval
At the time Of the publication Of this letter it will be
say that the naval operations intended cover
and flying detacbments of rebel artillery which we may
reasonably expect to encounter 10 passage up this
river The forces of Gen Butler expect land on the
south side of the James river The fota will not only
protect the landing, but will keep far enough ahead to
prevent the rebels from annoying the troops during that
operation. H# hH.u
The army transports started with the naval vessels and
by O'Clock the whole fleet consisting OF about
hundred vessels we're their way up the James river
About to-day the last OF the army vessels started from
Newport News. The gunboat Mount Washington came
up late in the afternoon, having two ordnance aud coal
schooners in tow. he iron clad Roanoke is stationed
Newport News the fig ship Of that station and at the
time ready to cope with any thing that might slip by
our feet above. MEaA #"ns@ 0l# ~
The feet passed up the river to-day without experience
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