The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-27
BUFFERS GREAT BLUNDER,
Telling Words from Gen. Grant.

The following dispatches from Gen.
GRANT accompany the report of Gen. But
LER. 1t will be seen that Gen. GRANT
attributes the failure to San experiment.
the explosion of powder in open air -
which experiment was originally suggested
by Gen. BUTLER, and adopted against the
advice Of Gen. DELAFIELD, the well known
ordinance officer. Buffers inexcusable
delay, notwithstanding the responsiveness
OF Gen, GRANT, doubtless contributed to
the failure. -
Gen. Grants Endorsement of the
Report. A 5!i'
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. ST.
biz I'D CRY POINT, Va.,. Jan. z, 1864. {
Respectfully forwarded. To avoid publicity
of the time Of sailing aud destination of the
expedition against Fort Fisher, my orders to
Gen. Butler to prepare it were given verbally,
and the Instructions tO.the commanding officer
of the expedition were made by him and SUBJ
United to me. l append to the report a CODY
of Gen Buffers Instructions to Gen. Weitzei.
together with copies of my dispatches and in
structiOns to Gen. Butler relating to the expe-
ditiOn. 1t will be perceiAed that it was never
contemplated that Gen. Butler should accom-
pany the expedition, but that Maj .-Gen Welt
eel was especially named as the commander of
it. My hopes of success rested entirely on Our
ability to capture Fort Fisher, and I had even
a hope of getting Wilmington before the enc
my could get troops there to oppose us. I
knew that the enemy had taken nearly the en-
tire garrison Of Wilmington and its dependen-
cies to oppose Shesman. ~ 1ws wi oHat
Lam inclined to ascribe the delay which has
cost US SO dearly to an experiment.. l refer to
the explosion of gunpowder in the open air.
My dispatches to Gen. Butler will show his re-
port to be In error where he states that he re-
turned, after having effected landing, In obe-
dience to my Instructions. On the contrary,
these instructions contemplated no with.
drawal Or failure after a landing was once
made. U. 8. GRANT,
ed-'t 4R lH Lieutenant General.
General GRANTS Dispatches to GEN.
q '"'H- eral Butler. sTf5f 2Jz~
HEAnoUARrERs ARMIES OF UNITED STATES,
.taaf,r..,r,3 CRY POINT, Nov. 80, 1864.
MAJOR General Butler. '''' 90 7i'-'
In have files of Savannah and Augusta "a
pers by Colonel Milford, from which gather
that Bragg has gone to Georgia, taking with
him, judge to be, most of forces from about
Wilmington. 1t is therefore important that
Weitzel should get off during his absence;
and If successful in making landing he may,
by bold dash, succeed in capturing Whining
ton. Make all the arrangements for his depar-
ture, so that the navy will not be detained one
moment for the army. Eag LGJ. iJn3.L
Did you order Palmer to make the move
proposed yesterday! 1t is important that he
should do without delay. @H- 1559'aF
- IL. U. s. GRANT, Lieut. General.
Official: T. 8. Bowers, A. A. g.
'''l' ' CIrY PoINr. Va, Dec. 4.
Major General Butler: a.~ A 80
| I feel great anxiety to see the Wilmington
expedition OF, both on account of the present
fiue weather, which We can expect no great
continuance of, and because Sherman NAV now
be expected to strike the sea coast any dav.
leaving Bragg free to return. think II advis.
able fort you to notify Admiral Porter and get
off without delay, with or Sithout yom. ponder
bo0t. I
Gsigned) u. 8. GRANT, Lieut.. General
Official: I. 8. Bowers, A. A. G.
/" HEADo RS ARMIss OF THE UEIrRD SfArEs,l
r.a .--,.., .,.1 s5a CITY POINT, Dec. 6.
To Major General B. F. Butler, Comnasd;aq
p Army of the james: 81 - = jill
had sent you cipher dispatch before re-
.ceiving your instructions TO Gen. Weitzel I
think It advisable that all embarkation should
take place at Bermuda. The number of in
uencnlng tools | think should be increased
y. 8. GRANT, Lieut. General.
Ohcial: 7. 8. Bowers, A. a. g.. -
!, HEADQuARTERs ARArEs OF THE u. 81
s.r CRY PoINT, Va, Dec. II, 1864 {
MAJOR General Butler, Fortress Monroe:
Richmond papers of the 10th, show that on
the 7th Sherman was east Ogeechee, and with.
in twenty-five miles of Savannah, having
marched eighteen miles the day before. II YOU
do not get off Immediately you will lose the
chance of surprising weak garrison.
- .s,.l. ms U. s. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
Official: I. 8. Bowers. Assist. Adjt. Gen.
HEADo'Es ARMrEs OF THE UNITED STATES,
- 3 CITY Porsr, Va, Dec. IA.
! Major General Butler, Fortress Monroe:
What Is the prospect for getting your expe-
dition started? 1t is great pity We were not
ten or twelve days. earlier; I an, confident it
would have been successful Have Won heard
from Palmer7 The Richmond papers give no
account of any Federals on the Roanoke or
Weldon road, south of Weldon.
(SignedD U. 8. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
Official. T. & Powers Aaaistant Adit Geu